alive with springs

"There is intoxication in the waters of contemplation, whose mystery fascinated and delighted the first
Cistercians and whose image found its way into the names of so many of those valley monasteries that stood in forests, on the banks of clean streams, among rocks alive with springs.

These are the waters the world does not know, because it prefers the water of bitterness and contradiction.  These are the waters of peace, of which Christ said: 'He that shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall not thirst for ever.  But the water that I shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up into life everlasting.'

These are the Waters of Siloe, that flow in silence"

-Thomas Merton, The Waters of Siloe 

Wildflowers [...to hearken than the fat of rams.]

"...see how they wake without a question
even though the whole world is burning."
-W.S. Merwin, "Rain Light"


I read another poem, or perhaps it was part of this poem that described so eloquently the shattering of the dew as the water droplets release explodingly as one brushes by a leaf or flower blossom. Quietly the rain or dew, the flowers, they obey their creator without a question.

1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

 But Samuel replied:
   “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
   as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
   and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

...and to my listening ears

...all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

Let the heavens ring!

"This is my Father's world.  
O let me ne'er forget 
that though the wrong seems oft so strong, 
God is the ruler yet.  
This is my Father's world:  
why should my heart be sad?  
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!  
God reigns; let the earth be glad!"

On the ground in Costa Rica. There is so much poverty, and yet so much happiness.

Way too much to do on a one week trip.

Lord let me not be overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of this world's brokenness;

Nor have too much gumption to solve every problem, for am I not broken as well?

Allow me to find peace in your arms and in the welcoming hands of a community that depends so much on relationships and so little on material possessions.

Allow us to welcome each other as we are knowing fully well that the Lord is King.

T minus 15 hours. CR or bust.

I just saw the Inmans off to their week-long mission trip to New York City and have been left to man the house for the remaining 6 hours or so before I leave to spend the night at the Hogg's who will be taking me to the airport before my flight to Costa Rica.  But until then, I get the pleasure of doing the Inmans (my host family) a favor:  cleaning out the leftovers.  So I am anticipatively sitting and blogging and eating some left over Qdoba Mexican food (in the spirit of Latin American travels) made into a dish that would put up a good fight against even a fresh Qdoba meal (which if you couldn't tell, I am quite proud of).  And in the spirit of leaving the states, I finished some left over ice cream (that surely would have gone bad) that is slowly dribbling down the inside edge of my chilled glass as it floats in its best iceberg form on a sea of frothy (leftover so its really not so frothy) root beer.

And in trying to make my leftovers sound like a king's cuisine, I make light of a rather challenging and heart wrenching subject, that at the moment only twinges my soul.  I am eating a heaping plate of tortillas with grilled chicken, black beans and cheese melted all over it with a full glass of a root beer float. I am about to leave and go to one of the poorest countries in the world. Ouch.  Man I have it good. (or do I?)

Anyway, less philosophy, more facts:
I will be in San Felipe, just outside of San Jose, representing EDGE OUTREACH as a leader for my team from Middletown UMC, right near Louisville.  We will be installing two water purifiers that can provide clean, safe drinking water for thousands of people every day with very minimal input.  While teaching Costa Ricans how to use them, we will also teach basic health and hygiene.  EDGE has found that teaching a community how to simply wash their hands with soap can reduce child mortality rates by up to 50%. That is huge.  Let me put it this way, to be able to teach a child how to wash their hands, we could have saved their life.  This statistic of saving thousands of lives will become more and more real to me as we meet people, see faces, learn names, and build friendships.  Pure water and health and hygiene are the bridge we build to close the culture gap in order to share the gospel.  If you have supported EDGE OUTREACH by supporting me financially or in prayer, you are saving lives too.

More to come next week when I return.

"Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; nor the hope of the poor be taken away."
Psalm 9:18

May 1, 2011 - A response. Requesting discussion.

The reason I request discussion is because I may not be correct in my thinking or my theology.  How can I be corrected if you see my fault and keep it to yourself.  Therefore, freely comment.

Further, this discussion is not on FB where it began becasue it simply would not let me post.

" By slaying this evil man, the world is one step closer to being safe... " - Comment on Andrew H.'s Facebook status.

Safe from what? sin? Without Christ's resurrection am I not just as guilty?

²³ ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus... (Rom. 3:5-26)   

Perhaps safe from being killed at his merciless hand? 

³⁸ ...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8) 

What fear can we have if we are purchased by Christ's blood? Are we afraid that he would have killed more un-believers:

"What about all the people that died without repentance at his hand? Or the many more who would have likely died without repentance at his hand?"  - Comment on Andrew H.'s Facebook status.

What about Osama Bin Ladin who died without repentance at OUR hand?

