The Coming of a Rescuer (As told by the Jesus Story Book Bible)

God's message spoken through the prophet Isaiah regarding His Son (as told by The Jesus Storybook Bible):

“My people have wandered away from me, like sheep in an open field.  You have been running away from me.  And now you’re lost.  You can’t find your way back.  But I can’t stop loving you.  I will come to find you.  So I am to you a Shepherd to look after you and love you.  To carry you home to me. 

You’ve been stumbling around in darkness.  But into your darkness a bright light will shine.  It will chase away all the shadows like sunshine.  A little baby will be born.  A royal son.  His mommy will be a young girl who doesn’t have a husband, because God himself is His Father.  This baby will be Emmanuel, which means “God has come to live with us.”  Yes!  Someone is coming to rescue you!

He will be a King, but he won’t live in a palace.  And he won’t have lots of money.  He will be poor.  And he will be a servant.  But this King will heal the whole world.  He will be a Hero!  He will fight for his people and rescue them from their enemies.  But he won’t have big armies, and he won’t fight with swords.  He will make the blind see, he will make the lame leap.  He will make everything the way it was always meant to be when he first created everything.

But people will hate him, and they won’t listen to him.  He will be like a lamb – he will suffer and die.  But this is my secret rescue plan I had made from the beginning of the world.  It’s the only way to get you back.  My son won’t stay dead – I will make him alive again.  And one day when he comes back to rule forever, the mountains and trees will dance and sing for joy!  The earth will shout for joy.  His fame will fill the whole earth – just like the waters cover the sea.  Everything broken will be healed.  Yes, the rescuer will come.  Look for him.  Watch for him.  Wait for Him.  He will come!

And at just the right time, true to His word, God sent His Son, the Rescuer. This is the One we celebrate this Christmas season.

Galatians 4:4 - 5 "And at just the right time, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were far off, so that he could adopt us as his very own children."

 
Merry Christmas 2011!!!

Helpful Resources for Mercy Ministry

For anyone interested in helpful resources in the world of mercy ministry, here are some books and organizations that have been useful in shaping my theology and practice.

A Christian Perspective:

Ministries of Mercy: The Call to the Jericho Road by Tim Keller

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just by Tim Keller

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor or Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

To Live In Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City by Mark Gornik

Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development by John Perkins

A Theology As Big As The City by Ray Bakke

Additional Resources:

A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne

Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Community and Economic Development Organizations:

Christian Community Development Association - www.ccda.org

The Chalmers Institute for Economic Development - www.chalmers.org

Broken

Broken.  This world is broken.

In God there is wholeness.  In sin there is brokenness.  There are some weeks that the reality of the broken world weighs on me like a ton of bricks.  This past week I felt that weight to a degree that I haven’t felt in some time. 

Broken.  This week brought an end to a very difficult and emotionally draining situation at work.  I won’t go into detail; just trust me that the 3 month long issue has been very taxing to witness.  Yes, even in the church, relationships can be broken.

Broken.  On Thursday in the midst of simultaneously running to a meeting and trying to feed 80 people at one of our tutoring programs, my car broke.  Something about the engine overheating, the pistons melting, no compression.   No warning signs – at least none that I picked up on.  It was a shock to go from having a car to not having a car unexpectedly.  I’ll tell you what else shocked me: the price it is going to cost to get it fixed.  My car is broken.

Broken.  Ron has been sick for several weeks (literally), but last week seemed to be the worst.   Perhaps the only reality harder than watching your spouse physically suffer is watching your child.  Since Ron and I do not have children, his suffering has been about as hard as it gets to watch, especially when I feel helpless to provide relief.  His body is not working as it should; it is broken.

Because of the second and third situation, I did not go to Boone on Saturday to spend the day with my brother and sister in law for Appalachian’s homecoming game against my alma mater, Samford.  My heart was broken.

While all the brokenness above has been very hard, perhaps the most difficult part of my week was the thread of steady reminders of our broken society.

Tuesday while tutoring a fifth grader, I happened upon a paragraph he had written.  He was embarrassed for me to read it; that was written all over his face.  He knew it was a mess: misspelled words that were on the kindergarten sight word list and grammar that was horrendous.  How could he get to fifth grade and not know how to spell kindergarten words?  How could he not know how to write a basic sentence?  Our education system is broken.  Add a brick.

Thursday I had lunch with one of the mothers from our tutoring program, and she was telling me about a situation she is going through involving her boyfriend.  Again, I won’t go into details, but I was acutely aware that God’s intention for marriage and family is broken.  I see that all across our city.  Mothers trying to raise their children with no father.  Fathers who have idolized their career so much that they are all but absent.  Parents who have divorced.  The family is broken.  One more brick.

Saturday I was at Barnes and Nobles, because our internet was broken (how very fitting).  As I was leaving I was approached by a couple asking of money.  When I asked about their need, they said they were homeless and were hoping to buy a night at the Express Inn.  I asked them how much they had and what they still needed.  They needed $15.  I gave it them in Jesus name.  Perhaps I should have gone with them to the Express Inn and paid in person, but honestly I didn’t have it in me.  I gave them the money and prayed that the act of compassion would somehow be used by God to not only provide for a physical need but draw them to God.  As I drove away and wrestled with my cynical heart, “I thought no one grows up aspiring to be a beggar.”  The fabric of our society is broken.  Yet another brick.

The brokenness is evident all around us.  Do you feel the weight of it?

What is our response?  It’s easy to play the blame game.  It’s the poor person’s fault.  It’s the government’s fault.  It’s the fault of unjust systems.  I’ve found that most people who respond through blame are the least likely to proactively respond to brokenness. 

Poverty and oppression are ultimately a theological issue.  In God there is wholeness; in sin there is brokenness.  The humbling reality is that we are all poor beggars broken because of sin and not functioning as whole people.  Instead of living in harmony with God, ourselves, others, and creation, our relationships in all these areas are fragmented.  This brokenness manifests itself in countless ways, one of which is poverty and oppression.  Since poverty and oppression are theological issues, it needs a theological response.  Thanks be to God that he has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  God’s reconciled people should be the ones who are at the forefront of addressing issues of brokenness and pointing people to the Great Reconciler.  So if you are reconciled to God and a part of the Church, what are you doing to address issues of brokenness, of poverty and oppression?  Let me know if you’d like to talk through some suggestions.

