We've Moved!

So much has changed in the last two weeks.  For starters we’ve moved from PA to VA to begin ministry to ROTC cadets in the Mid-Atlantic region.   We’re now about 15 minutes from VA Tech and an hour and 15 minutes from Virginia Military institute, two of our primary campuses.  We’re praying for God to open doors at all 48 campuses with ROTC programs – would you join us in this prayer?

The decision to move happened over the course of about 2 days.  It was a long time coming, but the decision to go was quick.  God opened a door for us, literally.  We signed a lease for the first house we looked at, on the first day of house hunting.  Despite looking at many other houses and condos we always went back to the first one – when we walked in, it just felt like home. 

And, what would a Mike and Jess story be without a long road trip?  Yes, we signed a lease and drove back to PA to pack up the Farm house, then drove back to VA in a caravan with Mike’s parents, Brad and LouAnn, and moved in.  Brad and LouAnn made the move so easy – we couldn’t have done it without them.  For those of you wondering about all of the meat which resulted from Mike’s hunting expeditions, fear not.  Mike ordered a chest freezer and timed the delivery to match our arrival time.  I do my meat shopping in the garage now.

In the two weeks since we’ve moved we have seen God open doors for us with the VT Campus Crusade Campus Ministry team, the University, and amazingly enough with over a dozen cadets!  We have been given an unexplainable peace and sense of contentment.  We remain open and available to the plans of the Lord, but He has given us such a sense of being in the right place right now that we’re pretty awed by Him. 

Thank you to everyone who has joined us in prayer and given wise counsel.  We continue to praise the Lord for your influence in our lives – He is so good to not have us on this journey alone!

Teachable or Willing to Learn?

For as long as I can remember I've always heard of the importance to be 'willing to learn'.  It is so important to start a new job and be willing to learn.  Or, as a student, be willing to learn from professors and students with backgrounds very different from your own.  Yet, as I continue to grow in age and spirit, I see more and more the higher value of a 'teachable' heart and mind.  What's the difference?

I can remember one Lieutenant from my days on active duty who always insisted she was 'willing to learn'.  Despite her hard attitude, indifference to protocol, and lack of interest in the Airmen around her, she was 'willing to learn'.  What was she 'willing to learn'?  I'm not sure.  My efforts toward counseling and guiding her often led to outbursts of tears or near Mt. Vesuvius-style blowouts.  'Willing to learn'?  Perhaps she was; if only I could have cracked her code and tailored each task, order, and project to her liking.

A stark contrast was a young sergeant struggling significantly in the transition from Airman to non-commissioned officer (NCO).  From the start this sergeant was 'teachable'.  Her heart was geared toward growth.  She stalled because she couldn't do it alone and each of her previous supervisors had left her without a path.  So we began a long steady march intended to help her grow from Airman to NCO.  She blossomed.  For the first time she internalized her role, responsibilities, and took initiative to maximize them.

The difference between 'teachable' and 'willing to learn' is dramatic.  'Teachable' reflects the heart and mind condition.  A heart that is set toward change and growth is teachable, consenting to instruction.  Listen to descriptions of people.  Often the word teachable is used by someone other than the subject.  It is bestowed upon the subject rather than self-proclaimed.  In contrast, 'willing to learn', is often how we describe ourselves when others are not willing to make a parallel reference.  It's an internally focused attitude that says, 'I'll learn if you can teach me in the way I want'.  One who is 'willing to learn' may not be receptive to instruction despite their claim.

The psalmist cries, "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long." Psalm 25:4-5.  It is an active willingness to receive instruction that makes us teachable.  How good is our Lord to not leave us alone to traverse a rocky path?  If we are willing, he will guide us through the path and help our transition.  We must only set our hearts toward Him.

I have a long way to go before I'm where I want to be, but I grow significantly faster when I submit my heart to be teachable, when I recognize I'm often the one in the way of my own learning, and allow the walls and prejudices to come down.  Rather than being willing to learn, I pray for a teachable heart and mind.

Hip Hop for Haiti

Hip Hop for Haiti was a concert in Minneapolis to support "Churches Helping Churches" provide assistance to communities of believers in Haiti.  LeCrae, Flame, Json, DJ Essence and DJ Official....pretty much just cool.

The video is 57 minutes long and between songs there is a lot of speaking about Haiti based on the experiences of a large group of American pastors who traveled to Haiti immediately following the earthquake.  Worth checking out.

If you are interested in the t-shirts worn by the performers, check out: http://www.merchline.com/lampmode/

If you are interested in learning more about "Churches Helping Churches", check out:  http://churcheshelpingchurches.com/
 

Does This Look Familiar?

I'll admit it. I'm taking this from another blog. Sean and Melissa, I hope you don't mind, but it's too good to not share.

I pray this challenges you as much as it did me. There are many times when I've felt so comfortable that I hardly recognize my relationship with Jesus Christ. The books all look the same, the messages from pastors all sound the same, the church activities all blend together; yet, this journey is exciting, vibrant, and passionate. At least it should be. Sometimes I need to see a visual to remind me.

