So I'm home... well, back in the NW at least. After over a month on the road, it feels good to be in a place where 'being still' is really the only thing on the short term agenda. I'm in Lake Oswego currently, living with my parents in their new home... it's beautiful.
So real quick, for those of you who might be interested in the train of events i'm currently riding.. skip to next paragraph for more 'meat'. Anyway, the river season finished up well despite the low water... our season ended with the passing of Labor Day weekend and then the fun began (like working ON a river isn't fun enough??). Our company treated those who stayed to the end of the season with a four day float down the colorado river, the section is called Westwater and begins in CO, ending a short ways into Utah... it was beautiful. Three days of no bigger than class I, then a day of rowdy class IV, the river getting narrower as we carved deeper into the canyon... my first overnight trip, it was unreal. We finished that trip up, got our lives together, and it wasn't more than a day or two before my good buddy Mark (fellow river rat) and I hit the road to begin what we had planned would be two months through Tennessee and the east, hitting all sorts of rivers along the way, eventually finding work in East Tennessee on the Pigeon river working the late season on into November. Fate, as it turned out, had a different plan... the trip was condensed to almost exactly a month, and with the condensing of duration, the experiences of the trip it seems were reduced down to incredibly rich nuggets at each corner. Nashville, Knoxville, Hartford, Summersville, Roanoke, Asheville, Brevard... everywhere we went we were met with nothing but love, warmth, and kindness.. southern hospitality defining itself through our experience. I want to share each and every experience... but how? over blog? It just doesn't seem right... over coffee maybe:) but every day was perfect, every day I felt the Spirits hand in our moving 'blindly', the people we met, oh the many people, and the life-long friendships we made... Kt, hannah, willis, bob, barb, coco, michelle, gabe, caleb, salmon, clint, TENNESSEE LIZ, paul, and others.. people with spirits that stuck to ours like velcro, and within seconds of meeting these new people at these new places, we were home, with family... raft guides, UT hippies, Older couples, younger ones too.. providence was our guide, and lives were changed in the process.
My reasons initially for going to tennessee were very different than what I eventually got out of the experience... in fact the collapse of my original intentions, and the pain which followed, were quickly restored and a new vision for the trip was formed, one we lived out in color. It was a month of healing in many ways for both Mark and I. And as my cousin Amy put it, on my last day in knoxville, "fate" would gift me the closure I needed from the previous collapse, the perfect cap to the whole experience.. so obviously I'm alluding to a whole lot, and I hope to share more later on this.. it's just better that I wait.. the story's still being written i guess...
I've had about 20hrs of solo road time this past week, lots of time to think... and our experience i realized can be summed up into one day. Towards the end of our time in Tennessee, Mark and i took some time on the AT (app trail), and on day one of our trip we at one point found ourselves seriously lost in awe of all the beauty surrounding us... just staring at everything from the forest floor to the canopy mosaic above,, each leaf a different color contributing to the whole of the picture... we were overcome with feelings of contentment, feelings of being in a good 'way', of - during this month - finding our place among created, and for me at least, more and more faith in the Spirit as guide... see, to some we appeared lost, but to others we were anything but, and our trusting that at each corner we would be met with a purposed environment, led our open hearts & minds to people who - as it would turn out - were in need of the light we offered, as we were too in need of theirs... in faith that our journeys path was one paved with providence, lives were changed, lives were enriched...
My old roommate mimi and I are obsessed with the golden ratio.. ever heard of it? Other names for it are the golden mean, the Fibonacci numbers... Anyway, if not, watch this short clip and let your mind be blown (http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=U2bAlIK4KkE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DU2bAlIK4KkE).. but basically the golden ratio is in everything, all creation it seems, from the way a flower blossoms to the way galaxies are formed, all exist according to this ratio... on the AT I felt the weight of this as I saw this perfect pattern everywhere, in nature and in myself... with much time on the road to think and give thanks, to sink deep into my experience, I saw life - life as I've grown to understand it - as one large picture, one that with the dimension of time extracted (so hard for us to do in flatland, but a very real thing.. eternity), our lives as a whole will offer beauty, color, and light to others, according to how we walk within each experience, within time. Living each day in love, each experience when looked at individually (like each new place we found ourselves) may not make a great deal of sense, but it just felt, it just feels right... and so zooming out, our experiences - if guided by love - create a whole picture which only makes sense to the one painting it, but shines its beauty to the world. Confused yet? me too... but back to the golden ratio, god's perfect number found throughout... I suppose I believe that in the spiritual world, if we allow ourselves to be led by love we are allowing God (God is love... thats it... if it's love, it's God) to design in and through us something more beautiful than is in our control, the golden ratio in existing in our lives... and because he who engineers this beauty is extracted from that dimension which binds us in the moment... time... only He can make sense of it and it's purpose. The past four years of my life, the past eight really, are fun to look at as a whole because of the evolution of my spirit as I've learned more and more to lean on these good things.. it's spiraled me into, well, this place.. a place of new understanding, of peace, each day a new journey, one that only He, only love can make sense of, a place that in the moment may seem confusing or difficult (i've negative $$$ to my name, and am back at my parents for the time being.. haha), but are filled with hope because of this understanding that our stories exist outside of time, and He, Love, wants to create something curiously beautiful in us for the world to experience and glean from, then in observing, learn to live in a way which makes sense of their lives outside of the day to day confusion, outside of time... the golden ratio, it's perfect.
Anyway, I go in thursday to the Doc to have my shoulder checked... may or may not need surgery... pray for this. Soon, depending on what my pt needs are, I'll be starting what seems to be a dream job, again working for Warm Blankets, but with water... Another beautiful story I plan on sharing more of as it unfolds in the coming weeks... More to come on this, but know it's good, all is good, life is beautiful, and love it seems is truly the only answer...
I plan on writing more into the fall... so many stories to tell... the past month has left me with pockets full of nuggets, and I feel led to share. Thanks for reading (supposing you made it this far.. haha)...
Be well, friends...
luke
Monday, October 15, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Journey Through the Thorns
It's been a rough few weeks in many ways... each day it seems I'm still able to find my pocket of Light, but I've felt the weight of the fog resting more heavily on my shoulders. My reasons for going to Tennessee - while I still plan on and am excited about going for different reasons - have definitely changed, and while I don't feel the need to go into it online, the process of this evolution in my spirit (the past 12 months really) has jaded me in ways, and made it more difficult to connect in a pure way, a way I've felt before, with my Maker.
I came down to the river today, in need of rest. My body found it - rest - hovering near the river in my hammock, and my spirit tiptoed back into the word, seeking it. I went to look up the word 'rest' in my concordance, but before I found it I stumbled on a word I'd never really learned the definition of, but sort of knew what it meant. Precepts. I felt drawn to read scripture on this, as I felt like I should... Psalm 119 was where 5/9 references led me to...
119 is the longest of the psalms, and rarely will I jump to it for a quick psalm fill, simply because it's so long.. But I decided to... and it might now be one of my favorite. I was meant to read these words today... Twenty-one sections, each it seems is written by a different person with names like 'Ayin, Resh, Taw & Kaph to name a few.. each person laying out their heart for their Lord, seeking to 'find wonderful things in His law'. The word precepts, I counted later, and 17 times it is used in this psalm. The word means: 'a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct.' All there for guidance, that we might experience joy contrary to what the world has to offer...