"Oil to the Head"

Rebuke . [ri-byook]

Here is the world's definition straight from Merriam-Websters: to criticize sharply; to reprimand.

The Biblical definition is so different, so richer, so much more beautiful. But we'll get to that later.

I have recently been reminded of the necessity of rebuke in the life of a believer in the context of a healthy community. Because salvation (justification) does not equal perfection, we need brothers and sisters who are willing to point out our weaknesses. The reality is that there are blind spots in our lives where we do not see our sin and many times God uses those in our community for our refinement (sanctification).

Why then do we so often shy away from rebuke? Several reasons come to mind.
1. "I've got a whole heap of issues in my life; I'd be a hypocrite to point out someone else's mess." If "for all have sinned" is coupled with "there is no condemnation in Christ," then we recognize that we all have sin in our lives and we do not come to a brother or sister thinking we have it all together, condemning them for their sin. Instead we come humbly as a fellow sinner offering hope in the gospel and desiring refinement.

2. "It's not my place to correct someone else." If you are a Christian and you are in community with other Christians, it's your place. Period. If you are in a position of authority (parent, boss, pastor, etc.), it is your responsibility to shape the character of those under your authority through rebuke. But don't let that be an excuse if you are not in authority over someone. If you are in Christian fellowship with someone and you see that they are in sin, you should offer rebuke.

3. "Someone else will do it." Everyone else is probably thinking that too, so if God has placed a person on your mind and heart, I would say that's a flashing neon light stating, "(Insert your name here) is the person to offer rebuke."

4. "Confrontation is really not my thing." That's a cop-out. Plain and simple. Biblical rebuke should be the regular habit of every believer.

An unwillingness to offer (or accept) rebuke unveils one or more of the following issues:
1. A lack of understanding of the role of other believers in the sanctification process.
2. Selfishness. You are choosing your own ease and comfort over your brother or sister's sanctification.
3. Cowardice. You don't have the courage to confront another person and address the issue head on.
4. A lack of care for the person you see in sin. If you understand that sin leads to destruction and death (James 1:15), then to not point out sin is to not care about that person and to watch them walk towards destruction without uttering a peep.

Here's what the Bible has to say about rebuke:
- As a father disciplines the son in which he delights, so the LORD rebukes us. Proverbs 3:11,12
- Rebuke from a righteous man is an act of kindness, of "oil to the head." Psalm 141:5
- To not rebuke a person in error is to share in their guilt. Leviticus 19:17
- If you are wise, you will love the person more because they confronted you. Proverbs 9:8b
- Rebuke is life giving. Proverbs 15:31
- Rebuke is a tool to gain knowledge. Proverbs 19:25b
- Jesus commands us to rebuke a brother in sin. Luke 17:3
- Rebuke should lead to repentance. Revelation 3:19

Here is where we see the stark contrast from ole' Mirriam-Webster's definition. MW connotes the idea of rebuke as stern, cold scolding that is critical and divisive. Au contraire MW! Rebuke is likened to "oil to the head." Oil was a sign of healing and life in the Old Testament. To rebuke a brother or sister is to confront him or her with an attitude or behavior that is making them "sick." By offering rebuke, you are raising the knowledge of the sin, giving them the opportunity to repent, and sparing them from the inevitable destruction of that particular sin. You are leading that person towards LIFE.

So here are some suggestions. Rebuke should be consistent, humble, and gentle. We should be equally as willing to receive rebuke as we should to offer rebuke. In other words it should go both ways. Rebuke should feel more like "oil on the head" than a "reed on the back." It will if it's done out of love at the first sign of sin. The problem comes when we overlook sin and allow it to become a habit in the life of a fellow christian. Woe to the christian who has to answer the question, "Why didn't you point out that sin in my life? You could have spared me from great pain and hurt." Woe to that christian because scripture says that you share in the guilt by failing to rebuke. But when rebuke becomes a regular pattern of our interaction with our brothers or sisters, it doesn't build up tension and feel like an explosion. Instead it feels like soothing, healing, life-giving words of love.

Feathers Ruffled!

“Cable TV,AC, and an XBOX: What is Poverty Today?”  This is the name of an article sent to me recently.  As I read the article, I became increasingly troubled by its content and concerned about what would be read between the lines.  The premise of the article is to question the material possessions of the 43.5 million people that the 2010 census deemed to be in poverty in America.  Poverty, according to the author, insinuates destitution and the majority of those in poverty enjoy “amenities” such as air conditioning, a stove, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a washer/dryer.  Many in poverty even enjoy “luxuries” like cable TV, a car (or two), gaming systems, DVD players, and (gasp) a flat screen TV.  It was thought that the homes of many of the American poor are in good repair and are not over-crowded.

The conclusion of the article is that “a family in the US that has a decent, uncrowded house or apartment to live in, ample food to eat, access to medical care, a car, cable TV, AC, and a microwave at home should not be considered poor.”  The author closes the article stating, “grossly exaggerating the extent and severity of material deprivation in America won’t benefit the poor, the economy, or society as a whole.”  I would say to the author, grossly underestimating the extent and severity of material deprivation in America as well as grossly misunderstanding of poverty won’t benefit the poor, the economy, or society as a whole.

Let me be clear that I am not writing this response with political motivation.  My goal is not to represent a democratic or republican stance; I’m actually registered as an independent.  If, however, being liberal in defending the poor makes me look liberal politically, I’ll be a liberal on this issue!

So why were my feathers ruffled by this article?

One reason is that it grossly simplifies poverty as merely a lack of material possessions.  Ruby Payne, in her bestselling book “A Framework for Understanding Poverty,” defines poverty as a lack of resources.  Certainly those resources include one’s finances, but they also include emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, and relational resources.  Additionally Payne points to resources such as support systems and a knowledge of hidden rules as resources often absent for those in poverty.  These resources overlap and really cannot be seen independently.  To isolate one resource and say that people are not poor because they have the means to afford material possessions is a misunderstanding of the complexity of poverty. 

