For this tour I have been in Jamaica for two weeks, working with PPM..helping to lead Missions. While I love what I do and believe I get to use every talent/gift the Lord has given me, I am ready to be done for now. I have lead five trips this summer. Every week a new team comes from North America. Sometimes the challenge is adapting to the Americans, sometimes the challenge is remembering to remain gracious when local men make inappropriate or disrespectful comments..though I'm most certain that the two coincide. I find myself most thankful for the teammates I work with. Praise Jesus that our leadership is stacked, so displays what I believe to be an adequate reflection of Christ's face, his multi-faceted nature...such that when one of us is weak, the other or others are strong. The trips come together regardless of the degree of effort required, regardless of the opposition.
Tomorrow we leave for our day trip in Ochi, where we will get to debrief the week and enjoy each other's company....I'm anticipating "Remember Whens" and a lot of laughing. Four of us leaders fly out early Friday morning, so we will leave for the Kingston airport before Brit leaves. She will see the team off and then head out to SCUBA dive. We will venture back to the States. I am ready. Though, I will soon be leaving on an adventure to Central America with my friend David.
Our plan for now is to go to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica...but we will not hold anything too tightly. As for now, I have a one way ticket to Honduras. I will return after six weeks, or possibly less, but am going to embrace the season to stop life for a bit, and breathe. However, my heart is called to Raleigh, which is why I will not be relocating.
As for life in Raleigh, I will be painting and drawing...experiencing the jouney of how my Lord will breed life through hands.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
America is Messy; the Harder Thing to do is Stay
So, I got this wild idea to move to Nicaragua for a season of life...though it was a fleeting vision. For a moment or so it seemed I had no committments here in Raleigh. My pro/con list, reasons to stay versus reasons to go, suggested the contrary. It turns out there is a greater purpose...to invest in this place, the friends and ministry God has so faithfully blessed me with. I did feel "called" to move to Raleigh. The most earnest thing I can do with my life is submit to that calling.
Before I was overcome with the desire to flee the States, I had written my vision for this Fall. Now realizing that this is where I need to be, despite my heart for exploring uncharted territory, I have a seemingly nascent vigor to uncover the jouney that awaits me..here...
My encouragement to you:
Realize that people are just people, problems are just problems, life is just life...
that the grass seems to be greener, for sure. But more than all of this, stop over-complicating a God that is not a God of disorder or confusion. Be where you are. Allow your heart to be fully where you are. When you are called to another place, you will know. For now, embrace the present. Seek to honor your father as best you can at this moment in time. Eventually the current will lead you into the future; surely you do not want to be absent for the tour. Immerse yourself. Remember that God can do anything. And when you forget this, remind yourself again.
My heart's desire is to love and respect you as the best I can, to be an authentic friend, to pray for you when I say I will and even when I say nothing at all. My hope is that through genuine relationship and self-disclosure, you will be inspired to pursue Christ; I pray that your heart will understand that you will not be able to drown emotional voids through worldy efforts. While distractions are rampant here in the States, I suppose birthing my interest in doing life outside of its confines, God is omnipresent. When your efforts to reach Him appear to be without avail, remember this truth. So, as you search, as you flee where you are with the hopes of uncovering new, realize that it has already been done. The only truth we uncover is found in Christ and Christ is everywhere. Be where you are. Invite Jesus to chart your course.
Before I was overcome with the desire to flee the States, I had written my vision for this Fall. Now realizing that this is where I need to be, despite my heart for exploring uncharted territory, I have a seemingly nascent vigor to uncover the jouney that awaits me..here...
My encouragement to you:
Realize that people are just people, problems are just problems, life is just life...
that the grass seems to be greener, for sure. But more than all of this, stop over-complicating a God that is not a God of disorder or confusion. Be where you are. Allow your heart to be fully where you are. When you are called to another place, you will know. For now, embrace the present. Seek to honor your father as best you can at this moment in time. Eventually the current will lead you into the future; surely you do not want to be absent for the tour. Immerse yourself. Remember that God can do anything. And when you forget this, remind yourself again.
