Lies, Truth, and Reality

Why is it that humanity tries its best to lie and cover up the truth? A news report today said that Fidel Castro is on his deathbed from an intestinal infection. He has turned over temporary power of Cuba to his brother and is in Spain with his doctor. Yet, the report from Cuba is that he is not in a grave condition and that he will return to power shortly.

The church and its people are no less guilty of this than the mainstream. We filter into church Sunday after Sunday with smiles on our faces in hopes of covering up the struggles we have deep down inside. In return, the church has become this place where broken people feel even more broken and isolated from healing. It has become a sterile place where everyone is perfect and ok.

I don't see Jesus encouraging this. In fact, I see him going and spending time with those who would readily admit that their lives are full of brokenness and hopelessness. He goes out of his way for them. He also goes out of his way to tell the religious of the day that they are missing the point with their religiosity. I believe he would have harsh words for the Body of Christ today.

Unfortunately, I don't have a perfect solution to this problem. How can we change the mentality that its ok to hurt and struggle inside and in a sense die while putting on the persona that life is grand and good? I think we start by saying that being Christian doesn't mean life is always rosy and perfect. Maybe we'll be honest enough to say that at times, its horrible and painful . . . and that its ok.

More thoughts to come as my brain wrestles and fights with this. . .

Sweet Bed Time Songs and Much Prayer

Every night I get the privilege of putting Hannah down to bed. Momma handles the morning/day duties; I come home and do daddy/night time duties. These include brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, putting her to bed, and singing to her for a little. It is one of my favorite times of the day.

Every night, Hannah gets to choose what kind of baby she is. There are four choices: sack-of-taters baby (which comes out "sackertaters" baby) where I throw her over my shoulder and carry her like a sack of potatoes, scooper baby (which goes way back to momma scooping her up all the time, bending her in half and snuggling her), snuggly baby (which is self explanatory), and crazy running little girl where she runs into bed without being carried.

After she crawls in bed, I crawl in and we sing. Normally I sing to her and she snuggles in and begins to wait for sleep. We have three normal songs: Ho, Ho, Ho (which we learned from Wendy Beavers/Ickes), ABC's, and You Are My Joy--a song off the David Crowder A Collision CD.

Tonight she was a sackertaters baby. Its not surprising. She was wound up from a great day of playing and card making with momma. She's normally a sacertaters baby when she is wound up. When she finally got in bed, she wanted to sing with me. We sang the normals plus Jesus Loves the Little Children and Jesus Loves Me. My time with her was so peaceful and warm. It was such a joy--a joy that I get all to myself because it is our special time.

On the heels of that, I got online and talked with some of the students from my ministry at South and at camp. Some of them are really hurting right now with problems at home, broken marriages, and struggling with past failures. My heart really goes out to them tonight. They all have hope, but it is clouded by the other circumstances around them, some brought on by themselves while others they never asked for. I wish I could create a safe place for them like my daughter has tonight--a place where they could have peace and comfort so they would actually get to sleep and have good rest. All I can offer is prayer.

I feel so hopeless when all I can offer them are prayers. I trust and know that prayer works. Its just that sometimes prayer is not too reassuring, especially for those who struggle to find hope in the day. And so, here I sit late into the night in dichotomy. I revel in the joy that my daughter and our routine brings me, while I hurt inside for those who didn't get to revel in anything this evening.

Bring them peace, Father. Give them the peace that my little angel has right now as she slumbers in the next room. Comfort them and sing over them. Hold them close; let them feel your breath and your soft touch on their face. Be everything they need and more, as you promise to be.

Books I've Read in 2006

This is a paltry list in my mind. I know I could have read more. I read some great stuff, though.

The Chronicles of Narnia
Blue Like Jazz
A Generous Orthodoxy
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
It's Not Easy Being Green
Velvet Elvis
Good to Great
Red Moon Rising
The DaVinci Code
Good To Great and the Social Sectors
The Search to Belong
Grasping God's Word
If God Is Love
Starving Jesus
Tuesdays With Morrie
Five People You Meet In Heaven
How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth
For One More Day

I'll be posting a "to be read" list for 2007. Maybe that will help me stay more focused.

Dawn

This is going to be a busy day. I have 3 appointments today, plus a whole bunch of things to get done before next week. With tomorrow being "momma's day off", I was up early and heading to the office by 6:00am.

As I took some Christmas cards to the mailbox before walking to the office, I noticed the stars and the moon shining brightly. It has been extra cloudy and rainy the last few days, so I was excited that it would be a sunny day. I was excited because sunshine always makes Stephanie smile and because I remembered it is going to be almost 50 degrees today. I might get the chance to take Hannah outside and play on the swing. She loves to swing. I was probably most excited about the chance to watch the sunrise.

I love watching the sunrise. There is something about being up before dawn and being privileged to watch a new day awake with oranges and reds across the sky. The newness and the hope of what is yet to come that is captured in those colors awakens me and makes me eager to take on the day, even when the day is packed with appointments and work like today.

In a sense, I think the place that I am in is like the cresting of the dawn, slowly peeking over the horizon with veiled colors ever so slightly. It is the new possibilities and future of the ministry here at South. It is the fact that my Wednesdays will return back to normal as the class I was teaching at GLCC ends. It is knowing that there will be new joy, love, and laughter found in the eyes and actions of a moody three year old and her momma today, tomorrow, and the next. It is the gift of grace and love that I continually receive from the creator of the dawn and that I get to share with others. The dawn is beginning to grow onto the darkness, covering it with marvelous light. I'm in the midst of it, surrounded by it on all sides. I watch it with wonder as the colors brighten and the high, simple clouds begin to glow. It is brilliant!

HOW GREAT IS YOUR LOVE
(Bart Mallard)

My heart is steadfast, O God
And I will sing
With all my heart and soul
Music for the King
And I will awake the dawn
With my praise to You, O Lord

How great is Your love
So much higher than the heavens
With faithfulness that reaches the sky
How great is Your love
So much higher than the heavens
With faithfulness that reaches the sky
How great is Your love

Praise the Lord, O my soul
And glory to the King
Forever You are robed with majesty
We come to You, O Lord
Lay our praise at Your feet

Be exalted, O God, and let Your glory reign
Be exalted, O God, and let Your glory reign
Let it reign, let it reign, let it reign
Let it reign, let it reign, let it reign