A Story
Say Yes – part 1 – “Christmas is . . .”
“Christmas has arrived again . . . . Somehow I realized that songs, music, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and many sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying ‘yes’ to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying ‘yes’ to a hope based on God’s initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God’s work and not mine. Things will never look just right or feel just right. If they did, someone would be lying. The world is not whole, and today I experienced this fact in my own unhappiness. But it is into this broken world that a...
Read More“What do I do with Jesus?”
So, if a Whole Peach person is one who sees Father God and life for who and what they really are, if a Whole Peach person is one who seeks Father God and the “life” that only he can offer, and if a Whole Peach person is one who savors this “life to the full” above all things, then Brother Jesus must be our perfect picture of a Whole Peach person. In his own words, he said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10. But I really don’t know what to do with Jesus sometimes. I resonate with Pilate when he said: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27: 22). When I read the story of Jesus...
Read More“Ravi Zacharias’ Great Teaching on Parenting”
A note from my journal this morning . . . . Following a great dinner last night, Karla and I prepared for bed and picked up our end of day reading and listening. She is reading The Hole in the Gospel by Richard Stearns, and I listened to part 2 of Ravi Zacharias’ teaching on King David titled “Divided Heart, Divided Home.” It’s a powerful study, and Ravi is a great teacher. Within just a few minutes of reclining into these stories, we both heard from our glorious and personal Father. For example, the writer of The Hole in the Gospel (the CEO of Compassion Int’l) identified John 10:10 as Jesus’ personal mission statement. Are you...
Read More“Our Haiti Adventure”
Ron and I turn 40 this year! And as we talked about various options for celebrating this milestone, the three of us landed on an incredible opportunity with a most strategic ministry. We will be traveling April 25-May 1 with World Orphans to participate in a training seminar for their church partners in Haiti. World Orphans is a non-profit ministry committed to strengthening the local church around the world to rescue and care for children. World Orphans takes the time to identify churches in the developing world that are already caring for orphans and could do more with support and encouragement from a western church partner. By partnering with World Orphans, Ron and...
Read More“1. Lost Things Found . . . 1000.”
We started our own list of 1,000 gifts after beginning a great new read called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (www.aholyexperience.com). She like so many interpreters before her is giving words and meaning to my “peaceful wreck” mentality (phrase taken from a short story by Tillie Olsen)! I need help – deciphering my details, choosing my “big rocks,” and pursuing the work that survives! And Ann is becoming a new friend in the journey. As I am just beginning the read, I am not ready to offer a summary but I will say this: Ann believes there is value in Eucharist – a life of gratitude and thus this book is weaved with her own list...
Read More“The Seeking”
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 Our Agreement As parents, we are all committed to a mission of investing in our children. In the words of Deuteronomy 6, we desire “to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength, and teach these words diligently to our children.” And together, we are trying to work this out. As the principal at my kids’ school wrote to the parents, we are Kingdom Christians – “families fighting passionately together for the heart of the King.” What does it mean to work out Matthew 6:33 – the kingdom principle of “Seeking?” In the midst of homework,...
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