What Faith Can Do

So many times we forget what Jesus said in Matthew 17:20. "...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

I am thankful that beyond my minuscule faith, the faith of many other god-fearing, righteous people have influenced not only my life, but the world I live in.

I don't know that I've heard it said better than through these lyrics:

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do.

What Faith Can Do (Kutless)

Election Day 2008

I hate election day. It makes me nervous. I can't stand to watch the results as they "trickle" in. I don't want to hear the exit polls. I want it all to be over. I just want to see the end of all the political mud-slinging.

But as much as I hate it all - I must say that I hope you all have voted. If only someone would actually enforce the rule that if you don't vote, you don't get to criticize the government...

My friend forwarded this along - and I think these reminders are more important than the vote itself.

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE?

Apple Pie and Voltron

Have you ever tried to explain to a teenager the whole idea that Jesus is the Son of God, yet Jesus 'is God'? You start off by using the verses where Jesus says: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) and "The Word was God" (John 1:1) just hoping they get it the first try? It's not an easy discussion, for adults, much less teenagers!

The subject came up in a bible study with Claire and Lindley this week. So - my weak attempt to explain the whole idea was, of course, to reach for the "Apple Pie" explanation. Just how is this discussion related to dessert, you ask? Let me explain:

God is all the ingredients/individual pieces that it takes to make the apple pie.

Jesus is the apple pie itself - the actual physical representation of all of those ingredients.

The Holy Spirit is the smell of the apple pie. You smell it and you know it is apple pie - even without seeing the pie itself.

So it works like this: God is everything - Jesus became the physical representation of God on earth ("He made himself flesh" Philippians 2). The Holy Spirit is the essence of God/Jesus left behind to guide us.

It's not a perfect explanation - but it seemed to work.

The response from Claire: "So - Jesus is God in baked form."

Claire makes me smile. I don't think God has a problem with her sense of humor because it emphasizes her understanding - and its better than her not getting it at all.

For entertainment value, I found this description on-line today from an anonymous writer's response to a question about the Trinity. Some of you will appreciate this more than others:

"I see the Trinity as Voltron. There are a bunch of smaller robots, but they all combine into one huge robot. The small robots are Voltron when combined, yet he can detach an arm and send it somewhere. It's an "arm of Voltron", but it's part of the whole"

OK - so kind of like apple pie, right?

The Bible is Zelda?

There are certain teenagers with whom I love to talk about "God things." Claire Buehler is one of those teens. Tonight during a bible study we were talking about how the bible is always relevant and how you can read a passage one day and it will mean one thing - and a year from now you may have a complete different understanding of the same passage. I explained to Claire and Lindley (my niece) that it was why my dad could re-read the bible year after year and never grow tired of it.

That was when Claire popped up with "The bible is Zelda!" The excitement on her face was not mirrored in mine - because I was confused for just a second. Then she looked over at Lindley and repeated, "You know - the bible's like Zelda - no matter how many times you've played it there's always something more to do or to find."

It's not a conventional connection - but she gets it!

And - I can't wait until the next study!

It's That Time of Year!

So - for some it's just another holiday weekend. For some of us - it's one of our favorite times of the year! Its time for approximately 400 - 450 people to meander their way across the Northwestern U.S. to find all roads leading to Camp Yamhill and to what is known as FaithQuest! This will be my 11th year to attend FaithQuest (as a chaperon or part of the staff) - and I can truthfully say that my spiritual walk is stronger because of this program! May God bless the Vancouver and Metro Churches of Christ for their unending loyalty to the organization and planning of FaithQuest for the last 21 years...

For your enjoyment below is a list of things I have learned at FaithQuest. Some of you may not completely understand these things - but that's ok, you can just imagine!

Things I have learned at FaithQuest:

1. Any teenagers can survive a 3-day weekend using the "Schmidt Houses" (otherwise known as porta-potties).

2. Having to shower every-other day will not kill you.

3. That the best place to meet new friends is while standing in line for meals.

4. That after an hour or so, any log on which you are sitting should have padding.

5. That prayer in the "tabernacle" is a powerful thing.

6. Late night talks with friends and mentors can change how you view your world.

7. An understanding of the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1 - 11)

8. To pay attention during opening programs - because "baptisms" may not actually be "baptisms"

9. That it is difficult to sing praise to Jehovah God while sitting still.


There are many more - but that's enough. I can't wait to see my friends and my fellow Uganda-sojourners from this past January. I can't wait to sing! I can't wait to watch and see how God will change lives this weekend!

Grasshopper messenger...

It happened on my way to work today. I was moving along with flow of traffic, just heading onto the Marquam bridge, when I saw it.

A little green grasshopper. Not just green - but lime green - almost fluorescent. I've never actually seen a grasshopper that color.

He was hanging onto my driver's side mirror. And when I say hanging on -- it was for dear life. His little front legs were spread wide and gripping the top edge of the mirror -- his wings blowing in the quick wind caused by the moving vehicle.

And he hung there. For a long time. I watched him for the next three miles or so. He stayed on the edge for a while, then moved to the top of the mirror. And all the while, I was just waiting for him to blow off - afraid to go faster - thinking that more speed would be his downfall.

But eventually, he moved to the back of the mirror facing the on-coming wind full force. I lost view of him just as I was getting off the freeway. I don't really know when he fell off, but he didn't make it all the way to the office with me. It made me sad. I wanted to see him succeed.

During the few miles of watching him battle to stay attached, I kept thinking: "That's the way I feel right now...that it's taking all of my strength to stay attached, to survive, to just get through the day...knowing that the next big breeze would knock me off. Like I'm hanging on for dear life."

And I thought of this bible verse:

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. [James 1:12]

I kind of think "hanging on for dear life" can be of the same mind as "persevering under trial."

So I guess that now is the time to hang on, to brave the wind, to persevere -- one day at a time.

For tomorrow will be another story.

Dharma & Greg

So, one of my guilty pleasures in the mornings as I get ready for work is to sit in the middle of my bed and watch t.v. as I put on my makeup. Generally I sit and flip between four different shows: Crossing Jordan, Angel, JAG, and Dharma & Greg. Eventually, I land on a episode of one show that will hold my attention long enough to make me almost late for work.

Anyway - as it turns out, this morning it was Dharma & Greg that caught my attention. In this episode, Greg stayed up all night reading a bunch of books by different "spiritual" leaders trying to "find himself". He looks at Dharma and tells her that he is going to read the bible next. Dharma replies something to this effect, "Let me save you some time: First half - don't mess with God; Second half - be nice to everybody."

It was at that point that my brain really started processing for the day. At first I wondered if you can really boil it down to two simple phrases like that - and if you could, those two phrases didn't seem anywhere close to accurate. I believe that the bible is written in simple enough language for us to understand, but, it would be very difficult to choose two specific phrases to "sum up" what the bible is about. And maybe those two phrases would change throughout my lifetime. My very first try was: First half - God loves his people. Second half - God loves his people. Then it switched to: First half: God loves his people. Second half: God saves his people.

Still not exactly right. I'm going to have to ponder this some more...