Payne goes on to explain the “hidden rules among classes,” which shape expectation and behavior.  When talking about money Payne says,

“One of the biggest difficulties in getting out of poverty is managing money and just the general information base around money.  How can you manage something you’ve never had?  Money is seen in poverty as an expression of personality and is used for entertainment and relationships.  The notion of using money for security is truly grounded in the middle and wealthy classes.” 

Another reason I was troubled by this article is that it breeds implicit stereotypes and assumptions about the poor.  Stereotypes included in the article include a mismanagement of money, an unhealthy lifestyle, among others.  Even where there might be truth, there is no effort to explore underlying reasons.  Perhaps behind mismanagement of money or unhealthy lifestyles are a lack of education and a lack of role models.  Ruby Payne points out that the two most significant factors in a person rising above the poverty line are education and positive relationships.  Where those are lacking, poverty will persist.  Instead of discounting the reality of the poor, it might serve them better to establish relationships and teach impoverished neighbors about finances and health. 

To say that the overwhelming majority of the poor in the United States are well-housed, have one (or two) cars, are able to obtain necessary medical care, and have ample food does not line up with what I have experienced as I lived on the Westside of Chicago and what I see on a daily basis with low income neighbors in Winston-Salem.   Admittedly this is a personal and subjective observation, but my heart has been pierced by neighbors who have empty kitchen cabinets.  I have seen bedrooms with no beds.  I’ve picked up the kids whose parents had no personal mode of transportation.  I’ve received phone calls from neighbors who are desperate for dental care because their teeth are literally falling out.   I could go on.

While I have no political motivation in my response, there is a deep theological motivation.  This world is broken.  Sin has distorted God’s intention for all of creation and created a chasm not only between man and God, but also man and others.  Great disparities exist between the haves and the have nots.  Those in both groups are subject to the fall and the sin bends that come with each socioeconomic group.  There’s nothing inherent about being poor that makes a person view money incorrectly.  Sin affects everyone!  Mis-spending can happen just as easily for a middle class neighbors straining for the American dream as it can the poor (mis)managing their meager amount of money.

I am disheartened by this article and the mentality behind it because it shows an insensitivity and lack of compassion towards the poor or the lower rungs of our society.  For the Christian this should troubling for two reasons.  One, it reveals a lack of grasping the central message of Christianity.  That Christ - who possessed all wealth - became poor so that through His poverty I might become rich (II Cor. 8:9).  I should have a care for the poor because the physical reality of the poor points me to my own spiritual reality.  Two, the language of the Bible insinuates that a mark of true worship and faith is a person’s concern and care for the poor.  Repeatedly God says that true worship and faith inevitably will translate into caring for the poor and oppressed (Isaiah 58, Matthew 25). 

When I am guided by my own theology, I would rather be liberal is caring for the poor than not.  I would rather broadly care for the lower rungs than tightly hold onto resources questioning whether someone is poor or not.  That’s just me.  What do you think?

Marriage is "Dynamic, Not Static"

Holly Hinshelwood, a friend who served with me this summer, let me borrow a book entitled "Let Me Be A Woman" by Elizabeth Elliot which was written to her only daughter as a wedding gift.  It holds great wisdom and has been timely truth as Ron and I navigate the waters of our first year of marriage.  I was reading this morning and the following passage really hit home so I thought I would share it.

"Marriage is a dynamic, not a static relationship.  It gets either better or worse.  As people either grow or deteriorate, relationships between them must grow or deteriorate.  A common explanation offered for marital incompatibility is 'we outgrew each other.' It's been said that if a couple doesn't grow together they grow apart.  But for the couples who have in all seriousness said their vows before God and in the presence of witnesses the possibility of growing apart need not be allowed.  It need never be something which 'happens to' them, as though they were bystanders injured by some force which they were powerless to protect themselves from.  They have willed to love and live together.  They stand, not helpless, but in relation to God, each responsible to fulfill the vows to the other.  Each determines to do the will of God so that together they move toward the 'measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."  And, if God is viewed as the apex of a triangle of which they are the two base points, movement towards Him necessarily decreases the distance between them.  Drawing near to God means drawing near to each other, and this means growth and change.  They are being changed into the same image of glory to glory.  There is no such thing as stagnation or that relatively innocent-sounding word 'incompatibility.'
There are tensions.  The strength of the great cathedral lies in the thrust and counterthrust of its buttresses and arches.  Each has its own function and each its peculiar strength.  This is the way I see the dynamics of a good marriage.  It is not strength pitted against weakness.  It is two kinds of strength, each meant to fortify the other in special ways.  It is not weakness for the boat to submit itself to the rules of sailing.  That submission is  her strength.  It is the rules that enable the boat to utilize her full strength, to harness the wind and thus take to herself the wind's strength.  It was not weakness in the Son of God that made him obey the will of the Father.  It was power - the power of His own will to will the Father's will."

Alexandra Gaskins: The Triathlete???