And if it's not the word precepts, the words 'statutes' & 'decrees' were both used equally if not more in this book of the psalms. Each author of the 21 different sections it seemed was at a unique place in their walk, some are 'laid low in the dust' with 'soul(s) weary with sorrow'. Others asking the lord to open their failing eyes, and give life to their spirits which are dried up like a 'wineskin in the smoke'. But they put their hope in the Lord, seeking to learn his decrees, and live up to his - their Father in Heaven's - precepts, because they know and have felt the life and freedom which is promised, the blessing poured over those who walk in these ways has and continues in their journey on earth to annoint their heads.
I read each of the 21 different authors intimate moments with God, as if they were my own. I journeyed into the souls of men who truly lived according to His word, men who lived into, and each day found Freedom in His promises, men who like me feel "laid in the dust" at times.
I came for rest, and what I found was an intimate moment with my Maker, a dripping wet moment of confronting his precepts for my life, confronting the ways I've turned my heart and taken it upon myself... and I can't do it. I dove deeper to the raw roots of that which has led my spirit on paths which - with time - have become encroached by the poison ivy of selfish desire, and thistles of fear and doubt. It seemed some of these 21 authors had experienced at some point a similar path, but all found their freedom in observing his precepts, keeping his decrees, seeking to understand his statutes and live according to His will.
The thing about having a real encounter and engagement with jesus, then learning through time in His word (guided by the spirit) the heart of our God and His pure call on the lives of those who choose him... is this word becomes burned on your heart in ways unique to you as a person, growing uniquely in your faith, and those precepts which you know lead to life (because you too along with so many others in n out of scripture have felt the freedom of the Spirit) become the 'cost of discipleship' we have at one point joyfully accepted, and are called to live into.
I haven't been taking the best care of myself; my eyes, feet and hands all have gone down their own path, and only in encounters such as mine today with my Lord, is that burden lifted, and I can feel the angle of my path turn towards the upward slope. Every day, there's that pocket of light. The Lord has preserved - like those 21 authors - my spirit, and longs to lead me out of the thistles and ivy to a more beautiful path which leads up to freedom and sanctification.
The Tennessee changes of these past several weeks - both in my spirit and future circumstances - have indeed led to my seeking this broader more scenic path, where I'm free again in His hope for my life. This walk through the thorns & thistles to His path for my life, a path 'lit by His word', isn't promised to be easy, but good. But with that weight of the upward journey, there's equal promise in his helping me (all) along the way feeding me assurance of His love throughout.
So many good things I'm blessed with... each day on the river, my cup overflows. It is with joy that I dive into the raw places of my heart and seek cleansing from His spirit, and with thanksgiving that I approach the day.
I'm not really sure why all this is worth sharing... maybe it isn't. But I know that throughout my journey sharing whats on my heart with y'all, it's the valleys which come with the peaks, and in all things we ought share and give thanks. Peaks are always ahead, and the light shines today a bit brighter through the ivy. And as the 21 responsible for the psalm I read today brought me light in their stories, may we all learn and grow from each others, and turn our eyes to the Maker of that which colors our world above, below, all around and within us.
I found that rest, and after 119 I went to Matthew 11 where Jesus promises in His 'gentle and humble heart, rest for your souls. For His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.'
:)
I think I'll rest well tonight.. Company super-hero party tonight in Cañon City (I'm going as quail man!!), then back in the hammock, under the stars, resting in His promises, learning and inviting his precepts.
Rest well, friends..
Onward
I came down to the river today, in need of rest. My body found it - rest - hovering near the river in my hammock, and my spirit tiptoed back into the word, seeking it. I went to look up the word 'rest' in my concordance, but before I found it I stumbled on a word I'd never really learned the definition of, but sort of knew what it meant. Precepts. I felt drawn to read scripture on this, as I felt like I should... Psalm 119 was where 5/9 references led me to...
119 is the longest of the psalms, and rarely will I jump to it for a quick psalm fill, simply because it's so long.. But I decided to... and it might now be one of my favorite. I was meant to read these words today... Twenty-one sections, each it seems is written by a different person with names like 'Ayin, Resh, Taw & Kaph to name a few.. each person laying out their heart for their Lord, seeking to 'find wonderful things in His law'. The word precepts, I counted later, and 17 times it is used in this psalm. The word means: 'a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct.' All there for guidance, that we might experience joy contrary to what the world has to offer...
And if it's not the word precepts, the words 'statutes' & 'decrees' were both used equally if not more in this book of the psalms. Each author of the 21 different sections it seemed was at a unique place in their walk, some are 'laid low in the dust' with 'soul(s) weary with sorrow'. Others asking the lord to open their failing eyes, and give life to their spirits which are dried up like a 'wineskin in the smoke'. But they put their hope in the Lord, seeking to learn his decrees, and live up to his - their Father in Heaven's - precepts, because they know and have felt the life and freedom which is promised, the blessing poured over those who walk in these ways has and continues in their journey on earth to annoint their heads.
I read each of the 21 different authors intimate moments with God, as if they were my own. I journeyed into the souls of men who truly lived according to His word, men who lived into, and each day found Freedom in His promises, men who like me feel "laid in the dust" at times.
I came for rest, and what I found was an intimate moment with my Maker, a dripping wet moment of confronting his precepts for my life, confronting the ways I've turned my heart and taken it upon myself... and I can't do it. I dove deeper to the raw roots of that which has led my spirit on paths which - with time - have become encroached by the poison ivy of selfish desire, and thistles of fear and doubt. It seemed some of these 21 authors had experienced at some point a similar path, but all found their freedom in observing his precepts, keeping his decrees, seeking to understand his statutes and live according to His will.
The thing about having a real encounter and engagement with jesus, then learning through time in His word (guided by the spirit) the heart of our God and His pure call on the lives of those who choose him... is this word becomes burned on your heart in ways unique to you as a person, growing uniquely in your faith, and those precepts which you know lead to life (because you too along with so many others in n out of scripture have felt the freedom of the Spirit) become the 'cost of discipleship' we have at one point joyfully accepted, and are called to live into.
I haven't been taking the best care of myself; my eyes, feet and hands all have gone down their own path, and only in encounters such as mine today with my Lord, is that burden lifted, and I can feel the angle of my path turn towards the upward slope. Every day, there's that pocket of light. The Lord has preserved - like those 21 authors - my spirit, and longs to lead me out of the thistles and ivy to a more beautiful path which leads up to freedom and sanctification.
The Tennessee changes of these past several weeks - both in my spirit and future circumstances - have indeed led to my seeking this broader more scenic path, where I'm free again in His hope for my life. This walk through the thorns & thistles to His path for my life, a path 'lit by His word', isn't promised to be easy, but good. But with that weight of the upward journey, there's equal promise in his helping me (all) along the way feeding me assurance of His love throughout.