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 

21“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is [even] angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. ...anyone who [even] says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.  (Romans 5, emphasis and brackets added)

Andrew D said on Andrew H's status:

"I still have trouble seeing death as justice, though. ...the only deaths that could ever be considered just are our (humanity as a whole) own for sinning against God. However, Jesus came to take that death sentence for all of us (including Osama), so we are left with the question of whether there is such thing as a just death. In cases of capital punishment, has justice not been served when a family chooses to reach out and embrace the people that have harmed them instead of wanting them killed, or is justice found only through the death of the criminal?" - Comment on Andrew H.'s Facebook status.

And Adam M. followed up on a re-post of this comment:

"So in essence, the only just thing for us to do for each other is to forgive one another since God so readily forgave us? And that by deeming death as just we undercut the way God has chosen to redeem the world?" - Comment on Nathan R.'s Facebook status. 

 It's definitely a countercultural way to look at this event.  It's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement and forget to actually critically examine it. So where do we go from here?  If one is cynical towards those who rejoice, he does just as much wrong as rejoicing himself.

But I ask again,  were do we go from here?

מִנְחָה֙

The art of evading.

The movement-scavenging, ever-watching eye on an automatic toilet or urinal turns conservation of water from a passive non-flush into an intricate dance, especially when wearing a backpack.

מִנְחָה֙

Guilty as charged, pardoned, and loved

Upon ernestly repenting, shame is no longer acceptible before God, which leaves the only adequate response:  release the pain, embrace the lesson, and take joy.

The dreaded eighteenth.

Today is Tax Day.
Do not grumble.
Taxes exist because Christians do not do their part.
God allowed the establishment of governments to maintain justice.
Christians are not willingly maintaining justice on their own;
Therefore, you passed your job to the secular government.
Now you pay taxes.

A dislike for taxes must spur action.

Give more.
Do more.
Be more.

Be more like Christ.

מִנְחָה֙

Lessons from Children: What is Laud Anyway?

Yesterday was Palm Sunday.
You know, the day when the kids of the church parade up to the front waving the Palm Branch in hand, whipping and tickling each other the whole way.

As the children of First PCA in Hospers marched around the church yesterday morning, two little boys--obviously brothers--were hitting each other with the branches and laughing and jumping around.  A little girl was left behind up front, but managed to caboose the parade on the second go-round.  The kids were having a blast just being kids while all of the adults were singing "All Glory, Laud, and Honor," half of us frowning at the disrespectful rowdy squirts.

 Luke 19 explains the story of Jesus' triumphal entry:  Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt (so triumphal) while the crowd waved their patriotic banners (palm branches) and laid their cloaks in the road in front of Jesus.  "Blessed is is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest" shouted the crowd.  This sounds great to us, having heard the crucifixion story already.  However they shouted very political praises; they wanted Jesus to come, but only on their own terms.  They were looking for a political leader that would over throw the Romans occupying their Promised Land.  But, why were the Romans there in the first place?  Because, the Israelites had sinned.  On Mount Sinai God laid out the ground rules (in Deut. 28) saying there would be blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.  The Roman occupation was only a symptom of their real problem--sin.

If Jesus was only overthrowing the Romans as the roaring crowd wanted, they were discounting him to a cheap Band-aid.  Jesus is the cure.  At the sound of the praise, "as he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, Jesus wept over it."

Someone in the choir was smiling the whole time they sang while the children played in the aisles; and, it made me think.  In the midst of the misunderstanding that characterizes the first "Palm Sunday," Jesus must have still cracked a smile at the innocent children running around whipping and tickling each other with the palm branches.  They had faith that their parents knew what they were doing bringing them there; so, they don't worry.  They just do what they are called to do as image-bearers of their soon-to-be-risen Christ:  play and be children.

מִנְחָה֙

Born in the Wrong Era - RE: MO's $90 Bundle

Oh to use inches to describe music again--the romantic in me wishes it were more common.








Thanks Jon -
http://jonsattempttoblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/no-i-am-not-thinking-about-buying.html

Thanks Prince Billy -
http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/bonnie-prince-billy-amp-the
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS4k2HgWP7E


מִנְחָה֙

A More Personal Parable of a Distracted Student

Like a child I sit and wait for instruction with an assignment laying on the desk in front of me. I fiddle with my papers and twiddle my thumbs.  Look out the window, whistle quietly to myself, or zone out.  I nod off, I think about the other things I could be doing; whatever it is, I just keep sitting, waiting for a word from the teacher to tell me what to do.  I haven't been paying attention for a while now, so I don't really even know for what I am listening. But I keep listening because I've been told over and over, listen to the teacher and she will tell you what to do.

After an hour, as I am bored to death waiting for direction, I lay my head down on the desk and give up on the assignment before me.  SMACK! The teacher slaps my desk with the ruler as I suck in my drool and snap to a drowsy attention.  Now that she has my attention she squats down next to my desk and says, "Nathan, what are you doing?"

     "Waiting for you to tell me what to do," I respond confidently.

     She calmly reassures me, "But Nathan, I already told you what you must do for me. I explained how to do it."

