Sweet Smelling Aroma

Who is my neighbor?

One thing I never really took into account as a rookie homeowner is exactly who my neighbors would be. I didn’t think too hard about how who they are and how they live might affect life for me. However, it has not taken long to realize I don’t have much choice. If I were to choose my neighbors, they might look an awful lot more like me. They might share similar interests, similar values, similar noise tolerances, similar bed-times, maybe even similar care for lawn appearances. But, I’m not the one to choose. They come and go as they please. They are who they are and it might be better that they are not like me.

Who is my neighbor?

The other day I had an experience with another “neighbor” I also did not choose. His name is Jan. Jan is at what I would consider to be a tough place in life. He has some mental issues (schizophrenia and probably others) so that he is a little off his rocker, can’t really support or take care of himself, and likes to call on his “friends” at the Reidland Church whenever he needs something big or small. If I’m honest, he can be pretty annoying and if one didn’t know better he could easily be profiled a stalker, but, he is still a human being with needs.

This time he needed to pick something up from social services (something about a pillow and a teddy bear). So myself, and our church secretary left to go pick the items up from the center to take to him. His house (self-described as the prettiest one in all of Paducah) was a run down mess yet boasting all the colors of the rainbow. As we pulled up (in the rain) he was sitting on his porch, shirtless with ripped jean shorts and long shaggy hair, smoking a cigarette. The best way I can describe him is to picture Tom Hanks’ character toward the end of “Castaway” before he gets rescued off the island! I carried the sack of “goodies” from the car to the porch but Jan asked me to come inside for a minute. I couldn’t help but feel a little on edge not knowing what to expect.

The inside was dirty, smelly and there was a picnic table in the living area as furniture. A few animals scurried around. One small “weenie” dog in particular started jumping up my leg. Jan said, “that’s Sassy…ya want to meeeet his wiiife?! (accent included) As he said so, he pulled another dog from behind the couch holding her high for me to see. He held her so that he could peek under her belly and exclaimed, “she’s preg-nant!” Unsure of exactly how to respond I said, “well, it’s nice to meet her.” Then he introduced me to his “wheelchair friend” Chris who was there visiting. I said hello but proceeded to inform them that I needed to leave.

As I turned Chris asked, “will you at least pray with us before you go?” How am I supposed to turn down a request like that…so I began to pray with them… “God, thank you for providing these things and thank you that we were able to bring these items to…(before I could say his name Jan exclaimed…to Jan! and to Chris!)…yes to Jan and to Chris. And I pray that you will bless them…(Jan interrupted again—we need to pray that you drive home safe in the rain cause the roads are slick)…and for our safety. Thank you for our time together…Amen.”

They both expressed their gratitude but Jan had something else in mind… “Mike, I’ve got something else for you!” Before I knew what was happening Jan reached for a bottle and started spraying me with cologne. I tried to turn and move out of the way but just a few seconds created a smell that lasted the day. I can now look back and reflect that Jan simply wanted me to leave in the aroma of Christ! Needless to say, it was quite an experience…

Who is my neighbor?

I don’t always want to admit it but my neighbors are much more than who is defined by geography or location. And, it remains the same that when it comes to neighbors I don’t get to choose. These neighbors still come and go as they please. That day, Jan was my neighbor and he reminded me that I was blessed with the opportunity to be a sweet smelling aroma of Christ to him. He’s not like me, he’s different, he’s even a little unsettling at times, but he is still another wonderful creation of the Creator who created you and me to be neighbors.

God, help me be open to loving the “Jan’s” of the world as I pursue the call you have for all of us to “love your neighbor!”

Table Talk

I shared these comments at service yesterday in connection with the Lord's Supper...

Welcome to the Table of the Lord! It is not just I who welcome you to the table, but it is the Lord. It is the Lord who welcomes you to a table in which all are invited to gather around. A table with no regard for social status, economic prosperity, race or level of education but open to all who are redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is here that we lay our differences aside because our unity is found in someone greater than ourselves. Here, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ. And it is Jesus who, much like he did with his disciples, invites us to recline at this table of redemption, to receive the meal seasoned with grace which has been prepared for us. It is to remember him yes, but more than that it is to celebrate because the one we commune with is the Risen Lord! Praise God the tomb didn’t have the final word. So, together as we gather around the table, let us taste freedom and let us rejoice!

