Landon

Happy Third Birthday to my lovely nephew
Landon Paul Sparling
I miss your giggle, your squeals, your never-ending curiosity about life, the way your eyes light up when you discover something new, and the way you run full speed the other way when you know you are in trouble. I miss you and am proud to be your aunt, even if it is from a distance!
Happy Birthday Buckey =)

Israel

Ancient Olive tree at an Olive Grove in Gethsemane

Youngsters on the streets of Jerusalem

Study

Mt. Arbel

Standing Guard at a City Gate

Wailing Wall

Jerusalem Skyline

Fishing at Cesarea Phillipi

Ancient Seating

At Herodium

Saint Peter's Fish

Incense

Bethlehem

Cemetery

New Camera =)

Sea of Galilee

T-h-i-n-g-s

I splurged this week and bought three books that were not from the thrift store. Crazy Love by Francis Chan, The Three Muskateers and the Karamozov brothers. Brain food for the far near future. I splurge on some little things in life I suppose: a cup of coffee from my favorite coffee shop, a pack of mentos or FIVE gum, a good book from the thrift store. Little things in life that I don't need by any means but add a brighter color to my day. Over the last couple of months I have been blown away at God's provision, whether through work or through the generosity of others, I have been amazed to see Him bless in the manner that He has chosen to. With blessing comes the responsibility of being a blessing to others and being a good steward with what He has given, whether it be resources or time or your gifts and talents. I did not make it to church today because public transportation turned faulty at the last minute and prevented me from going. I came home in a dissapointed huff and decided I would listen to a sermon online. I researched some by Francis Chan and one popped up called "Lukewarm and Lovin' It". Talk about conviction 101. By simply being born in America, we are richer than most of the people in the world. I am a recent college graduate who is "poor" compared to many of the people around me in Chicago. Poor in what? I have work that pays the rent, gives me a bit of a cushion for leisure, and allows me to eat as much as I want. Am I lacking in anything? Materially, no, I daresay I am not. I have been so convicted lately about possessions, about what I own and what I am working towards. In the end, all of these physcial, material things that we acquire here on this earth will pass away. I long to build up my treasure in heaven although I know I have not done a good job of doing that as of late. I desire to throw off the wants of comfort and security and to continually walk in faith before my God, walking as He guides my steps and leads me to where He would go. There are times when life is full of surprises and unexpected bends in the road, but I desire to embrace them instead of run from them. What am I afraid of anyway? What fear holds me back? May I become unhinged and abandon my caution when it comes to the worship of my God. A process but I know it can come. All in due time =)

All things Go

I am sitting in my Starbucks. The one kiddy corner to my home for the past four years and where I received my "formal education." I have been in here many times with various people, spent hours studying and pouring out my heart to those the Lord brought into my life, listening and being encouraged and challenged simultaneously. I miss those days. All things change, it is inevitable I know. Life happens whether we are ready for it or not. I sit here where everything is so familiar, so unchanged, but where things are vastly different. Not because they have changed, but because I have. I am. I am in the midst of a time of transition. I am no longer a student per se, I am out in the 'real world' whatever that means. As if it were not real before? What is my initiation into this real world? Paying my own bills? Living on my own? Tasting independence for the first time? Falling flat on my face and sitting in the remnants of my failure? Having a heart broken? Being taken advantage of, again? If so, I have been in the real world for awhile. I am in a time of transition yes, but I am determined to make the most of this time. To live each day and purpose and not simply go through the motions. Not simply exist, but to live. To really live, and experience life as God has given me the ability to do so. Being a bit melancholy in nature, I do not always exude the joy of the Lord as I am commanded to do so in His word externally. It does not come springing forth like a bubbling brook in the woods, but it is there. It is there. It often brings a smile to my lips as I find joy in the small things of life, the small and seemingly insignificant. God has a way of using those to bless me and has done so for years. The two things that I have been learning lately is how truly blessed I am in ALL areas of my life and am awed by God's persistent faithfulness in all things. He has met my needs time and time again that I cannot help but trust, look to Him and go ooooooo. Yes, I remember now. I remember. I am waiting for a visa, waiting for provision to hear whether in a month all will be changed, all will be different. All will be as He has for me, and what more can I ask for?

Autumn

Autumn, I miss the crunching of your leaves and the crispness of the air on walks. Return soon, please.
Sincerely Me.

Love, where is your fire?

This is the song that popped up today on my Pandora as I was getting ready for another day admist the world of radio waves and thrift stores with a dear friend. It is one of the lesser known that Brooke Fraser has put out on as I strolled around my room assembling my ritual coffee and make myself presentable. I make my way up to the eighth floor of Crowell to answer telephones for the last time on Saturday mornings for Moody radio-this will soon be replaced by teaching English to refugees during this time slot.

I settled in this morning ready to take comments and questions, not really knowing what to expect. The phone lines this morning have remained lifeless due to the subject matter. Hate crimes and homosexuality in the world today, not something that many people can identify with or even have an educated opinion about. I will openly admit that I fall into that category. It has happened on occasion while I have answered phones that someone tugs on my heartstrings and tears are brought to my eyes over the realities that some people wake up to and have to face every day. This happened today for the first time in many months.

A lady called in who is well into her seventies and talked to me for almost fifteen minutes about the church's attitude towards homosexuality and the alienation that so many homosexuals feel at the hands of Christians. She is not the first who has done this. I have had people sob as they relayed situations where they felt demeaned and belittled at the hands of their pastors and fellow believers alike. Where is their place in the church? Where is a place where they can serve? Can they serve? Should there be restrictions placed on them when they serve? Who decides what those restrictions are and how they are imposed? Who decides?

I have thought about this off and on over the past several months and have realized that homosexuality is still one of those issues that is taboo to talk about within the church today. It is one of those topics that make people uncomfortable, so it does not surface very often within the walls of our fellowships. Many people are not familiar with the different issues that homosexuals struggle with and therefore do not know how to relate or dialogue with them. There is such a disconnect between the two camps which inevitably leads to alienation and separation. How do you connect the two? Can there even be a connection or are these realities that are irreconciable? There is nothing that we can do in our own power, it is only through the power of God that anything can come to be.

As believers, we are heralded by Christ to be known by our love. Our love is to be a mark of identification, something that sets us apart from the world? How often do we fail oh church, on a daily basis at being the hands and feet of Christ? Help us Lord.