Those who know me know that I don't swim, bike, or run.  In fact I tried swimming when my ankles swelled to the size of grapefruits, got half way down one lane, and decided to switch over to senior water aerobics.  A logical question is "why in the world is someone who doesn't swim, bike, or run doing a triathlon?"  Two simple responses: 1. Someone believing in you is powerful!  I never considered doing a triathlon until Annah Matthews suggested I participate and told me I could do it.  She didn't just say it once.  She said it several times, and I started to believe that she really thought I could be a triathlete.  That was a strong motivator!
2. This is a baby or "sprint" triathlon designed for beginners.  The Rambling Rose is a 250 yard swim, an 8 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile run.  And somehow I'm told that this is a baby race.  I'm not gonna lie; any one of these activities - swimming 10 laps, biking 8 miles, and running 2 miles - would seem daunting to me separately, let along put them together back-to-back.  But I figure if I'm ever going to do a triathlon, this is the one to do.
I started training July 18th.  I began by seeing where I was athletically.  I could swim about one lap without stopping, I could run one mile, and I could bike about 2 miles.  With only five weeks to train, I wasn't sure how I was going to complete the race without hyperventilating.  But I have been so encouraged by the endurance gained over the past 4 weeks. 
Several observed motivators:
- Train with a group.  There are a whole host of us training together and we have been each others cheerleaders.  For those who are uber competitive (I can be that person), there is an inner-satisfaction of beating a teammate.
- Have benchmarks.  When I first started running, I tracked the mileage in my car driving down Darwick (main road off of our neighborhood).  Cash Lovell Stables is about a mile down the road, Triad Christian Fellowship Church plant is about a mile and a half down the road, and then the end of Darwick is about two miles.  I started by trying to run to the stables (about died!).  When I reached the stables, I slapped the mailbox in victory.  Gradually I was able to run to Triad Christian Fellowship and slap their mailbox (no damage done...promise). And then finally I was able to run all the way down Darwick and slap the stop sign (happy to stop, thank you.).
- Have a theme song(s).  Is it strange that I have the "Chariots of Fire" theme song, "We Are The Champions," and the "Rocky" theme song playing in my mind when I train?  Well, I do.  And it helps.  And it's fun.
The race is this Sunday.  I don't have a time goal; I just want to complete the race.  Completion will be a great accomplishment for me, especially having a chronic respiratory condition that has been at the forefront of my mind and has kept me sobered throughout the training.
Our tri-coach queen, Annah, posted this verse at the end of one of her emails and I thought it was perfectly fitting.  "Train yourself for Godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." I Timothy 4:7-8  As much as I have enjoyed training for the Rambling Rose (honest!), I hope that I am more zealous for training myself in Godliness.

And the dog came to us...

There have been many exciting events over the last month that I have been slack about posting.  I thought I would work backwards in recounting those events one blog post at a time.  Be patient with me; I don't have a great track record of uber-consistent blog posts.  Hey, it's quality, not quantity, right!? :)

Ron and I have been looking for a dog for quite some time now.  We agreed that we wanted a medium size dog that has some body to its hair.  Some might call that a fluffy dog, but for Ron's sake, we'll just say that we want a dog with full bodied hair.  We were open to getting a dog from the pound or the humane society.  We poured over websites, made dozens of phone calls, even filled out an application complete with references (seriously!?).  But we have had no luck. 

An unexpected turn of events this week may have led us to our newest family member.

I'm training for a triathlon.  I just heard your gasp of surprise.  Yes, it's crazy, but that's another blog post.  On Friday I was running and all of a sudden I heard a dog chasing me from behind.  I looked back and braced myself to be tackled by a fury beast, but this is what I saw instead:

(except picture her running behind me tongue out just as happy as could be)



At first glance it was clear that she was no threat to me, but it quickly became clear she was a threat to her own jolly self.  I was going to keep on running and not pay her much attention, because I didn't want her to follow me, but as I looked back to check on her, I noticed that she was running in the middle of the road.  At one point she was literally stopped on the double yellow lines with cars stopped on both sides.  At that point I decided I better go back and check on her.  Walking back it became obvious that everyone thought I was her horribly irresponsible owner who didn't care to put a collar and leash around her neck.  Despite their stares of judgement I continued towards little lady because I knew she needed a rescuer.  She was a danger to herself.  Unfortunately she had no identification on her, so I made a conscious decision to encourage her to follow me so that she wouldn't be in the road. 

When we got to the house, I rang the doorbell and Ron came to the door just a puzzled as ever.  I never come through the front door, let along ring the doorbell and let alone with a furry (and wet) friend.  When I explained the situation, Ron agreed that we should let her stay with us until we could find her owners.  She grew on us from the beginning with her long scruffy snout and her big black eyes covered by her floppy bangs.  She was playful and sweet, and we were excited to have her with us as long as the LORD saw fit.

A problem quickly arose: what to feed little lady??  What was the closest food I had to dog food?  Honey Nut Cheerios!  Hey, it was the best I could do and she seemed to love them.

Worried about her owners concern, we took pictures of her (and laminated them I might add) and made poster to put up along Darwick Rd.  When Ron went to put up the signs in the neighborhood, he noticed a cardboard sign that said, "Missing Scottish Terrier...Very Old and Deaf...Her name is Maxee...call ###-####."  BINGO!  Ron called the number and sure enough we had Maxee, their Scottish Terrier.  Despite her age and lack of hearing, apparently Maxee is quite the escape artist.  We were glad that she escaped into our hands and that we could now reconcile her with her owners.  But not for a week.

We found Maxee on Friday and her owners went on vacation on Saturday before we could bring them their pooch.  They told us to take her to Cash Lovell Stables and she was to stay in a stall until her owners returned...IN A WEEK.  Wanting to respect their wishes, I put the bone we got her and her stout self in my car and off we went to the stables:

I called Ron on the way to take her and we both were uneasy about our new friend staying in a stall for a week, especially with it being blazin' hot!  We agreed to offer our house for the week if the owners so desired.  When I got to the stables I met up with Cash Lovell of Cash Lovell Stables and told him that we were more than willing to take her back to our house for the week.  He jumped on that idea; apparently he wasn't overly excited about keeping Maxee with him for the week.  He called her owner and with a brief conversation we were headed back home for a week of caring for Maxee.

Even though Maxee has had several "accidents" in our house, gets up at 6:30 am and starts scratching at the bed and wants to get up on the bed with us (we're not quite ready to have someone else's dog all up in the bed with us), we have really fallen for this little lady.  So much so that we decided last night that we would like to get a dog just like Maxee.  Ron searched the web for regional breeders of Scottish Terriers and found one in South Carolina.  We put our name on the waiting list and sent in a deposit.  So it looks like we'll have a little Maxee either late October or around Christmas time (depending on the number of pups in the next litter).  We hope our expected pup is as special as our new friend, Maxee:

On a side note, I couldn't help but reflect on Maxee's oblivion to danger when she left her owners, started chasing me, and then proceeded to stop in the middle of the road.  I couldn't help but think of my own sinful self, so prone to not stay close to my Creator and wander forgetting the safety that comes with staying under His authority.  Thank you, Maxee, for the reminder to cling to my Creator!