So Come…Welcome to the Table of the Lord!

Parenthood

As of a couple weeks ago we have become proud parents. I know what you are thinking...What about the nine month process? Well, what can I say...we are fast! His name is Topaz and as you can see he is a blonde labradoodle. That's right...you don't have to rub your eyes to make sure you see the name clearly...a labradoodle is a lab/poodle mix. Please hold your snickers. One of the wonderful traits of a pure bred labradoodle is that they do not shed, making it a more house friendly animal with less allergens. We are happy to have him as a part of our family. Now if we can just get him through this period of seperation anxiety! Oh, and despite his size he is only eleven months old. We like to refer to him as our "little" horse.

Don't forget to say hello...

Home Sweet Home

Well...the past few weeks have been a blur, but I might have a minute to breathe, at least a second anyway. We have made it to Kentucky, begun setting up our "nest," and started work at the church. So far it has been great and everyone has been so gracious. We have been welcomed with open arms and Reidland is beginning to feel like home already. I hope to keep up the posting now that things have settled down and I can obtain a certain level of normalcy...who am I kidding? Anyway, I am excited about what is to come at Reidland and of our lives in Paducah, Kentucky. May God be glorified!

Two Years Toward a Lifetime

Today is a glorious day! Not because it is sunny outside with blue skies, or because there is a cool breeze for a change, but because today I can celebrate two wonderful years with my beautfiful bride. It has been quite an experience with both of us being in graduate school for our first two years of marriage but I know the memories will last a lifetime. We are looking forward to sharing life together outside of school and greatly anticipate the new beginnings in Kentucky.

Sara, I love you! You are a blessing each and every day...You are worth "far more than rubies."

Reflections on Fish

The following reflection was initiated by a friend's comment about a lake stocked with catfish for catch/release fishing.

What if we thought about fishing from the perspective of the prey instead of the predator? A fish, when hooked, has to know that something is seriously wrong. First, there is this extreme pain in the lip and a sudden tug. Then as if that is not enough, there is the instantaneous burst into hyper-speed as the fish goes sailing through the water. Even if they had never been hooked up to this point in their existence, they had to have heard stories from the rest of the fish community. As they go careening through the depths to the unknown I wonder what they are thinking.

Life flashes before their eyes and as they get reeled up into what is sure to be certain doom, the hook is removed, they get launched into the air and before they know it they are breathing life once again. What a whirlwind of emotions. They were caught in the grip of death, only to be rescued and allowed to taste the sweetness of freedom instead. Only later do they realize there is still a hole in their lip which serves as a daily reminder of that point in their life. I'm not sure if that hole reminds them more about the glorious day they were redeemed or how dumb they were to get hooked in the first place. Either way, they'll remember!

I want to resist stretching this too far, but we have all been "hooked" by one thing or another in our lives that seems enticing at the time. The difference is that we are redeemed by someone greater than your average fisherman. Even though the shackles have been removed and we are able to taste freedom, many times we are left with some kind of hole to serve as a reminder of who and what we were in our past. The hope is that the hole we have in our lives will not remain empty forever, but will be filled by the one who loves us so much to redeem us. I pray we'll remember!

May we live each day as the redeemed!

Closer, Closing and Closed

It's a done deal! Sara and I have officially signed our lives away and the lives of our future children...what a sobering reality. However, we will not let the magnitude of our decision deter our excitement. Say it with me...we are homeowners! Next stop, Paducah, Kentucky...

Another week has passed and we are closer than before to moving. So much left to do. We are having a garage sale tomorrow to satisfy our feeble attempts to simplify, okay and because we don't want to move as much stuff. Only three more weeks. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines and let the packing begin!

What's a Life Worth

Sara and I finally watched the movie Hotel Rwanda the other night with some friends. We had avoided watching it to this point fearing its unsettling content. For those who don't know about the movie it is an unbelievable depiction of a sickening and tragic event in our world's history. Here's a synopsis of the film:

Don Cheadle gives "the performance of a lifetime" (Los Angeles Times) in this "remarkable" (Newsweek) and "inspiring" (Chicago Tribune) true story of one man's brave stance against savagery during the 1994 Rwandan conflict. Co-starring Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix, Hotel Rwanda is "the kind of film that can change the world" (Joel Siegel, "Good Morning America").