So many good things I'm blessed with... each day on the river, my cup overflows. It is with joy that I dive into the raw places of my heart and seek cleansing from His spirit, and with thanksgiving that I approach the day.
I'm not really sure why all this is worth sharing... maybe it isn't. But I know that throughout my journey sharing whats on my heart with y'all, it's the valleys which come with the peaks, and in all things we ought share and give thanks. Peaks are always ahead, and the light shines today a bit brighter through the ivy. And as the 21 responsible for the psalm I read today brought me light in their stories, may we all learn and grow from each others, and turn our eyes to the Maker of that which colors our world above, below, all around and within us.
I found that rest, and after 119 I went to Matthew 11 where Jesus promises in His 'gentle and humble heart, rest for your souls. For His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.'
:)
I think I'll rest well tonight.. Company super-hero party tonight in Cañon City (I'm going as quail man!!), then back in the hammock, under the stars, resting in His promises, learning and inviting his precepts.
Rest well, friends..
Onward
Monday, August 6, 2012
Red letters & Tennessee
Writing again... It can be intimidating. This first paragraph is for you... re-familiarize yourself with these keys... open the stream of consciousness, let your fingers flow freely, and encourage their exploration of new places... this is a place where you ought feel free, where you ought freely drop the murmurings of your spirit... today... now. Always. I want to write again, I want to inspire, I want to be inspired, I want to be re-centered in my own understandings, and find new footing through digging into scripture, seeing it in new ways, observing and recording its flow as it - a living word - pierces me in new ways, making raw my spiritual flesh to His calling on my life. My journey through scripture this summer, while I haven't shared much of it, has been nothing short of raw... And as after a long season on the river my body longs for the healing powers of the ocean, my spirit too longs for cleansing as - after a long and very different summer - it stares at itself in the mirror with evolved eyes to see where it falls short...
In my journey cycling through the gospels I found myself in Mark the other night... I had my hammock hung down by the river and I got all warm in my sleeping bag, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the nearly full moon over the mosquito mountains. I called it in early that night as a small group of us were waking up at 5 to go do a sunrise kayak down the upper sections of the Arkansas.. we did, and it was glorious. I laid there in my hammock, turned on my headlamp, and opened to the gospel of Mark. Now, I don't usually use the red light setting on my headlamp (it's intended for reading), but this time I did. As I started reading with this red light, I got a paragraph or two and realized that with the red light, I couldn't make out even a hint of the words of Jesus (they're in red letters). How interesting... I read on a bit like this, only reading the words surrounding the words of Jesus... I didn't enjoy it much...
So I thought about something... I thought it might be interesting to just read the words of Jesus, and nothing that surrounds them. So I turned my normal light on a dim setting, and I began reading just the red letters from about chapter four, on until the end of the book. What I read, was beautiful... And while having a basic understanding of the surrounding stories helps, the words of Jesus, will meet anyone. "Let us go over to the other side... Quite! Be still!... Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?... Come out of this man, you evil spirit!... What is your name?... Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." For me, reading it this way was nothing more than an interesting experiment, but what I got out of it was pretty rich. In reading it this way (and again, having a basic understanding of the stories surrounding his words helps) I found myself putting my own character into the stories, it was more natural, it was as if in the stories, Jesus was talking to me. And in dealing with the teachers of the law, the priests and people who thought highly of themselves, it was also a very real experience in hearing Jesus talk directly to me in pointing to the areas I hold back from God. But in reading only His words - the words in red - I felt throughout as if I were floating on top of an unimaginably deep & swift current of love which we are gifted the opportunity to experience, if we give our lives to Him... and what he tells us is, it's worth it.. and with even the slightest amount of faith, the word comes alive. So hang a hammock, watch the full moon rise, and wonder... It's worth it.
This summer's gone by fast. Guiding low water has been tough, but a far better experience from what I had imagined. My love affair with Anha (my kayak) has only grown deeper as I explore new and tougher sections of whitewater. I couldn't be happier about the people I work with, each completely unique and necessary to create such a beautiful family of guides. As the summer closes, I have now just a few weeks left on the river, and it seems my nose has sniffed out a desire to explore more rivers in the east. I'll be pointing my nose towards tennessee come labor day... just for a few months. It's good:)
I plan on writing more, as reading often times seems empty afterwards without the discipline of exploring it at new depths on paper, slowing the brain to the confines of the hands., I've much I could use writing about...
But if you're the praying type, pray for me these last weeks... I hope to finish with a healthy spirit, and a healthy body, tying up summer relationships here with sturdy knots that will last on until next summer when we all come back yet again (high water!!). Pray my spirit would bloom in these next weeks, that the light would shine, and I would respond and align my life to reflect that light.
I'm in my hammock now, and it's just startin' ta rain... I'm gonna be off to bed now. more to come... g'night.
In my journey cycling through the gospels I found myself in Mark the other night... I had my hammock hung down by the river and I got all warm in my sleeping bag, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the nearly full moon over the mosquito mountains. I called it in early that night as a small group of us were waking up at 5 to go do a sunrise kayak down the upper sections of the Arkansas.. we did, and it was glorious. I laid there in my hammock, turned on my headlamp, and opened to the gospel of Mark. Now, I don't usually use the red light setting on my headlamp (it's intended for reading), but this time I did. As I started reading with this red light, I got a paragraph or two and realized that with the red light, I couldn't make out even a hint of the words of Jesus (they're in red letters). How interesting... I read on a bit like this, only reading the words surrounding the words of Jesus... I didn't enjoy it much...
So I thought about something... I thought it might be interesting to just read the words of Jesus, and nothing that surrounds them. So I turned my normal light on a dim setting, and I began reading just the red letters from about chapter four, on until the end of the book. What I read, was beautiful... And while having a basic understanding of the surrounding stories helps, the words of Jesus, will meet anyone. "Let us go over to the other side... Quite! Be still!... Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?... Come out of this man, you evil spirit!... What is your name?... Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." For me, reading it this way was nothing more than an interesting experiment, but what I got out of it was pretty rich. In reading it this way (and again, having a basic understanding of the stories surrounding his words helps) I found myself putting my own character into the stories, it was more natural, it was as if in the stories, Jesus was talking to me. And in dealing with the teachers of the law, the priests and people who thought highly of themselves, it was also a very real experience in hearing Jesus talk directly to me in pointing to the areas I hold back from God. But in reading only His words - the words in red - I felt throughout as if I were floating on top of an unimaginably deep & swift current of love which we are gifted the opportunity to experience, if we give our lives to Him... and what he tells us is, it's worth it.. and with even the slightest amount of faith, the word comes alive. So hang a hammock, watch the full moon rise, and wonder... It's worth it.
This summer's gone by fast. Guiding low water has been tough, but a far better experience from what I had imagined. My love affair with Anha (my kayak) has only grown deeper as I explore new and tougher sections of whitewater. I couldn't be happier about the people I work with, each completely unique and necessary to create such a beautiful family of guides. As the summer closes, I have now just a few weeks left on the river, and it seems my nose has sniffed out a desire to explore more rivers in the east. I'll be pointing my nose towards tennessee come labor day... just for a few months. It's good:)
I plan on writing more, as reading often times seems empty afterwards without the discipline of exploring it at new depths on paper, slowing the brain to the confines of the hands., I've much I could use writing about...