Psalm 91:1, 2

 ¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
   my God, in whom I trust.”

Creation is BIG; God is BIGGER; I am small

I've always had a healthy respect for nature.  I love it's beauty and am aware of it's strength.  I believe creation points to a powerful Creator.  With that being said, I wouldn't peg either Ron or me as "outdoors men."  Neither of us would consider camping or hiking an invigorating way to spend down time.  Chalk it up to really enjoying indoor plumbing, electricity, a bed, etc, we tend to enjoy nature from a distance. 

Interesting enough, the last two weekends were spent smack dab in the middle of nature, and I was reminded anew of Psalm 19:

 ¹ The heavens declare the glory of God,
   and the sky above^[a] proclaims his handiwork.
²Day to day pours out speech,
   and night to night reveals knowledge.
³There is no speech, nor are there words,
   whose voice is not heard.
⁴ Their voice^[b] goes out through all the earth,
   and their words to the end of the world.

Last weekend we were very blessed to be able to go to the beach for a long weekend with Ron's family.  His mom graciously rented an awesome house at Holden Beach, and the whole family gathered together for a fun filled vacation. 

Not having gone to the beach with kids before, I was unaware of all the creative ways to entertain children via sand and suds.  Ron's mom, Linda, was a pro!  She had a whole host of "tools" to engage kids for hours.  One of the most useful tools was the shovel.  Linda planted her chair on a flat area of the beach, drew a large circle in the sand, and then she, Emma (Ron's niece), and Lita (Emma's friend) went to town digging a minipool in the sand.  They dug for a long time, as in "two whole episodes of Dora the Explorer."  Then when their hole was large enough and deep enough, the girls would run to the ocean with their buckets and fill their pool with water.  The prize was being able to flail around in their ocean front pool.  Linda got all kinds of creative making a wall of sand castles around the pool.  Needless to say, I was very impressed with their work. (see image below)

As I looked around and even walked along the beach there was evidence of many more folks who had used the sand for entertainment.  There were giant sand castles, there were big holes, there were words written in the sand, there were foot prints.  As we left the beach, it was obvious that many had enjoyed the water and sand just as we did.

What was interesting to me was what I saw the next day as we came back ready to enjoy the beach.

All the toil of the previous day was laid flat against the ocean tide.  There was absolutely no evidence of the hard work Linda and co. had put into making their pool.  There were no sand castles, no footprints.  Just flat sand.  In that moment I was reminded of just how small human beings are.  Whether making sand castles at the beach to making international business deals, Ecclesiastes reminds us that actions of man are inherently "vain", "futile", "empty", "meaningless", "temporary", "transitory", "fleeting, or "a mere breath" as the lives of both wise and foolish men end in death.  The conclusion of it's author:   

Here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
   for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
   including every hidden thing,
   whether it is good or evil.

I'll come back to this powerful conclusion.  First, let me tell you about this weekend.  Ron's boss, Jim, invited his staff to join M.O.R.F. (Men's Outdoor Recreation Fellowship of Mt. Tabor Methodist Church...catchy, I know) on the Virginia Creeper Trail.  For those like me who are uneducated in the world of outdoor adventures, the Virginia Creeper is a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail starting in Abingdon, Va., traveling through Damascus, Va. and ending just past Whitetop Station at the Virginia-North Carolina border.  The trail is divided into two sections: the first a 17 mile stretch from Abingdon to Damascus.  We packed our lunch, drove up to Virginia, rented bikes, and shuttled up to the top of the mountain.  As we took what seemed to be a really long DRIVE up the mountain I started to realize that this inexperienced biker was about to ride the whole distance down that we just drove up.  What in the world!

For the next four hours we cruised down the beautiful 17miles of trail.  We crossed over bridges, rode along a creek, ate lunch at an overlook, and generally enjoyed the beauty of being smack dab in the middle of nature. It occurred to me on mile 13 (roughly) that we were at the mercy of the trail.  We seemed to be in the middle of no-where with no cell phone and no idea of how to get back to our car apart from the trail.  We were surrounded by trees and the creek.  In that moment I felt very small and was reminded that creation is big and God is bigger.

So back to Ecclesiastes.  Since everything "under the sun is meaningless," the author concludes that one should "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind."  Fear God because He is the omnipotence Creator.  Fear God because He is the one who will ultimately judge both the visible and the hidden.  Judgement points to what is "above the sun," that which is eternal.  Praise God that our judgement has been paid by Jesus, who came "under the sun" that we may be right with the One who made the sun.

And not only fear God, but obey Him knowing that His commandments point to the good order established by the Creator for His creation. 

Hidden...Restless...Wanderer

This week "Shamia" decided to go to Greensboro (If this doesn't make sense, read my previous post).  For one or several of a multitude of reasons she decided Anthony's Plot was not where she wanted to stay.  I wrestled in my heart to know how to respond to her when she called asking me to take her to Greensboro.  "You have other options?"  "Why wouldn't you want to stay in the beautiful community that is Anthony's Plot?"  "Is your Greensboro contact going to let you stay there indefinitely or will you end up in the same situation?"  "Are you going to call when you are homeless again?"  Each internal question was smeared with mixed emotions and motivations.  I couldn't help grapple with the question of whether I did enough. After asking God this question, I was encouraged by the Holy Spirit's confirmation that I (and Anthony's Plot of course) was obedient to care for Shamia during the days that God placed her in Winston-Salem.  She heard the name of Christ and saw His love and compassion displayed very visibly during a time of great need. 

So quickly she came into my life and now so quickly she is seemingly out.  And yet in the aftermath the image of a 21 year old woman who is in many ways hidden, restless, and wandering is seared in my heart.  This whirlwind brought me back to sin.  Not Shamia's sin specifically, but the general effects of sin in this world.

