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

Congregational Resource

A new website connected with some people at ACU has been unveiled recently to provide resources to churches interested in pursuing the missional implications of being a community of God in our time and context. I think it will be a helpful intersection of dialogue for all of us who seek to be a "distinct community who participates in the life of God for the sake of the world." If you get a chance, check it out!

www.saltandlightresources.com

May we be a living community who daily demonstrates the love and reign of God!

To Him be Glory

Peace in the Midst

Sara and I went to Stream in the Desert with some friends this weekend in Midland, TX. For those who don't know Stream is a renewal conference unique to West Texas. In many ways it was a good escape and allowed us to catch our breath before heading down April's home stretch. Mike Cope was the guest speaker for the conference and as usual, he did a wonderful job. I think the part that impacted me most was what he shared in the Sunday morning session. Here's my take:

We all want peace. In fact, many times we long for it. Sometimes, however, we have unreal expectations of what peace is and what it should look like in our lives. Mike reminded us that peace, contrary to popular belief, is not the absence of pain but the promise of presence! This life is full of both mountains and valleys, good times and bad. In this world suffering is a reality. We all experience it at different times and in different ways. The good news we have to share with hurting people in the midst of brokenness and suffering is not the "health and wealth" message that in Christ everything comes up roses, but the message of everlasting peace. God has not abandoned his people. We may never understand why bad things happen or why people suffer but one thing is certain: We have the promise of his presence! Wherever we are, he joins us in the midst. O' Emmanuel...God with us! That, my friends, is the peace that passes all understanding.

Lord, continue to fill us with your peace.

Stop Masquerading and Start Unveiling

It's easy to get caught up in fairytales. Something about them can draw us in. Maybe it is the idea that within the limitless boundaries of make-believe our imagination can run wild. Maybe at times we are just suckers for happy endings. Or, maybe it is the chance to escape, even if just for a few moments, the grasp of reality. The freedom to be what and whoever we want to be. To live out a story different from our own.

Growing up I remember the excitement of costume parties. It was as if Icould live out my own fairytale. As a kid I could be a doctor, a baseballplayer, a knight in shining armor, or even a pirate with a makeshift"wooden" leg. While dressing up was fun, the best part was "fooling" others into believing that I was no longer myself but the character I wanted them to see. Of course, to effectively pull off such a feat costume was important, but a mask was the key. Without a mask my disguise was useless because people could see the real me. There was a point when I thought I might outgrow the desire to masquerade, however, the older I become the moreI realize I never really stopped attending costume parties. In fact as I reflect, it is intriguing that they always seem to fall on the same day.

My point is not to be cynical but to attempt to ask some difficult questions. I think we know what it's like to live in the midst of "Sunday Smiles" as many of us disguise who we are and what we really feel. All around us there are hurting people and I wonder what message we convey to them when they walk through the door only to find us holding up our masks. And in not so many words we say: welcome to yet another masquerade ball.

I'm tired of picking out costumes week after week. I'm tired of the empty "how are you--fine" exchanges. It seems that of all places the community of God should be a place where we can let our guard down, where our disguises can fall to the floor, where masks are removed in order to reveal who we are inside, a place where we can be real! I realize there are boundaries and I recognize there can be certain dangers to transparency, but I think if we are honest we can agree the costume act hasn't worked. Until we stop masquerading and start unveiling it will be difficult, if not impossible, to be the Christ-formed community God intended. This means more than just unveiling ourselves in our own brokenness and humanity but this also means unveiling Christ in the midst of our everyday attempts to be real. We must not be afraid to share life with others out of fear that the shadows of our life might be exposed. God doesn't need us to be masked superheroes, always looking for the closest available phone booth to quickly don our disguise, but I believe he wants us to remove the masks, reveal our brokenness, and walk hand in hand with our brothers and sisters as we together, by the power of God, journey toward the restoration of all mankind.

I'm not saying it will be easy, but I believe because of God at work in us we have the power to do it. May God bless us as we seek to stop masquerading and start unveiling the glory of God in Christ each and every day of our lives. Next time we meet, I look forward to seeing your face!