But if you're the praying type, pray for me these last weeks... I hope to finish with a healthy spirit, and a healthy body, tying up summer relationships here with sturdy knots that will last on until next summer when we all come back yet again (high water!!). Pray my spirit would bloom in these next weeks, that the light would shine, and I would respond and align my life to reflect that light.
I'm in my hammock now, and it's just startin' ta rain... I'm gonna be off to bed now. more to come... g'night.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Why are titles so difficult? I wrote a blog...
April 18, 2012
It's been a week and a half since my return from Africa.. I have lots to share, but I haven't felt led to share any writing just yet, until today, and what I felt led to share was not about Africa. Soon, I hope...
Driving from Salida to BV last night, I became so thankful for the beauty I call home. The collegiate mountains - more 14,000ft peaks to keep any one man busy exploring for three lifetimes. Beautiful... I got to thinking how lovely it was that in scripture, God time after time tells his people that He cannot be found in the temple, in man-made creations.. His glory is not to be bound, and the path to his heights it says are not of stone shaped by man. It's what's in my backyard, God's temple.. it's all around :)
And so... in relatively modern human history, the world has become extremely small. The globe was not complete until only just over 500 years ago... but it has not been until inventions like the airplane and BlueRay discs that we've had the ease of which to travel and experience first hand the glory of all beauty which exists throughout the whole earth... or, for those not so fortunate/interested, modern technology has also allowed us to sit in our lounger and watch programs like planet earth, or the human planet (my favorite)... minds being blown everywhere...
We have the privilege of experiencing the globe in ways humans have (relatively) never been able... with this great understanding comes great worship... worship as unique to the individual as their fingerprint... each connecting in a different way...
We know what is out there...
And this is the God I worship. This is the temple I stand before. All created things truly bearing witness to the unfathomable greatness of its creator... This God, is God of all.
For those struggling to open themselves up to a specific religion... at least allow your soul the opportunity to open itself up to this God... and the God of your understanding will begin to reveal Himself in your life.
And with this, it's my warmest belief - your soul now open to the God which takes your breath away through nature, the universe, the eyeball etc.. - that the courier of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, will meet you on that journey, and reveal His pure love to you. And if not in this life.... in the passing.. (lots lots here to discuss theologically... it's my hearts conclusion)... and "mercy triumphs over judgement"... So at the very least, open yourself up to God, the engineer behind it all, and you will be given eyes for eternity, and it will change your life... it'll change everything.
See... Jesus came to give those who had hearts desirous of oneness with their maker, freedom. The gift of the Spirit...
This is my belief, it is also my experience...
This love affair really started for me (on my early twenties journey) with the opening of myself up to the God who created all my eyes were being blessed to experience...
And everything changed... so the journey continues, living each day a day in eternity...
Consider this God :)
Be well friends!!
It's been a week and a half since my return from Africa.. I have lots to share, but I haven't felt led to share any writing just yet, until today, and what I felt led to share was not about Africa. Soon, I hope...
Driving from Salida to BV last night, I became so thankful for the beauty I call home. The collegiate mountains - more 14,000ft peaks to keep any one man busy exploring for three lifetimes. Beautiful... I got to thinking how lovely it was that in scripture, God time after time tells his people that He cannot be found in the temple, in man-made creations.. His glory is not to be bound, and the path to his heights it says are not of stone shaped by man. It's what's in my backyard, God's temple.. it's all around :)
And so... in relatively modern human history, the world has become extremely small. The globe was not complete until only just over 500 years ago... but it has not been until inventions like the airplane and BlueRay discs that we've had the ease of which to travel and experience first hand the glory of all beauty which exists throughout the whole earth... or, for those not so fortunate/interested, modern technology has also allowed us to sit in our lounger and watch programs like planet earth, or the human planet (my favorite)... minds being blown everywhere...
We have the privilege of experiencing the globe in ways humans have (relatively) never been able... with this great understanding comes great worship... worship as unique to the individual as their fingerprint... each connecting in a different way...
We know what is out there...
And this is the God I worship. This is the temple I stand before. All created things truly bearing witness to the unfathomable greatness of its creator... This God, is God of all.
For those struggling to open themselves up to a specific religion... at least allow your soul the opportunity to open itself up to this God... and the God of your understanding will begin to reveal Himself in your life.
And with this, it's my warmest belief - your soul now open to the God which takes your breath away through nature, the universe, the eyeball etc.. - that the courier of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, will meet you on that journey, and reveal His pure love to you. And if not in this life.... in the passing.. (lots lots here to discuss theologically... it's my hearts conclusion)... and "mercy triumphs over judgement"... So at the very least, open yourself up to God, the engineer behind it all, and you will be given eyes for eternity, and it will change your life... it'll change everything.
See... Jesus came to give those who had hearts desirous of oneness with their maker, freedom. The gift of the Spirit...
This is my belief, it is also my experience...
This love affair really started for me (on my early twenties journey) with the opening of myself up to the God who created all my eyes were being blessed to experience...
And everything changed... so the journey continues, living each day a day in eternity...
Consider this God :)
Be well friends!!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Be encouraged... From Africa.
**dont have time/energy for an edit... sry for misspellings/grammar woes :/**
Jambo friends... I write this from Kitali... Today was one of the more difficult for me... my spirit dealt with some very difficult things, the rocking from which I have faith will sink my foundation to an even greater depth, a more sturdy place for my spirit to rest with His. Difficult nonetheless..
We've to this point visited three orphan homes, all of which have their own unique and beautiful experience attached to them.... I want to share about today though.
We left yesterday on a five hour journey up the Rift Valley (runs all the way to Israel.. beautiful history here) to a village inhabited by the indigenous poqout people. I cannot possibly describe those I encountered here, on the drive to here, in all of Kitali for that matter... the poverty/oppression they wear on their sleeves (if they have any), the intensity of which rivals the poverty our culture experiences on its inside... it's not pretty. I could tell you of their joy, their smiles, their kindness, their laughter... I could share with you of the many fruits I've picked off of these peoples low hanging branches... the diversity of flavors/colors/nutrients which exist in experiencing each one individually. I'm tasting good things... I'm touching tough things. Touching people who are obviously not well.. a handshake, a hug, a warm gesture they aren't to be denied...we learn this in scripture. I won't attempt to describe the conditions these people call home... photos later will have to tell that tale.
Haiti prepared me well for this trip... the spirit has reached to touch some newly sensitive areas in my life this time 'round.
I've the chance to speak with many people, men, boys, children, in these conditions about our mutual love for Jesus Christ. Brothers who share in the vision of one day dancing in heaven together, a place described in revelation as being a new eternal home to those who "never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." rev.7:16
Sink in this please... but first sink into my shoes, if you can. I have written next to that verse in my bible "i am too comfortable"... yes, it is true. If these are who are to inhabit the kingdom one day.. gosh.. so much there.. i move on.