     "When did you do that?" I begin to stammer losing confidence.  "I listened for you to explain; I sat quietly--now I did lose focus every once in a while.  Did I miss it then?  Did you tell me while I wasn't listening?  I heard that last class you told some of the students how to do it individually.  Weren't you going to do that for me too?"

     "Oh Nathan, I spoke the words to my classroom assistant and she wrote them right on the assignment paper.  I even wrote out a syllabus so that you would know the big picture--how all of these little assignments fit into the overall goals for the class.  I told you my expectations, and one of them is to read what I had written for you.  Those are my words directly even though the assistant wrote them.  Why do I need to say it again to each person individually if I have already had it written down for you to read?  Don't you think that sitting there with the directions in your lap without reading them is a silly thing to do?"  She continued with compassion, "Don't be discouraged Nathan, you might be a little bit behind everyone else, but you still have time, just start reading my directions and follow them.  It is that simple. You can do it."

מִנְחָה֙

A Parable of Three Farmers

Three men.

Three tracts of land.
Three farming handbooks.
Three million-dollar loans.
One for each.

Laying aside the book, as time grows short,
The first invests his share and his time.
Intently tills and plants his own way.

Also sitting on the given instruction,
The second listens patiently for a word--
Personal guidance from the master gardener.

The third cracks the book and opens his mind
To the plans laid out in the handbook.
Beginning only after much study,

Constantly referring back to the guide.
Following the book leads him another way
Unconventionally,  he trusts the book
Without waiting for the master to tell him individually.

Upon returning, the master gardener frowns
In disappointment of his investment.
So much he gave and received nothing from most.

Having cultivated nothing
Except thistles and thorns and rocks and clumps,
The first two will be punished.

Having read the instructions,
The second farmer is rewarded.
"Well done my good and faithful steward."


מִנְחָה֙

I know.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

That's why.

מִנְחָה֙

Ergo Sum

Ergo Sum


I am not a missionary.
There is no such thing.
I don’t do missions.
Neither do you.

I am an agriculturalist willing to teach.
You are a teacher, pastor, military personnel,
I am a relief strategist willing to serve.
You are a server, cashier, engineer,
I am a development worker willing to travel.
You are a travel agent, businessman, student,
But I am not a missionary.

We are visionaries, realists.
We are extraverts, introverts.
We are friends, acquaintances.
We are brothers, sisters,
Sons, daughters,
Christians.

I am a Christian,
Therefore I am
Missional.

I am a missionary.

מִנְחָה֙

More than Rubies.

"Charm is deceptive,

and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD

is to be praised." 

                  - Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

Again, thank you for the reminder.

Women:  This means you. Do not worry about your outward appearance.  God stepped back from His creation and called it GOOD.  He loves you just as you are.  Furthermore, it issues a command to fear the Lord.  If your goal is to lure in a man with your beauty and charm, you are not the victim of a man's lust, but you share in the sin as the cause of it. If you fear that you will not be accepted by standing out, remember that only a man that will recognize your fear of the Lord and share in it is worth your commitment.

Men:  This means you too.  We must not push women to think that they must gain our approval with their looks.  Still give encouragement with compliments when they have (and even when they haven't) made an effort to look nice (while doing so modestly, yes it's very possible) but even more so this is demand to praise them when their fear of the Lord is evident.  Go out of your way to compliment women on their fear of the Lord.  Compliment for the joy on their face rather than the make up, and for the compassion in their heart rather than the clothes she wears.

מִנְחָה֙

man deviseth - Jahve directeth

"The heart of man deviseth his way;

But Jahve directeth his steps."

- Proverbs 16:9

"Similar to this is the German proverb: "Der Mensch denkt, Gott lenkt" [ equals our "man proposes, God disposes"]; for, as Hitzig rightly remarks, 9b means, not that God maketh his steps firm  but that He gives direction to him. Man deliberates here and there (חשּׁב, intens. of חשׁב, to calculate, reflect) how he will begin and carry on this or that; but his short-sightedness leaves much out of view which God sees; his calculation does not comprehend many contingencies which God disposes of and man cannot foresee. The result and issue are thus of God, and the best is, that in all his deliberations one should give himself up without self-confidence and arrogance to the guidance of God, that one should do his duty and leave the rest, with humility and confidence, to God."

From the Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

As a college student, planning to enter the all-feared "real world" soon, I feel that it would be a responsible choice to start becoming more critical of what I hear, and actually think about the state of things, rather than just letting life hit me.  As I listen to student speeches and casual conversation on campus, I feel like many students have twisted the meaning of Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."  Maybe it's not twisting, but a mere inconsistency.  We listen to the last part, but forget about the first.  The verse is not encouraging one to sit on his bum waiting for the Lord to direct his steps.  He is not even taking steps that could be directed.  Rather, one should be encouraged to take action, "grab life by the horns," dig in and make plans, "do his duty".  No, those plans will not always be exactly what God has in store.  However, as stated above, after calculation there is still much that is left out of our view.  This is where we do our duty humbly, and leave the rest to God, with confidence and peace knowing that God is in control.

מִנְחָה֙