driving without headlights

One of my heros of the faith, the late Rich Mullins, brought a smile to my face tonight in his story driving without headlights. Enjoy.

love

I am sick of talking about the word. Every part of my being cries out for it. I believe that the power of love is not involved in receiving but in giving. How is it then that I can talk so much of love and yet love so little?

Abba, help me to love more than just myself. Open my eyes to see the love starved world around me and enable me to give that which I have been given in abundance.

jerusalem or bust... hmmm, maybe I should rephrase that?

After a long week of studying I need some perspective. I am off to Jerusalem (which is a whopping 7 km away) to spend some time alone in the old city for the weekend.

Rest for me is sitting at the location of Ciaphas' house contemplating our Lord's anguish which brought so much grace to my sinful existence. Or learning how to pray as I sit and watch orthodox Jews at the pouring their heart out to God at the western wall. Perhaps I will spend a bit of time at a graveyard or two looking forward to the life to come. Blessings.

Abba

"Help me Abba! Abba help!" came the cry of the two-year-olds whimper penetrating the thick library walls. Normally I would have been distracted, but something sounded familiar in the child's voice. It was reminiscent of my own. Instantly my mind shot backwards though time recalling the many times I have cried out "Abba, help" to my own heavenly Father.

These four letters which mean "Father" in Hebrew brought such deep insight to what a loving Father we have in heaven. Abba is not a far off God sitting on a throne, sending His secretary to answer our every beckoning call. Abba is near, Abba is talking in His loving Fatherly voice, He is laughing with us, picking us up when we fall, correcting us in righteousness, sitting comfortably in silence with us.

Many times as believers we suffer from spiritual homesickness. We miss Abba just as we missed our own parents at first separation. We needn't be heartsick for our Abba, He is right here with us even at this very moment. He is not impossibly far off, but unfathomably close at hand listening for our cry “Abba”

beliefs, books and bags

After considering the matter, I decided not to go to Egypt for my travel study break. Instead I decided to stay back in Israel and actually study. Two things led me to this decision.

First of all, for those of you who know me you know that the reason I love to travel is the many people and cultures that I am thrown into. Every adventure is another ministry. So Egypt would have been the perfect adventure.

However, I realized that before I can do ministry publicly, I must first do it privately. I have not been doing very well in my studies here as it has been much more difficult than I anticipated. If I am not being diligent in my studies about God and his people, then how am I to teach His people? So, as difficult as it is, I am going to stay and finish my studies.

The other reason I decided to stay back was due to financial obligations. I have been struggling with paying my school bill and I had to back out of a missions trip to Africa this summer due to lack of funds. Suffice it to say, it would show a lack of integrity to leave on pleasure.

This is probably not one of my more interesting posts, however, if we read between the lines I believe there is something worthwhile to learn here. Blessings.

narcissistic rulers

My King lives in my heart not on a poster.

top ten things i experienced in jordan

10. Camels
9. Dirt… Everywhere.
8. Non-kosher Burger Kings with burgers that actually look like the pictures!
7. Military Checkpoints with sniper towers.
6. Checkpoint soldiers insisting that I am an Arab.
5. Honest people who will actually give you change after tipping them.
4. Bedaes. WARNING ! These are not water fountains!
3. Arab bagpipe players, playing Scottish music in Roman Ruins.
2. Watching a goat sit in a tree eating leaves.
1. Being detained for urinating under a bridge that was actually a military compound.

Two amazing certainties came out of this trip. An understanding of just how unbelievably friendly and hospitable the Arab culture is and meeting a missionary that far exceeded any amount generosity I have ever experienced. Blessings

behind borders

After returning from an amazing trip to the southern regions of Israel known as Negev and Wilderness of Zin (where the Israelites wandered) I return only to leave again in the morning. Though I have been living in the Middle East now for a little over 6 weeks it doesn't really "feel" like I am in the middle east. This is all about to change.

Tomorrow morning I am leaving for the country of Jordan. I am excited for this short little vacation away from school, however I am a little leery. What will a predominantly Muslim country be like? Living in a Jewish land it is hard to know if I have developed any prejudice towards the Arabs. I pray that I haven't, but I am always aware of my sinfulness that distorts a vision and desire to love all humanity.

Pray for me. Pray that my love for others will blossom in a spiritually desolate land.

6,000,000

What would possess a human being to take the life of another? Being in Israel has really caused me to think about the 6 Million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. I cannot wrap my mind around that kind of number. I am at a loss for words right now.

A combination of the visit to Yad Vashem and watching documentation of dead bodies being bulldozed into mass graves; Visiting Oskar Schindler's Grave a few weeks ago and then viewing the biographical film of what he did for 1,100 Jews; And then watching this beautiful group of displaced people finally in the land which they belong, I am moved to tears.

I reflect upon a hate so powerful, so intense, so unjustified. I ask God why? But He is silent, just as He was while million's died. I have no answer for this impossible question.

If something so evil, so hate-filled can exist in our world, imagine how intense the love of God which has overcome that evil.

Tonight, be thankful.

of camels and women; an exposition on west bank wildlife pt. 3

Apparently I wasn't doing this right... I enjoyed the concept of a camel so much I promised the friendly Arab that as soon as I returned to the states I would send him my sister for 300 more. He readily agreed, but after he saw me coercing the camel to kiss me on the lips, he quickly changed his mind, yelled at me and said "my camels only kiss women!" Ahhh, the life of a sheik in the middle east.

whoah donkey! an exposition on west bank wildlife pt. 2

It is not every day that you get to ride a Palestinian kid's donkey, inside of King Hussein of Jordan's unfinished palace, in Gibeah of Saul, Israel. Though I look like a professional in the picture I must admit I was a little nervous. Perhaps a checkered headdress and an AK-47 would have made me feel more at home.

how to carry a chicken; an exposition on west bank wildlife pt. 1

For your information, 40 sheckels will buy you two chickens in Bethlehem. I felt guilt for my hand in the spilled blood of Chuck the chicken in Uganda. Ruth and Boaz as shown above are alive and well and will remain so for a long time.