In Genesis 1 & 2 God creates and in His creation we see His character.  In the first two verses we understand Him as a God who will shape, fill, and enlighten.  This will happen fully in Christ who is foreshadowed in verse 3 (check out II Corinthians 4:6).  He creates all things as good; man and woman - created in His image - are very good.  In these opening chapters we see God creating His Kingdom.  God as Creator and King rules in such a way that His creation flourishes.  His intended order allows creation to thrive.  Although man has dominion over the earth, he is still subject to God.  It is when man attempts to be like God through disobedience that we see sin enter the world.  The effects are all encompassing and devastating!  Not only does sin seperate us from our Creator, but (as Tim Keller articulates) it also seperates us from ourselves, each other, and creation. 

In the next chapters of Genesis we quickly see the practical effects of sin:

"So the Lord God banished him (Adam) from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.  After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." Genesis 3:23, 24

"Cain (who killed his brother Abel) said to the Lord, 'My punishment is more than I can bear.  Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth...'" Genesis 4: 13, 14 

Within the first two human generations, sin drives man from God's presence and results in restless wandering.  And it only gets worse.  By the eleventh chapter of Genesis, God has both destroyed creation (except for pairs of animals and Noah's family) because of the degree of wickedness that existed in man's heart, but also confused languages of peoples and scattered humanity across the face of the earth. 

This is the backdrop of God creating a people unto Himself - a group that was to be set apart, different, holy.  Whereas the effect of sin was that man is hidden, restless, and wandering, now God created a people who are found, have rest, and belong.  In God's Kingdom, His people are to care for one another so that no one among them in is need.  If there is a stranger among them, they are to be taken into their community.  This is the mandate for the church; a witness of being found by God.  Consequently it should grieve us to see a person who is hidden, restless, and wandering (both physically and spiritually).  We should long for them to be seen, known, and find a place of rest.

This of course is accomplished perfectly through Jesus.  He is the great finder of lost sheep and the one who gives rest.  In His family is a sense of belonging and purpose. 

With all this being said, what should my response be to Shamia?  The same as God's response to me.  In the words of the hymnist, Robert Robinson,

3. Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

4. O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Shamia physical reality should grieve me (and I should seek to meet her physical needs) but more so it should point me to my spiritual reality.  Apart from Christ, I am hidden, restless, and wandering.  Praise God that I am found and at rest in Him.

Glimpses of God's Sovereignty

With God's ordained hand on all the functions of this universe, it is humbling when He allows you to be in tune with His sovereign hand in the microcosm of your own life.  The past couple of days have proven to be such an experience for me.

My job allows me to spend much time in the community meeting other leaders who are interested in seeing our city flourish.  In the Southside community, there is a coalition that is forming of like-minded folks who want to work together to see the neighborhood thrive.  One of those coalition members is a group called "Anthony's Plot," a missional community invested in Southside.  While I have met with folks from Anthony's Plot for months, I haven't had the opportunity to visit their home until Thursday when they hosted a meeting about creating activities for Southside children and youth during the summer months.  Being a gracious host, Russ showed me around the house mentioning that there were four people currently living in the house and that they kept one bedroom open for neighbors who found themselves without a place to spend the night.  I was briefly humbled by this notion and then quickly consumed with the meeting agenda and then quickly consumed with life beyond the meeting.

The following day was busy with meetings and to-do lists and incoming interns, etc.  The craziness was set to continue into the night with our weekly Friday night softball game.  With a heavy 5:30 pm rain storm, our 6:30 pm game was cancelled.  Ron and I found ourselves with a free night - a great treasure for us.  Ron suggested we go to Macaroni Grill, one of my favorite restaurants.  I was excited to have a leisurely dinner with him and our good friends, the Mocks. 

After dinner Ron glanced behind the restaurant and saw Barnes and Nobles.  Being a book and magazine lover, he suggested we go and peruse the inventory.  On the way to the store I noticed that my friend Rachel B. had called me.  I thought it a little strange as we didn't have plans to hang out and there was really no reason for her to call me.  I called her back before walking in the store, but it went straight to her voicemail.  Leaving a message, I assumed she'd call me back if it was urgent.  We walked into Barnes and Nobles ready to spend some time getting lost in reading when the first person we see is Rachel B.  How ironic! 

When we saw Rachel she was on the phone with another friend of ours and had a woman to her side.  She quickly hung up the phone and introduced us to Shamia (not her real name).  Shamia had approached Rachel in the parking lot asking her if she knew of any churches in the area.  She explained that she did not have anywhere to go tonight.  Her mother in prison, her dad absent, her grandmother who raised her dead, her cousin who was allowing her to stay with her kicking her out, at the age of 21 she found herself homeless.  She had spent several days at The Bethesda Center for Homeless.  Leaving the shelter with a guy who promised to let her live with him and being kicked out of that house because of an angry ex-girlfriend, Shamia found herself with no options.  She couldn't return to The Bethesda Center.  The Salvation Army was full.  She was literally homeless with no place to lay her head that night.

Going into community ministry mode I quickly got on the phone and started making some phone calls.  I called some friends who are intimately connected with the Salvation Army; no answer.  I called The Bethesda Center; an impatient woman confirmed that if Shamia had been asked to leave for 30 days it was because she did not follow protocol and there were no exceptions.  I called The Salvation Army shelter and they confirmed that they were out of beds.  Our options were dwindling and I could tell Shamia was rightly anxious about where she would spend the night.  Suddenly I remembered my tour of Anthony's Plot and Russ's words of setting aside a room for neighbors who have nowhere to spend the night.  I didn't have Russ's number, so I texted another friend who gave it to me.  I called Russ and explained the situation to him.  He got information from Shamia and made several phone calls.  Finally he said he and the rest of his house mates want to come meet with Shamia.  They wanted to share how their house functions and see if she would feel comfortable staying with them.  I think Shamia, Rachel, and I were all in shock.  Could people really be so gracious? 