Arriving at the poquot village, our goal was to register a small handful of the children who were to be placed in the orphan home once it is constructed.. While pictures were being taken and names/birthdates recorded, all the while dozens of children and tribesmen/women hovered around the shaded area where we met the elders of the village... a scene I won't soon forget.
Michael Silitei... my brother. I sat down next to this man, and to my surprise, he spoke fairly good english. I was gifted this relationship by the spirit, because at a very tough time for me (I have become increasingly disgusted at the westernization of these places, and how it is to blame for the poverty and destruction of beautiful cultures rich in tradition and one with the earth... one of many crushed by the west, capitalism, the love of money... a whole other blog), we were able to share in these sentiments. We sat together looking out at the valley, painting the vision of what it must have been like to be a Poquot tribesman thousands of years ago, before colonization, before money... We dreamed about heaven together, and in his broken (but well understood and felt) english, I had him read the whole of revelation 7... tears escaping all four eyes looking on, although I would imagine he felt them at a much deeper level than I can possibly imagine, being that he will truly be freed from these things in this place we read about... free from hunger, thirst, scorching sun...
He told me how he was raised in the catholic tradition, and in school they weren't allowed to have a bible, that it was expected they would rely on the priest for scriptural guidance (I won't share how I feel about this.. here at least), and when he finally did was once he was an adult and out of the church... reading scripture on his own he found jesus. He told me how he discovered Jesus was/is not religion... but love. He shared with me how upon reading the story of zacchaeus, he could relate. Raised having misunderstood the gospel, he crawled up and above the crowd of "judges" (as he called them, and while it doesn't call them that in scripture, it's the message), he could now see Jesus... and He (Jesus) came through the crowd, and called to him. He has been healed, touched by the spirit, brought above the crowd - the law - and given freedom... "zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he..." bla bla bla... a catchy tune the church taught me and so many others.. the message Michael gave to me about this passage came in power, and from the spirit... I saw it in a new way, with new eyes. He told me how he was a volunteer teacher with the children... and not once did he ask me for anything (so refreshing you don't even know), but our spirits connected and in sharing scripture together he said he was "given new courage", while I was given new hope... the body of Christ at work. After a long while learning eachother and resting in a nest of spiritual encouragement together, we wandered into a shaded area outside of where everyone was communing to pray together... In the middle of our praying, the children were roused by something and dozens ran by and through where we were standing yelling joyfully in a playful manner like kids do all across our beautiful earth.. it was perfect, and the prayer needed it as we were praying at that moment for 'faith like children...' eyes closed, it was surreal to in this moment hear these children running by all around us - it seemed they didn't even know were there, but the spirit knew, and He knew we needed that.
I could go on, go on, and go on some more... but I leave you with that...
As my spirit processes this, that, and so many other new relationships/revelations... pray for me.. pray for them... pray to feel the power of prayer in your life, to feel how REAL it is... for faith like a mustard seed is not about how much you can do with so little, but how with faith - faith like a mustard seed - we 'know' how grand the gift is which awaits us as we exist now, a seed in soil, faithfully awaiting life which will soon spring forth up and out of the s(t)oil into an existence which cannot possibly be imagined, but with faith.
Off to bed... on to Lodwar tomorrow... be well friends :)
Jambo friends... I write this from Kitali... Today was one of the more difficult for me... my spirit dealt with some very difficult things, the rocking from which I have faith will sink my foundation to an even greater depth, a more sturdy place for my spirit to rest with His. Difficult nonetheless..
We've to this point visited three orphan homes, all of which have their own unique and beautiful experience attached to them.... I want to share about today though.
We left yesterday on a five hour journey up the Rift Valley (runs all the way to Israel.. beautiful history here) to a village inhabited by the indigenous poqout people. I cannot possibly describe those I encountered here, on the drive to here, in all of Kitali for that matter... the poverty/oppression they wear on their sleeves (if they have any), the intensity of which rivals the poverty our culture experiences on its inside... it's not pretty. I could tell you of their joy, their smiles, their kindness, their laughter... I could share with you of the many fruits I've picked off of these peoples low hanging branches... the diversity of flavors/colors/nutrients which exist in experiencing each one individually. I'm tasting good things... I'm touching tough things. Touching people who are obviously not well.. a handshake, a hug, a warm gesture they aren't to be denied...we learn this in scripture. I won't attempt to describe the conditions these people call home... photos later will have to tell that tale.
Haiti prepared me well for this trip... the spirit has reached to touch some newly sensitive areas in my life this time 'round.
I've the chance to speak with many people, men, boys, children, in these conditions about our mutual love for Jesus Christ. Brothers who share in the vision of one day dancing in heaven together, a place described in revelation as being a new eternal home to those who "never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." rev.7:16
Sink in this please... but first sink into my shoes, if you can. I have written next to that verse in my bible "i am too comfortable"... yes, it is true. If these are who are to inhabit the kingdom one day.. gosh.. so much there.. i move on.
Arriving at the poquot village, our goal was to register a small handful of the children who were to be placed in the orphan home once it is constructed.. While pictures were being taken and names/birthdates recorded, all the while dozens of children and tribesmen/women hovered around the shaded area where we met the elders of the village... a scene I won't soon forget.
Michael Silitei... my brother. I sat down next to this man, and to my surprise, he spoke fairly good english. I was gifted this relationship by the spirit, because at a very tough time for me (I have become increasingly disgusted at the westernization of these places, and how it is to blame for the poverty and destruction of beautiful cultures rich in tradition and one with the earth... one of many crushed by the west, capitalism, the love of money... a whole other blog), we were able to share in these sentiments. We sat together looking out at the valley, painting the vision of what it must have been like to be a Poquot tribesman thousands of years ago, before colonization, before money... We dreamed about heaven together, and in his broken (but well understood and felt) english, I had him read the whole of revelation 7... tears escaping all four eyes looking on, although I would imagine he felt them at a much deeper level than I can possibly imagine, being that he will truly be freed from these things in this place we read about... free from hunger, thirst, scorching sun...
He told me how he was raised in the catholic tradition, and in school they weren't allowed to have a bible, that it was expected they would rely on the priest for scriptural guidance (I won't share how I feel about this.. here at least), and when he finally did was once he was an adult and out of the church... reading scripture on his own he found jesus. He told me how he discovered Jesus was/is not religion... but love. He shared with me how upon reading the story of zacchaeus, he could relate. Raised having misunderstood the gospel, he crawled up and above the crowd of "judges" (as he called them, and while it doesn't call them that in scripture, it's the message), he could now see Jesus... and He (Jesus) came through the crowd, and called to him. He has been healed, touched by the spirit, brought above the crowd - the law - and given freedom... "zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he..." bla bla bla... a catchy tune the church taught me and so many others.. the message Michael gave to me about this passage came in power, and from the spirit... I saw it in a new way, with new eyes. He told me how he was a volunteer teacher with the children... and not once did he ask me for anything (so refreshing you don't even know), but our spirits connected and in sharing scripture together he said he was "given new courage", while I was given new hope... the body of Christ at work. After a long while learning eachother and resting in a nest of spiritual encouragement together, we wandered into a shaded area outside of where everyone was communing to pray together... In the middle of our praying, the children were roused by something and dozens ran by and through where we were standing yelling joyfully in a playful manner like kids do all across our beautiful earth.. it was perfect, and the prayer needed it as we were praying at that moment for 'faith like children...' eyes closed, it was surreal to in this moment hear these children running by all around us - it seemed they didn't even know were there, but the spirit knew, and He knew we needed that.