As his country descends into madness, five-star hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Cheadle) sets out to save his family. But when he sees that the world will not intervene in the massacre of minority Tutsis, he finds the courage to open his hotel to over 1,200 refugees. Now, with a rabid militia at the gates, he has only his wits and words to help keep them alive another hour, another day.

Even more disturbing than the gruesomeness of the event itself was the aspect that the world knew what was going on and chose to ignore it. The value of life was determined before it was ever lost and the response was that it wasn't worth the effort. Who are we to determine how much a life is or is not worth? This is a movie and a story we all need to be aware of.

In class at church the next morning we experienced a real life story of someone similar to that of Rwanda. A woman from Liberia shared her testimony as a believer and a refugee caught in the middle of a war in 1990. It was a powerful story of hope and faith in the midst of intense savagery and persecution. Her father was a minister and one of few Christians in a Muslim community hated for his beliefs. However, his home became known as a house of hospitality for all people, important military and government officials included. Even though they hated his family they wouldn't turn down their hospitality and a good meal. He continued to tell his family to love these people despite the hate for their Christian beliefs. When the war began this man's family was on the list to be executed for their convictions. Before they were murdered, an official came up to the house and proclaimed to the soldiers not to kill this man and his family because of their kindness and hospitality. He said, "they paid for my schooling when I was poor and could not afford it and their home is our home." Because of his intervention the soldiers spared their lives and left.

I can't imagine what life is like for people in these places because I know I have never experienced persecution like they have. It is people like the hotel manager and this woman from Liberia that shame me for my lack of courage in much less life-threatening situations. They have lived at the doorstep of death and chosen courage over fear and hope over despair. They, more than I, understand the confusing message in Scripture that there is joy in suffering. Who are we to determine what life is worth...for it is people such as these that remind us that life is...priceless!

May our eyes be open to those around us and may we see and experience life through His eyes!

Destination Kentucky

This post is probably a long time in coming...

How easy it is to want to plan out our lives in detail. I wouldn't consider myself a strong A-type personality (at least not as strong as my wife) but I must confess I like to have a plan. I like to have a purpose, even if that purpose from time to time is to accomplish nothing of importance at all. I guess it has something to do with our innate desire to be in control and to plan for the future. So much of what we do in our lifetime centers around looking toward what lies ahead. When we are small we dream of what we will be when we grow up. When we are grown we plan for marriage, we plan for pregnancy, we acquire insurance to offset whatever the future holds. We invest money for that rainy day, plan for our children's future education, and hope and pray for that day when retirement finally comes. And we all have a plan, some vision of how the pieces come together to create a finished portrait.

A few months ago, Sara and I thought we already knew what some of the pieces would look like as we planned for our final year in Abilene. But as usual, just when I think I am completely in control of my life, God proves to me otherwise and once again I learn the lifelong lesson that my life is not mine to control. A lot has unfolded in the last few months for our little family of two in which the majority of those events have led us to an upcoming relocation. Thus, Destination Kentucky!

Honestly, I never planned on moving to Kentucky or even to a town called Paducah but that is exactly where we find ourselves and we couldn't be more excited about it. The move has come about because I accepted a position as Associate Minister at the Reidland Church of Christ there in Paducah, Kentucky. A lot was involved to bring us to this point but now our move is only about a month away. It seems like time has flown by so fast. Anybody who has moved from one place to another can realize that this is a bitter sweet time for us...bitter because we are leaving some close friends and family behind but sweet because we are starting a new chapter in our lives as we become a part of a new family, working side by side to minister with and to and to love people whoever and wherever they are. I believe God has prepared us for this next step even if it was not included in our "original picture." Nevertheless, if we walk forward in faith to be his hands, his feet, and his body broken for a broken world it will only be by his strength, his grace, and his love at work through and within us. It won't be long now Reidland family, at least according to our plan!

Please pray for Sara's job situation. While she has some opportunities that are exciting we ask for God's guidance and direction through the process. Lord, in all things may we give You glory!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight! Prov. 3:5-6

Bird's Eye View

Thanks to my friend Travis for exposing me to such a fun site. Enjoy these Satellite views of places I have been courtesy of Google Maps Beta.

Where I grew up in Texas

My Parents house in Florida

Where we live now in Abilene: Sherrod Apartments

Where we will be in August: Reidland Church of Christ