While waiting for Russ and co. to meet us, Rachel and I had a great time with Shamia.  Rachel told us about the no-tardy dance party at her school that day and how she was learning all these new dances.  Shamia quickly got on my phone and looked up the videos to the songs letting us see the "professionals" bust their moves.  I think our favorite was the "cat daddy."  The basic move imitated rolling yourself in a wheelchair.  You think I'm kidding?  Look it up.  We laughed and laughed about this dance.  Shamia was hungry so we went and got some Chick-fil-a.  By the time she ate and we looked up some more dance videos, the folks from Anthony's Plot arrived.  Rachel and I excused ourselves, and they talked to Shamia.  I didn't hear much of the conversation, but I know they were explaining how their house functions and asked her if she had any questions.  Her one question was if they were safe.  Great question for a single 21 year old woman anticipating the prospect of spending the night with four strangers.  They assured her that they were safe.

The Anthony's Plot folks went off to talk amongst themselves and so Rachel and I joined Shamia.  I could see the relief on her face.  The Anthony's Plot people were gentle and kind and warm; that was obvious.  It was looking like she would be able to stay with them at least for a night.  They came back and offered her an initial week at their house.  They explained that they have a flow to their house and that they would want her to enter that flow.  They started their day with prayer, they ate meals together, they served together, they had different tasks around the house; she was no exception to this flow if she moved in.  With several questions and a gentle hesitant smile, she agreed.  One of the AP guys asked if she was hungry.  When she said yes, he replied by saying, "you will go to bed full tonight."  They said they wanted to not only take care of the obvious physical needs she had, but also help her get connected to organizations and ministries that will help her get on her feet.  They wanted to see her thrive and, for as long as she was part of their house, use her gifts to bless the house and neighborhood.  As the AP folks prepared to leave, I said to Shamia, "Remember that these are Christians, this is the Church, who is caring for you.  These are people who love Jesus."

Both Rachel and I were teary eyed.  So many thoughts and scripture passages flooded my mind as I reviewed the night.  I had to acknowledge my internal wrestling of mistrust and of selfishness versus a deep compassion for Shamia and recognition that God had hand led us to her.  I thought of Matthew 25 where Jesus equated feeding the hungry with doing it unto Him.  I thought of Isaiah 58 where God described genuine religion as one who provides the poor wanderer with shelter and is the rebuilder of broken walls.  I thought of the the Good Samaritan.  But most of all I thought of Jesus who had been compassionate unto death for the sake of a poor hopeless sinner like me.

Morgan and I drove Shamia to retrieve her bags that she had stored at the bus station and a stranger's house.  While she was getting one of her bags, Morgan explained to me that they had been praying for God to bring someone just like Shamia to them.  They so badly wanted to take in neighbors who had no where to go and help them get back on their feet.  Shamia jumped back in the car and we headed to Anthony's Plot.  We arrived and Shamia walked right on in.  She had her own room.  She had people around her who were going to share life with her.  She had a smile on her face.  With a hug and a commitment to keep up with each other, I walked downstairs and prepared to leave.  Russ was on the front porch swinging on their porch swing.  I thanked him for his gracious hospitality.  I told him he and his companions looked a lot like Jesus.  And I left.

What a night and what a gracious God I serve!  Pray for Shamia and for Anthony's Plot.  And pray that God's Kingdom would come in Winston-Salem as it is in heaven.

A Heart for the Poor

I am grateful that God fashions our heart with specific passions.  As Christians, we should all have a general care and concerns for that which God cares and is concerned about.  But it does seem that some people are specifically passionate about one area or another, be it sharing the verbal message of the gospel, discipling the maturing Believer, reaching the nations, the in depth study of God, etc.  For me, I cannot deny that God has fashioned my heart with a specific passion for the poor. 

My heart preceded my theology.  For years I knew my heart bent towards the poor and oppressed, but couldn't really lay out from Scripture why this was important.  God has graciously made that clear throughout the last several years.  

This morning I was reading The Gospel Primer, by Milton Vincent.  This book was a gift from my sweet sister, Rachel, whose friendship continually points me to Jesus.  As I read through various parts of the book, I came across a section entitled, "A Heart for the Poor."  This section was a beautiful encapsulation of the theology of my heart for the poor.

Vincent says:

"Like nothing else could ever do, the gospel instills in me a heart for the downcast, the poverty-stricken, and those in need of physical mercies, especially when such persons are of the household of faith.

When I see persons who are materially poor, I instantly feel a kinship with them, for they are physically what I was spiritually when my heart was closed to Christ.  perhaps some of them are in their condition because of sin, but so was I.  Perhaps they are unkind when I try to help them; but I, too, have been spiteful to God when He has sought to help me.  Perhaps they are thankless and even abuse the kindness I show them, but how many times have I been thankless and used what God has given me to serve selfish ends?

Perhaps a poverty-stricken person will be blessed and changed as a result of some kindness I show him.  If so, God be praised for His grace through me.  but if the person walks away unchanged by my kindness, then I still rejoice over the opportunity to love as God loves.  Perhaps the person will repent with time; but for now, my heart is chastened and made wiser by the tangible depiction of what I myself have done to God on numerous occasions.

The gospel remind me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me.  Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the same generosity that has been lavished on me.  When ministering to the poor with these motivations, I not only preach the gospel to them through word and deed, but I reenact the gospel to my own benefit as well."

I hope this encourages your heart!

The Royal Wedding

I was totally captivated by the royal wedding.  It was hard to not be captivated by the seemingly constant coverage of the engagement, preparation, and orchestration of the wedding.  My husband was unwillingly captivated, while I was ever so willingly swept away by the royal matrimony.    Maybe it was because of my British father who loved the monarchy.  Or perhaps it was my 7 years spent living in England frequently passing Buckingham Palace.  Or perhaps it was simply the fairytale story of a beautiful "commoner" meeting her prince charming and transforming into a royal princess.  Whatever the reason, I didn't think twice about waking up at 4 am to catch every minute of coverage.  What guests came to witness the wedding?  How many thousands of people would wait on the streets to catch a glimpse of the royal family and particularly the bride?  What would the royal family be wearing?  And perhaps most anticipated, what would Kate's dress look like?

The Royals had the schedule down to the minute.  With each new arrival, Westminster Abbey increasingly filled.  The closer to the wedding hour, the more prestigious the guests.  From celebrities to dignitaries to friends to family to all the monarchs and finally Kate and her proud father.  As the anticipation was realized, the world looked on at Catherine.