I could go on, go on, and go on some more... but I leave you with that...
As my spirit processes this, that, and so many other new relationships/revelations... pray for me.. pray for them... pray to feel the power of prayer in your life, to feel how REAL it is... for faith like a mustard seed is not about how much you can do with so little, but how with faith - faith like a mustard seed - we 'know' how grand the gift is which awaits us as we exist now, a seed in soil, faithfully awaiting life which will soon spring forth up and out of the s(t)oil into an existence which cannot possibly be imagined, but with faith.
Off to bed... on to Lodwar tomorrow... be well friends :)
Friday, March 23, 2012
Next Stop, Africa
-- Africa --
March 23, 2012
So, I'm on this plane. My third plane today, fourth this week, eighth in the past three weeks... Oh, ash wednesday :) This particular plane is something special however, as it will be landing on the continent of Africa in just under five hours.
Somehow in my lifes journeys - both as a duckling following behind my travel hungry father, as well as on my own adventures - I've never stepped foot on this rather large chunk of land. Africa. I wish to learn the power behind this word, this culture, its people, its pain, its depth, its beauty... I know it's there, and I can't imagine finding it will be that difficult... in fact, even just hovering over this land in a big metal tube I feel some layer of unidentifiable substance being peeled back, exposing a blended mixture of emotions for this elusive land. It's SO BIG! I'm a fool to think that in touching just a fragment of Kenya & Uganda that I'm experiencing, 'Africa'. I know better... Soo much to explore :)
We will be landing in Nairobi, hoping around Kenya for ten days, then off to Kampala where we will spend five days enjoying Uganda. Our time in Kenya will be spent - for the most part - gathering information on the orphans in four of the homes Warm Blankets supports, putting the children in a newly created database which will be shared with the UN. See, if these orphans are not registered and properly identified, they are liable to being stolen, sold, moved into different forms of slavery etc... and with no way of tracking them, they become lost. Terrible things. Happening to little children. ALL OVER the earth. Seek justice, receive life...
So I was just in the bathroom a minute ago, and after watching several TED talks on the perilous status of our floating rock, earth (The truth in the messages being: "The economy will fail...", "Environmental concerns are real and dangerous..." "The earth IS full..." "Change MUST happen..." etc..), I found myself with a smile on my face and that liquid joy rolling down my cheeks as I FELT at my core a deep appreciation for the things my Lord has brought near to my heart... the things I have become passionate about. I looked at my life and said "if for the rest of my brief stay here on earth, I can seek justice (it comes in SO many forms..), and enjoy creation in the ways I am currently (rivers, mountains, people etc etc..)... I will never be lacking. Joy always. Glory to Him. Selah :) A warm feeling...
I wondered too how will my fingers glide over this keyboard on my return trip... what words will drip from my heart.. Crazy.
I want to share a brief story I came across as I journey now through Judges... A story which has touched me, like if a person were to come up to you with an extremely sharp spear and prick you on your exposed chest. I feel it... I know it's sharp... I know there is power in it. I know too that with time, I will feel the PIERCING power of this spear living it's truth in my life... and hopefully yours too :)
Gideon. Judges 6-7
This story, I cannot do it justice in a summary, although I'll try..
Gideon was just working the winepress one day and an angel came to him (we now have the spirit which speaks to us and gives us power in this way.. thanks to Jesus :)) and said "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."
'Umm... okay?' -Gideon
And he doubts... so much so that three times He asks the Lord to prove his power over his life in really strange ways.. He doubts. Wouldn't you?! The Lord is asking him to SAVE Israel, to defeat the Midianites who have soaked them in oppression... impossible things He is asking him to do.
So he seeks confirmation that it is the TRUE Lord guiding his steps, his words, his spear, his people... and the Lord was patient with him, all three times He delivered what he asked (which surprised me to be honest, but made me glad that the Lord was patient with his servant of whom he asked seemingly impossible things.. so glad as I feel shades of doubt too).
Here's the tip of that spear I was talking about... stay with me...
About to attack the Midianites, Gideon has found his power in the Lord and with troops numbering over 32,000 behind him, he is ready to do some serious battle... But his ear and his heart, they are still faithfully in tune with the Lord's, and what does he hear? The Lord says 'that's too many... anyone (soldiers) who tremble with fear may turn back...'
22,000 men left. 10,000 remained.
"Still too many" - Lord.
He tells Gideon to take his 10,000 down to the water, and those who lap the water with their tongues he is to seperate from those who kneel down to drink... those who lap the water, these are your soldiers.
300 remained.
"Umm... Crap." - Humans
"Yeaaa... now I can show them my POOOWER" - God
Strange? Sure... What's the point? Earlier when there were still 32,000, the Lord said this to Gideon... "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into your hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her..." ... I will sift your troops down to an impossible 300. "With the 300 men... I will save you" says the Lord.
Okay, so read the story (PLEASE), because obviously Gideon and the 300 go on to defeat the midianites and it's awesome (If you're a dood who loves Jesus, and you don't love the old testament, you crazy!).
God wants to deliver us..!.. and he wants to do it in a way that only HE can receive the Glory... He will take the humble, and through impossible circumstances raise them up in their kingdom pursuits, bringing glory to His name on earth....
I cannot express in words the depth to which this story has hit me...
"He must become greater, I must become less." is a verse which just burst into my mind outta my heart...
It doesn't mean 'great things won't happen'... It means that in making ourselves less, we are widening the gap for Him to show up in Glory, fulfilling the impossible, making great things happen as we give the credit back to Him... as Jesus did time after time... why are we surprised he was able to do such great things?? He was the only earth walker who came down from his eternal dwelling right next to His maker in Heaven... He had faith more than ANYONE in his true citizenship... and all the glory went to His father.
So we do the same... we learn from Gideon, we listen to the spirit, we seek impossible things which bring glory to Him... and by sticking the nose of our compas in scripture, we trust the spirit to guide us on a true path which leads to that place in eternity which He is preparing for all who live in love with Him and with others... take me today, tomorrow, or eighty years from now.. just deliver me, and use my life (or death?) :)
So, what will this story mean to me in two weeks? Will that tip have pierced my flesh?
If you're reading this, you're probably familiar with my most recent journies and how the Spirit has undoubtedly hovered over it all. This new job... I'm reminded daily of the gap I am trusting the Spirit to fill... I have faith in the impossible things becoming reality as myself and those in this ministry seek to do good for these orphan children... and now as I sift my own being down to 300 units of whatever from 32,000... I put my trust in Him, and struggle through doubt to proclaim His glory through it all, whatever may come :)
There is power in the Word. Life in the Spirit. And in my own broken flesh, I will tell you that He wants to use you too in ways impossible to our understanding.. put your trust in Him... listen, and act :)
I crawl over the sleeping Kenyan next to me and look down... There she is :) Africa :) If you're the praying type, I would appreciate your joining me on this spiritual journey, being here with me in the spiritual realm, pleading to God on our behalf that he would give us impossible power to do impossible things :) It's real, so very real.