Community

For the last ten years I've moved nearly every 1-2 years. Even during college I hopped around Philadelphia and lived in a different suburb each academic year, and so it often felt like I had moved to a completely new place each summer. And, yet I can really only remember a few neighbors. There was Arthur the whacky engineer and Marine Reserve officer who taught me how to shine my boots properly. Philippe, a Frenchman on a work visa doing artisan woodworking for a cabinet company, and who kept in touch when he returned to France. He wanted me to understand that he didn't have any anti-American sentiment when the Iraq War started. And the downstairs neighbors whose names I never learned, and are the only neighbors for whom I've called the police. Ahhh, Philadelphia.

Have you wondered why it is that we hesitate to meet our neighbors? While I lived overseas I thought I would meet my neighbors and at the very least would know their names and understand the rhythms of life that determined their comings and goings. School buses, work, family vacations, or pending moves. Yet, two years passed and I knew only one name and never understood any of the rhythms of their life.

The process of learning about community has been a gradual one for me. If I am hesitating to step forward to meet neighbors, then it's likely they are also hesitating or feel too busy to reach out. It's an awkward staring contest of waving over snowy cars before work, a slight nod as you pick up your newspaper, and the occasional, 'Happy Holidays', when you happen to cross paths during the Christmas season. Who will blink first? I'm learning that more and more I need to be willing to blink first and step forward. Slowly my sense of entitlement that convinces me that my neighbors need to reach out to me first is fading. Slowly my heart is being humbled by the Holy Spirit to see through His eyes - my neighbors are mirror images of me. Lost. Sinners. People with hurts, losses, shame, and guilt. Someone once reached out to me to bring me closer to Christ. Can I in-turn pass this along? Will I continue the movement?

Recently we had the privilege and joy of being "stranded" in DC during a blizzard, and had a wonderful and refreshing week with close friends. The depth of community they have worked to cultivate is amazing. It's more than knowing neighbors, but a development of relationships in all generations. Katie knows the baristas at the Caribou Coffee near their home, Jason has been able to pour into a neighbor's teenage sons, and both are growing relationships with neighbors, a difficult thing to do in transient DC. What struck me is their initiative made this possible. Hundreds of customers pass through Caribou daily, but how many ask the baristas about their lives beyond the polite, chatty "coffee" talk? With a growing family and steady work-related travel they could easily hole-up in their townhouse and not interact with anyone, but they've chosen to bring brownies to new neighbors and invite them to share dinner.

Community will enrich our lives in ways unimaginable. The people God has placed in our lives have greater depth than we ever allow ourselves to assume, they have more varied experiences, and have so much to teach us...if we let them. Take a risk this grey, grey February and walk over to the neighbor brushing snow off their car and help them out. See where the conversation leads, it may surprise you.

Truth and Grace

I've recently gotten to know a recent high school grad in the town we're currently raising support, I'll call him Tom. Many of the teens we're spending time with are living what many would call pretty messy lives: tattoos, drugs, sex, lots of ragged black cloths. Most are incredible nice to us, eager to see that we're not intimidated by them and willing to build relationships with them. Back to Tom - no one would think he's messy; he doesn't drink, has no tattoos, and is gainfully employed. Tom seemed extra eager to build a relationship with me and Jess. At first I didn't think anything of it. When we got to talking about faith stuff, I sensed an openness and invited him to join us at church.

The next morning, there he was, but he came to the later service and we just finished the early. Honestly, at the moment I had no idea whether to stay with him or keep on with my plans. We left and Tom stayed. Later I wasn't sure we had done him right, but hoped for more chances to connect. So I sent him an message online later in the week seeing how he was doing, and planned on connecting with him more on Friday night.

Friday and Saturday night, Tom was there. We played some pool, talked a little, but not much more than that. As we were about to leave Saturday night, I asked Tom if he had any plans for Sunday. He said none, other than joining us for church... for the early service... Great, I thought, but I still didn't really know much about him or how he was doing.

Sunday's message was great, and set up a great transition to going deeper with Tom. As we sat there, the pastor talked about Jesus in the book of John, and how John shows that as the Christ, Jesus offers life to all who believe. As the message ended, Tom sat down and broke into tears. I prayed that God would give me His words, and His heart as I started to ask Tom what's going on.

Among his first words were, "I have no one. I wandering alone." I knew exactly what he needed to know, but it wasn't going to come from me just telling it to him. I knew because I experienced the same life changing message in college. He needs truth and grace.

John 1:17 - "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

In Jesus, we get the complete manifestation of truth and grace. The two places we experience these most are in the Word of God and in a community of believers. Until college, I really didn't have either. Tom has neither, yet.

I've come to realize that we hardly fathom how absolutely essential truth and grace are. Where do we get purpose and meaning without truth??? How do we know that what we're doing has any value if there is nothing outside ourselves telling us so?? Without truth about God, truth about ourselves, truth about the world, we are nothing more than meaningless, purposeless wanders, doomed to keep falling into the same traps everyone else falls into. How can we have relationships when we keep messing up?? Where do we get freedom to be who God made us?? How can life be about more than rules?? Without grace, we're equally lost in slavery to fear and isolation. Truth provides purpose, grace provides freedom.