She was stunning!  She looked like a princess.  And in a matter of an hour she would go from Kate Middleton to Princess Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.  Not before a hugely significant ceremony.

With all the pomp and circumstance of the royal family, it's easy to forget that the queen holds the title of "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England."  In theory, it is the monarchy that upholds the Church.  It's easy to question to legitimacy of the monarchy's role in the church.  It's easy to imagine them setting aside the pillars of a Christian marriage ceremony for sake of being politically correct and not offending their religiously diverse guests.  But as I watched the service, I was surprised by the stated picture of marriage being an image of Christ and His Church.  I was thrilled for how many times the name of Jesus was lifted up.  Of the billions of viewers, they heard the name of Christ and they heard from God's word.

Several notable parts of the service that are worth reading:   
 

THE HYMN  

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesu, thou art all compassion,

pure unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation,

enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never,

never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,

pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation,

perfectly restored in thee,

changed from glory into glory,

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love, and praise!

The reading from a significant portion of Romans 12.

The congregational prayer:
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done,

in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid;

who put their trust in thee.

O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;

and evermore defend them.

Be unto them a tower of strength;

from the face of their enemy.

O Lord, hear our prayer;
and let our cry come unto thee.

Amen.Amen.Amen.Amen.

O God of our fathers, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that

whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same; that

so, obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, they may abide in thy love

unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O merciful Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; bestow, we

beseech thee, upon these two persons the heritage and gift of children; and grant that they may

see their children christianly and virtuously brought up to thy praise and honour, through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

O God, who hast taught us that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by

Matrimony hadst made one, and hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent

mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ

and his Church: look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife,

according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving

and cherishing it even as his own flesh), and also that this woman may be loving and amiable,

and faithful to her husband, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and

godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, pour upon you the riches of his grace,

sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy

love unto your lives’ end.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation,

to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate,

instituted of God himself, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his

Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle

that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee, and is commended in Holy Writ to be honourable among

all men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or

wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes

for which Matrimony was ordained.

First, It was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God, and that children

might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, It was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections, implanted by God,

should be hallowed and directed aright; that those who are called of God to this holy estate,

should continue therein in pureness of living.

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of

the other, both in prosperity and adversity.

Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

Just imagine, a fourth of the world heard the gospel through the covenant of marriage.  The Archbishop of Canterbury did not mince words: "Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh."  Prince William and Princess Catherine became the most visible picture of the gospel!

As I gazed enviably at the newly dubbed Princess Catherine I was struck by two thoughts.  First, I have my own prince whom I recently married.  Together we have the honor of displaying the picture of Christ and His bride to those around us.

                                                                     

Second, in Christ, I am part of a "chosen people, a ROYAL priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (I Peter 2:9)

At some point the picture will be reality.  "Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has mader herself ready." Rev. 19: 6 - 7

 

Christ, have mercy upon us.

A Spring trip to Asheville, NC

Asheville.  I love the city.  It's a city brimming with music, arts, and crafts nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.  About ten miles north of Asheville is a small town called Weaverville - home of Mangum Pottery.  Mangum Pottery is my favorite pottery store.  It is also where Ron proposed to me. 

Needless to say, it's a very special place to me, and any time I get the chance to visit both Mangum Pottery and Asheville, I get very excited.

Ron and I have been planning a day to Asheville for some time now.  Yesterday, April 2nd, was that day and we had been eagerly anticipating the day for weeks.  It was perfect timing.  With much going on in life, we were eager to get away even if just for a day.  Also early April meant that spring is in the air with signs of life popping up everywhere.

On Saturday morning I packed a lunch for Ron and me.  We grabbed our sunglasses and our lunch, and we hit the road.  The car ride allowed us to several hours to talk, listen to music, enjoy the beauty of the foothills and mountains.  I had envisioned stopping at an scenic overlook and eating lunch, but we ended up wanting to get to Mangum Pottery as soon as possible so we chose the following option:

It was great and added a little bit of humor to our day.  We arrived at Mangum Pottery around noon and bounded into the store (OK, maybe I bounded in and Ron simply walked.  I tend to get a little more excited about pottery).  Rob and Beth Mangum were busy crafting their art with Beth molding the pieces and Rob working in the back with the glazes and kilns.  We caught up with them chatting about their girls, our wedding, the pottery we received from our wedding registry - gifts given by generous family and friends.  It was great to see them and take in the beauty of their work.

After Mangum we headed to the River Arts District.  Ron had heard about this district from a co-worker.  We were excited to go, because neither of us had been before, and it was apparently a hub for dozens of local artists.  It was as exciting as anticipated.  The mile wide area was filled with buildings and warehouses that had been transformed into studios and galleries for artists who worked with numerous mediums - pottery, fabric, glass, etc.  As we walked around and went from studio to studio we were able to meet many of artists who were busy at work but still kind of enough to talk and share a bit of their story with us.  At one such store we entered into a pretty intense staring contest. 

The busts won.  They always do!

Next we headed to downtown Asheville.  We hit a number of our favorite spots: 10,000 villages, Woolworths, The Chocolate Fetish, and Kress Emporium.  At each stop we saw beautiful pieces of art crafted by incredibly talents folks.  Few realities reflect the nature of God more than artists creating their masterpieces.  It reminds me of one of my most favorite verses - Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Our last stop was the Grove Park Inn, a beautiful hotel that was built at the beginning of the 20th century and has been a respite for many celebrities and dignitaries.  It was also the sight of our wonderful dinner when Ron and I got engaged a little over a year ago.  We drove past and couldn't help but remember the sweet memories of our engagement.

We ended our day at a Japanese Steak House, one of our favorites.  After a delicious meal, we hit the road back to Winston-Salem.  It had been a wonderful day.  Not only had we been inspired by many talented artists, but we were inspired by The Creator and his beautiful creation that was literally budding with life.  Spring is such a vivid reminder of God's redemptive nature to take what is dead and breathe life into it.  With the trees budding and the flowers bursting from the soil, signs of life were everywhere.  Praise God that He is making all things new and gives us glimpses of what is to come through His creation.