Be well friends :)
March 23, 2012
So, I'm on this plane. My third plane today, fourth this week, eighth in the past three weeks... Oh, ash wednesday :) This particular plane is something special however, as it will be landing on the continent of Africa in just under five hours.
Somehow in my lifes journeys - both as a duckling following behind my travel hungry father, as well as on my own adventures - I've never stepped foot on this rather large chunk of land. Africa. I wish to learn the power behind this word, this culture, its people, its pain, its depth, its beauty... I know it's there, and I can't imagine finding it will be that difficult... in fact, even just hovering over this land in a big metal tube I feel some layer of unidentifiable substance being peeled back, exposing a blended mixture of emotions for this elusive land. It's SO BIG! I'm a fool to think that in touching just a fragment of Kenya & Uganda that I'm experiencing, 'Africa'. I know better... Soo much to explore :)
We will be landing in Nairobi, hoping around Kenya for ten days, then off to Kampala where we will spend five days enjoying Uganda. Our time in Kenya will be spent - for the most part - gathering information on the orphans in four of the homes Warm Blankets supports, putting the children in a newly created database which will be shared with the UN. See, if these orphans are not registered and properly identified, they are liable to being stolen, sold, moved into different forms of slavery etc... and with no way of tracking them, they become lost. Terrible things. Happening to little children. ALL OVER the earth. Seek justice, receive life...
So I was just in the bathroom a minute ago, and after watching several TED talks on the perilous status of our floating rock, earth (The truth in the messages being: "The economy will fail...", "Environmental concerns are real and dangerous..." "The earth IS full..." "Change MUST happen..." etc..), I found myself with a smile on my face and that liquid joy rolling down my cheeks as I FELT at my core a deep appreciation for the things my Lord has brought near to my heart... the things I have become passionate about. I looked at my life and said "if for the rest of my brief stay here on earth, I can seek justice (it comes in SO many forms..), and enjoy creation in the ways I am currently (rivers, mountains, people etc etc..)... I will never be lacking. Joy always. Glory to Him. Selah :) A warm feeling...
I wondered too how will my fingers glide over this keyboard on my return trip... what words will drip from my heart.. Crazy.
I want to share a brief story I came across as I journey now through Judges... A story which has touched me, like if a person were to come up to you with an extremely sharp spear and prick you on your exposed chest. I feel it... I know it's sharp... I know there is power in it. I know too that with time, I will feel the PIERCING power of this spear living it's truth in my life... and hopefully yours too :)
Gideon. Judges 6-7
This story, I cannot do it justice in a summary, although I'll try..
Gideon was just working the winepress one day and an angel came to him (we now have the spirit which speaks to us and gives us power in this way.. thanks to Jesus :)) and said "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."
'Umm... okay?' -Gideon
And he doubts... so much so that three times He asks the Lord to prove his power over his life in really strange ways.. He doubts. Wouldn't you?! The Lord is asking him to SAVE Israel, to defeat the Midianites who have soaked them in oppression... impossible things He is asking him to do.
So he seeks confirmation that it is the TRUE Lord guiding his steps, his words, his spear, his people... and the Lord was patient with him, all three times He delivered what he asked (which surprised me to be honest, but made me glad that the Lord was patient with his servant of whom he asked seemingly impossible things.. so glad as I feel shades of doubt too).
Here's the tip of that spear I was talking about... stay with me...
About to attack the Midianites, Gideon has found his power in the Lord and with troops numbering over 32,000 behind him, he is ready to do some serious battle... But his ear and his heart, they are still faithfully in tune with the Lord's, and what does he hear? The Lord says 'that's too many... anyone (soldiers) who tremble with fear may turn back...'
22,000 men left. 10,000 remained.
"Still too many" - Lord.
He tells Gideon to take his 10,000 down to the water, and those who lap the water with their tongues he is to seperate from those who kneel down to drink... those who lap the water, these are your soldiers.
300 remained.
"Umm... Crap." - Humans
"Yeaaa... now I can show them my POOOWER" - God
Strange? Sure... What's the point? Earlier when there were still 32,000, the Lord said this to Gideon... "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into your hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her..." ... I will sift your troops down to an impossible 300. "With the 300 men... I will save you" says the Lord.
Okay, so read the story (PLEASE), because obviously Gideon and the 300 go on to defeat the midianites and it's awesome (If you're a dood who loves Jesus, and you don't love the old testament, you crazy!).
God wants to deliver us..!.. and he wants to do it in a way that only HE can receive the Glory... He will take the humble, and through impossible circumstances raise them up in their kingdom pursuits, bringing glory to His name on earth....
I cannot express in words the depth to which this story has hit me...
"He must become greater, I must become less." is a verse which just burst into my mind outta my heart...
It doesn't mean 'great things won't happen'... It means that in making ourselves less, we are widening the gap for Him to show up in Glory, fulfilling the impossible, making great things happen as we give the credit back to Him... as Jesus did time after time... why are we surprised he was able to do such great things?? He was the only earth walker who came down from his eternal dwelling right next to His maker in Heaven... He had faith more than ANYONE in his true citizenship... and all the glory went to His father.
So we do the same... we learn from Gideon, we listen to the spirit, we seek impossible things which bring glory to Him... and by sticking the nose of our compas in scripture, we trust the spirit to guide us on a true path which leads to that place in eternity which He is preparing for all who live in love with Him and with others... take me today, tomorrow, or eighty years from now.. just deliver me, and use my life (or death?) :)
So, what will this story mean to me in two weeks? Will that tip have pierced my flesh?
If you're reading this, you're probably familiar with my most recent journies and how the Spirit has undoubtedly hovered over it all. This new job... I'm reminded daily of the gap I am trusting the Spirit to fill... I have faith in the impossible things becoming reality as myself and those in this ministry seek to do good for these orphan children... and now as I sift my own being down to 300 units of whatever from 32,000... I put my trust in Him, and struggle through doubt to proclaim His glory through it all, whatever may come :)
There is power in the Word. Life in the Spirit. And in my own broken flesh, I will tell you that He wants to use you too in ways impossible to our understanding.. put your trust in Him... listen, and act :)
I crawl over the sleeping Kenyan next to me and look down... There she is :) Africa :) If you're the praying type, I would appreciate your joining me on this spiritual journey, being here with me in the spiritual realm, pleading to God on our behalf that he would give us impossible power to do impossible things :) It's real, so very real.
Be well friends :)
Friday, March 2, 2012
The New Job.
3 . 2 . 12
"For my father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life... I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will NEVER die. Do you believe this?" - Jesus (jn6:40/47/11:25)
Chicago went well. Extremely well. :)
Allow me to share...
Craig (president of Warm Blankets) greeted me at the airport and took me directly to HQ where we would - after meeting the handful of incredibly warm spirited, extremely driven & obviously compassionate staff members - sit down in the 'think tank', mapping out what his vision was for me within the organization.