The world that has so frightened Tom is one without truth or grace. All that anyone has told him so far is that's he's on his own and there's no meaning to anything.

That's one of the lies Satan wants him to believe. If it weren't that, it could be "Meaning is found in Pleasure" or "Meaning is found in material abundance"

The truth is, God made him and has a purpose for his life. Tom doesn't need to create his own purpose, just follow God's to be satisfied. He's also not alone. God never leaves us, and always gives us what we need to overcome a trial. Right now, God has put me into Tom's life to show him truth and grace. I'm eager to grab pizza with him on Wednesday, work on an old car with him sometime, and hopefully tell him more about my beautiful Savior who gives me purpose and freedom.

Signs of Life

This fall we saw a bumper crop of oak acorns on the Farm. The woods were noisy with the sound of falling acorns, and one needed to be vigilant to not be struck broadside on a walk. It takes an oak tree about 20 years before it reaches maturity and begins producing acorns. The first crops from a young oak tree tend to be very thin. It can take an additional 50 years before an oak tree reaches a point of maturity where it can produce a really healthy crop of acorns. Even when an oak reaches this point it will often alternate years of great acorn production because of the immense effort required to produce so many acorns. Once acorns are developing they face animals, blights, molds, and insects before having an opportunity to germinate and produce a green shoot of life. One reference suggested that an acorn may have a 1/10,000 chance of actually becoming an oak tree. Given this, it an oak tree could be 50 or 60 years old before its produced enough acorns for one of them to actually be able to replace it. The life cycle of forests is amazing.

This fall while on a walk I filled my pockets with lots of acorns and decided that I need to plant them in cans. I was determined to help these little guys get past the 1/10,000 odds. The property we're on has lots of white oaks which can be planted immediately (acorns from red oaks should be stored and planted in the spring time).

So I pulled out some brightly colored gingham fabric, tin cans, and craft glue spray and decorated a couple of new "pots". After filling them with potting soil I sorted through the acorns and picked out the heaviest and healthiest looking ones. The chosen few were planted with much anticipation. I made a couple mistakes, namely not watering them frequently enough and after a few months I thought they were dead. I was planning to hang onto them until spring when the contents of the little pots would be tossed out as compost for the forest floor.



But alas! Mike and I came home from Minnesota and found signs of life in the drafty, cold front entryway of the Farmhouse. There is one little green shoot in each can. Hope springs eternal! It's hard to not think of this in spiritual terms. So often we work diligently to pour into someone or to overcome something, but it is really not our timing that can produce that sign of life. Only the natural timing of our Father who is Author and Creator. Now I'm anticipating planting these little saplings where we move in the spring so we can be reminded of how growth is not of our making.

Look closely, there's a little green leaf in the bottom of the can!

Stockings!

We were fortunate to spend Christmas and New Year's in Minnesota with my parents and brother, and at the Twin Cities Christmas Conference for the Upper Midwest campus ministry region. Both were fantastic. We arrived at my parents' house in Duluth, MN one day before a massive blizzard made its way slowly through the area. Total, we ended up with 24.5'' of snowfall in two days. That's a lot of snow! Thankfully my parents have a snow blower and sturdy shovels.

We ended being tucked away in my parents' cozy house between sprints of snow shoveling. Mike always has trouble keeping his feet warm on floors without carpet, and my parents have only hardwood floors in their house. So, Mike had to get creative. He found two wool stockings that my mom was using for decorations and repurposed them:

Playing cards...


Doing dishes...

Watching football...

Taking a nap...


Reading a book...

You have everything you need

The close of a year and beginning of a new year seems to be a natural time to reflect, and the Lord has brought me to a few verses and left me to meditate on them:

"...To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with our by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:1

Did you catch that? Peter...the apostle PETER writing you the church declares we have obtained a faith of equal standing because of our salvation through Christ. The moment you make a Lordship decision, and invite Christ into your life you have a faith of equal standing with the apostles who lived with and learned from Jesus Christ himself!

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence," 2 Peter 1:3

And, because of this we now have all things for life and godliness. We may not know yet how to use them effectively or when to use them - but we have them. Isn't the hardest part of any home improvement project the time it takes to drive to and from Home Depot to get parts and bits and pieces? Peter says we don't need to do this anymore because we have all things.

"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge..." 1 Cor 1:3

Paul emphasizes that all things includes speech and knowledge. What's left?

I hope you find this as encouraging as I do. As you look to a new year I hope you will take time to read these scripture passages and meditate on what the Lord has done in your life, and will continue to do. We've all been given what we need to serve him well and grow in our relationship with him, and as with anything it will take time and perseverance to develop into maturity. I hope 2010 will be a year diving deep into the Living Word of God, trusting God for greater things, and serving him in new ways. May this be the year that you take God at his word and stake your claim on the verses above and believe him for all he promises.