My heart's desire is to love and respect you as the best I can, to be an authentic friend, to pray for you when I say I will and even when I say nothing at all. My hope is that through genuine relationship and self-disclosure, you will be inspired to pursue Christ; I pray that your heart will understand that you will not be able to drown emotional voids through worldy efforts. While distractions are rampant here in the States, I suppose birthing my interest in doing life outside of its confines, God is omnipresent. When your efforts to reach Him appear to be without avail, remember this truth. So, as you search, as you flee where you are with the hopes of uncovering new, realize that it has already been done. The only truth we uncover is found in Christ and Christ is everywhere. Be where you are. Invite Jesus to chart your course.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Temporada Nuevo
Since I'm in a new season of life, I am inclined to start a new blog. I had recently posted a couple of new entries on my Xanga...though going back and re-reading my heart from 2005, I have the desire to let it be and start again.
In honor of those days, though...
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Finding Neverland a place where I can wander so lovely and so sweet so magical and quaint a love it is to have such thoughts to fly and gently touch another we kiss so sweetly again together I think of this moment this now and forever falling into a seat I dream again for the screen is so close but the world so vast it opens a door to step out and explore the unknown perhaps the make-believe is only what we show...
She touches her fingertips with his, one by one
Counting all five, from pinkie to thumb
Climbing the creases of her palm with the pad of his own
Figure-eighting its entirety so separately alone
He drops his index to sweep her inner vein
She follows his eyes as they plummet the same
So faintly he rewinds each gentle advance
Reacquainting with each finger, they circle a dance
He pauses with silence, then weaves his fingers with hers
Drawing closely to her chest, then spreads out his arms
She follows the gesture, though reaching only his half
Ideally consumed with the protection of a man
The world around them stops and all becomes lost
Mutely they watch their hearts being tossed
They stare into each other with intense Godly passion
Aware of a euphoria so wonderfully old-fashioned
The moment picks up and drives through the current state
Of being deeply in love with the Lord’s select mate
Now they meet for they are married and can blessedly join
Themselves while basking in such remarkable joy
For the fist time they express a physical desire
To explore the depths of an everlasting fire
That they committed to not kindling prematurely
Knowing it would have perished with all of earthy fury
And so they now stand with honor, having waited
To fulfill a purpose as two, both fitted and untainted…
Hushing the surrounding excitement, the lens begins to close
The lights begin to dim, though capturing a pose.
Together, Boaz and Ruth are outlined by this 8 1/2 by 11;
A picture titled “Grace” in a world they now call “Heaven”.
In honor of those days, though...
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Finding Neverland a place where I can wander so lovely and so sweet so magical and quaint a love it is to have such thoughts to fly and gently touch another we kiss so sweetly again together I think of this moment this now and forever falling into a seat I dream again for the screen is so close but the world so vast it opens a door to step out and explore the unknown perhaps the make-believe is only what we show...
She touches her fingertips with his, one by one
Counting all five, from pinkie to thumb
Climbing the creases of her palm with the pad of his own
Figure-eighting its entirety so separately alone
He drops his index to sweep her inner vein
She follows his eyes as they plummet the same
So faintly he rewinds each gentle advance
Reacquainting with each finger, they circle a dance
He pauses with silence, then weaves his fingers with hers
Drawing closely to her chest, then spreads out his arms
She follows the gesture, though reaching only his half
Ideally consumed with the protection of a man
The world around them stops and all becomes lost
Mutely they watch their hearts being tossed
They stare into each other with intense Godly passion
Aware of a euphoria so wonderfully old-fashioned
The moment picks up and drives through the current state
Of being deeply in love with the Lord’s select mate
Now they meet for they are married and can blessedly join
Themselves while basking in such remarkable joy
For the fist time they express a physical desire
To explore the depths of an everlasting fire
That they committed to not kindling prematurely
Knowing it would have perished with all of earthy fury
And so they now stand with honor, having waited
To fulfill a purpose as two, both fitted and untainted…
Hushing the surrounding excitement, the lens begins to close
The lights begin to dim, though capturing a pose.
Together, Boaz and Ruth are outlined by this 8 1/2 by 11;
A picture titled “Grace” in a world they now call “Heaven”.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