The job will consist of me helping to develop a strategic approach and establishing a foundation of consistent donor support... going first after specific niche industries (PT clinics/real estate groups etc..), we'll give them the opportunity to come alongside an orphan home within the Warm Blankets network, giving the children consistent financial support, over time building relationships with the orphans and widows in the homes, and even getting the opportunity to visit, and feeeel the weight of the impact of their support. Mutual benefits abound.!.!. both the orphans and the groups domestically who'll be committing to support will have much to gain through this relationship, both in the spirit & worldly realms... the Lord wants to bless those who bless others. And I get to help deliver these blessings to both groups! What a blessing :) God is goooood...
So, growing these - soon to be - many new donor streams of financial support, the big picture is that Warm Blankets would realize a more stable foundation where the reliability of month-to-month support would grow from many little streams flowing into one big, deep, fast moving river of support to deliver our God's hope and love - in the form of care - to these children who have been pulled out of war torn regions of SE Asia and Africa, and giving them (orphans & widows) a family & a home above a church where the goal is to transform and give life, making disciples for the Kingdom...
It's funny.. these homes are in some real sketchy, sometimes extremely dangerous environments where I'll get to go visit... and my roommate Judd when I was telling him about the details of the job (He's SO excited for me and wants to be a part of this work somehow.. praise god :)) he at one point paused and said, "so, it's like you're a soldier for the Lord?"
YES! Exactly! :) Glory...
Mmmm.. moving on... the job would allow and encourage between 3-5 (+/-) international trips/year where I would be a part of a team leading these new donors through the Warm Blankets network, giving them the opportunity to prick their finger with the end of the spear they've grown sharp over time with their faithful support...
My first trip is on the 22nd to Kenya for ten days. :)
Working from Salida (although I'm going to CHI again monday for a week, and will probably 1-2/mo), we're going to get it done... The Lord is in this process, and good is the goal... it will be (is being!) blessed. Rafting - of which I had grown a peace in my mind about not being a part of because of pressures from the spirit to move towards this kind of work - as it turns out is probably going to be an option :) The river is life.. and these people (raft guides) are dear friends... and it appears (based on our strategic timeline at WB) that another summer on the Ark is as good a possibility as any... working out so that come August I'll enter back into more of a full time role with WB. Right now I am considered a 'consultant', but we have hopes and plan on me becoming a full-time salaried employee... Glory :)
Warm Blankets mission statement... James 1:27.
Couldn't ask for anything more :))
So much more between the lines here where the spirit has just 'shown up' and made it so obvious this is a good fit, I could write a book on it... but I won't :) just yet anyway.. ha.
Last, and certainly not least.. before I go... Thank you, thank you, THANK you for your prayers those of you who lifted me up after my last post asking for you to join me in prayer.. and thank you, THANK you to those of you who were lifting me up even before then after my second to last post on ash wednesday where so clearly the spirit wanted to move, wanted me open and acknowledging His power in new and beautiful ways.. and I did.. and you prayed on my behalf.. and He is good, he is faithful, He is 'the resurrection and the life, that he who believes in Me shall realize everlasting life... life given on earth in the form of our God's spirit, sent to comfort, and guide us through this world on our way to eternity.' :) glory.
Be well friends!
If you're interested in hearing more about the organization, check out the website or shoot me a message... would love the opportunity to share more :)
"For my father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life... I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will NEVER die. Do you believe this?" - Jesus (jn6:40/47/11:25)
Chicago went well. Extremely well. :)
Allow me to share...
Craig (president of Warm Blankets) greeted me at the airport and took me directly to HQ where we would - after meeting the handful of incredibly warm spirited, extremely driven & obviously compassionate staff members - sit down in the 'think tank', mapping out what his vision was for me within the organization.
The job will consist of me helping to develop a strategic approach and establishing a foundation of consistent donor support... going first after specific niche industries (PT clinics/real estate groups etc..), we'll give them the opportunity to come alongside an orphan home within the Warm Blankets network, giving the children consistent financial support, over time building relationships with the orphans and widows in the homes, and even getting the opportunity to visit, and feeeel the weight of the impact of their support. Mutual benefits abound.!.!. both the orphans and the groups domestically who'll be committing to support will have much to gain through this relationship, both in the spirit & worldly realms... the Lord wants to bless those who bless others. And I get to help deliver these blessings to both groups! What a blessing :) God is goooood...
So, growing these - soon to be - many new donor streams of financial support, the big picture is that Warm Blankets would realize a more stable foundation where the reliability of month-to-month support would grow from many little streams flowing into one big, deep, fast moving river of support to deliver our God's hope and love - in the form of care - to these children who have been pulled out of war torn regions of SE Asia and Africa, and giving them (orphans & widows) a family & a home above a church where the goal is to transform and give life, making disciples for the Kingdom...
It's funny.. these homes are in some real sketchy, sometimes extremely dangerous environments where I'll get to go visit... and my roommate Judd when I was telling him about the details of the job (He's SO excited for me and wants to be a part of this work somehow.. praise god :)) he at one point paused and said, "so, it's like you're a soldier for the Lord?"
YES! Exactly! :) Glory...
Mmmm.. moving on... the job would allow and encourage between 3-5 (+/-) international trips/year where I would be a part of a team leading these new donors through the Warm Blankets network, giving them the opportunity to prick their finger with the end of the spear they've grown sharp over time with their faithful support...
My first trip is on the 22nd to Kenya for ten days. :)
Working from Salida (although I'm going to CHI again monday for a week, and will probably 1-2/mo), we're going to get it done... The Lord is in this process, and good is the goal... it will be (is being!) blessed. Rafting - of which I had grown a peace in my mind about not being a part of because of pressures from the spirit to move towards this kind of work - as it turns out is probably going to be an option :) The river is life.. and these people (raft guides) are dear friends... and it appears (based on our strategic timeline at WB) that another summer on the Ark is as good a possibility as any... working out so that come August I'll enter back into more of a full time role with WB. Right now I am considered a 'consultant', but we have hopes and plan on me becoming a full-time salaried employee... Glory :)
Warm Blankets mission statement... James 1:27.
Couldn't ask for anything more :))
So much more between the lines here where the spirit has just 'shown up' and made it so obvious this is a good fit, I could write a book on it... but I won't :) just yet anyway.. ha.
Last, and certainly not least.. before I go... Thank you, thank you, THANK you for your prayers those of you who lifted me up after my last post asking for you to join me in prayer.. and thank you, THANK you to those of you who were lifting me up even before then after my second to last post on ash wednesday where so clearly the spirit wanted to move, wanted me open and acknowledging His power in new and beautiful ways.. and I did.. and you prayed on my behalf.. and He is good, he is faithful, He is 'the resurrection and the life, that he who believes in Me shall realize everlasting life... life given on earth in the form of our God's spirit, sent to comfort, and guide us through this world on our way to eternity.' :) glory.
Be well friends!
If you're interested in hearing more about the organization, check out the website or shoot me a message... would love the opportunity to share more :)
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