We had a wonderful time together last night - if you missed it, you really missed out!
We talked about time - take a timer and just watch it for 1minute - go do it now.
Ok - do you feel like you just wasted a minute? Did it seem like a long time to just stand there? Did you question whether that portion of your life should be broken up into things called minutes and seconds? Do we question whether our lives and the happenings around us should be measured in regular predictable amounts?
Do we wonder or question that 24hrs in a day is logical? Like the rotation of the Earth on its axis? Do we wonder if 365 days in a year are logical (i know it is off just a little...), like the time around the sun?
Or do we accept all of these things as the most logical and appropriate things?
Why do we just accept them? Why have people measured time for as long as anyone can remember? Why do all cultures track it to some degree?
BECAUSE it makes sense - the obvious answer is that the period between sunrise of one day and sunrise of the next makes sense - it is orderly and predictable and logical. The world makes sense.
Now, some people would try to get you to believe that the world and everything in it happened by accident - that some chaotic things happened to give rise to all that exists - this is craziness - it only takes one look at something as simple as the time it takes for that timer to tick off 1minute to realize that the world and everything in it was made orderly and amazing!
In fact, the reason all this is so amazingly orderly and structured is that it was made by an amazing God who cared that it not be haphazard. He is wonderful and amazing and so His creation must be!
What does this mean for you?
Well, if God took this much trouble to make time so perfect, do you really thin He has made you only to abandon you? Do you think you are a mistake? NO!! He cares way more for you than your timer! He loves you so much - and He will never abandon you!!
I know it does not make all the trouble in your life go away and does not make everything easy - but life is never easy - the real question is Is it better to go through the hard time with a God who is so amazing or without? The answer seems obvious to me.
So, we spent time noticing God and how amazing He is and then we took time to notice people - all people are amazing - all of them made perfectly the way they were supposed to be - hand chosen for the world. But, they are also all pitifully screwed up - broken - hurting - lives in pieces...We need to notice them - do we dare step outside of our frantic American lifestyles enough to notice the amazing people around us and how much pain and hurt they endure? Do we dare to care about them? Do we dare to invite God into themidst of their problems? To make a difference to them, like someone has to us??? Well, we spend some time each time we get together daring to notice each other and also challenged to step out of our usual lives and into noticing...
finally, we listened to the song One Day Too Late, by Skillet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNEC735juI4
try the youtube link
How much of our 60second minutes, 60minute hours, 24 hour days, 365 day years, do we spend do the things we think are the most important? Do we dare waste even a minute??
How will you spend the time you have been given???
Make a change - you may not be able to "love you enemies" tomorrow perfectly or "forgive and forget" perfectly tomorrow, but don't you want to at least be going in the right direction? Giving your life to something that matters with every minute you have? A great place to start is to notice - allow yourself to step out of the usual American way and notice the amzingness of God and the amazingness and brokenness of people!
If this makes sense to you and you want to learn more, feel free to post - and if you want to hang out with some people who are trying to live their lives this way, we would love to have you join us - we will be hanging out again on August 25th, from 6:45-8:00pm at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette
hope to see you there
tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock...
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Last time and next time
So, last time i missed, but i hear it was absolutely fantastic - there will be a blog post to follow - so keep checking.
Our next time together will be tomorrow night, August 11th, at McAllister Recreation Center - just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, from 6:45-8:00PM - there will be free childcare, as always!
Hope to see you there!
Our next time together will be tomorrow night, August 11th, at McAllister Recreation Center - just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, from 6:45-8:00PM - there will be free childcare, as always!
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Late Medical Moments...
Hello everyone! Sorry,t he blog posts have been paltry...surgery and then outreach and then famiyl vacation has kept us running - but we are back now and i wanted to tell you about the time we shared on July 19th, yes, fair week, at Durgan Elementary.
We spent 6 hours having tons of fun in the heat, painting nails (not me - you don't want me to paint your nails, playing xbox kinect, painting faces, and loving people with our smiles, our hugs, our paint, our play, our care, our doctor visits and some free medicines!
What a great way to spend the day! We had a blast! We had 31 patients and we were able to help them with a wide variety of troubles. It was great to be in a position to care. It was also wonderful to see the folks waiting (imagine waiting for a docotr!!) chatting and enjoying eachother so much! The love and mutual care was just really cool! One lady was even going to miss her bus and so someone gave up their spot to let her go 1st!! It was remarkable!!
You see, we find that as we notice people, not as whether they are insured or not, or whether they have certain clothes, or act a certain way, but as wonderfully created people, made by a loving God - we begin to see life open up in new ways!!! Life takes on a joy and wonder that we never anticipated before! This is what More than more is all about!!
If this sounds really cool to you - we would love to have you join us next Thursday night, August 11th, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th ahdn Schuyler Ave, in Lafayette. 6:45-8:00Pm - free childcare as always!
If transportation is an issue, please reply on the blog and we will try to help!!
hope to see you there!
We spent 6 hours having tons of fun in the heat, painting nails (not me - you don't want me to paint your nails, playing xbox kinect, painting faces, and loving people with our smiles, our hugs, our paint, our play, our care, our doctor visits and some free medicines!
What a great way to spend the day! We had a blast! We had 31 patients and we were able to help them with a wide variety of troubles. It was great to be in a position to care. It was also wonderful to see the folks waiting (imagine waiting for a docotr!!) chatting and enjoying eachother so much! The love and mutual care was just really cool! One lady was even going to miss her bus and so someone gave up their spot to let her go 1st!! It was remarkable!!
You see, we find that as we notice people, not as whether they are insured or not, or whether they have certain clothes, or act a certain way, but as wonderfully created people, made by a loving God - we begin to see life open up in new ways!!! Life takes on a joy and wonder that we never anticipated before! This is what More than more is all about!!
If this sounds really cool to you - we would love to have you join us next Thursday night, August 11th, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th ahdn Schuyler Ave, in Lafayette. 6:45-8:00Pm - free childcare as always!
If transportation is an issue, please reply on the blog and we will try to help!!
hope to see you there!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
My Melon!
So, you know that thing above your neck??
more specifically than your head - your skull - well, last Thursday we spent some time being amazed at how God made our skulls just right for us!! It was a great time!
Ever thought about your skull? Maybe when you raised up into that sign you thought you missed or that cabinet you did not realize was there!!!
Well, the skull is a complex of bones that develop separately during infancy and are not fused until past 1 year of age. Even this is amazing because the fact that they are not fused is many times essential to allow the baby's head (which is the largest part of the baby) to come through the birth canal and actually fit. Plus, the brain grows a vast amount in the first year of life and the unfused bones allow for plenty of growth - after all, we wouldn't want to have our brains smushed by not having enough room in the skull!! How perfect is this???
Then, there's the part of how perfect the skull is for it's job for the rest of our lives. What is the job?
Protection - how many times have you bonked your head? Imagine if those bonks were straight to the brain!!! Not many of us would live past toddlerhood, but instead we have this hard head - which incidentally gets much harder right about the time we get much more mobile and daring - that absorbs the blows we give it and protects us!!
Just to highlight how strong the skulls is i wanted to share a story a patient gave me permission to share:
This young man was working on his car. He was working on something just to the inside of the tire area. His car was jacked up and he was working with his arms inside the tire and his head under the tire. Well, the jack slipped and the entire weight of the car fell on his head, wedging it between the tire and the ground. He was then able to keep his wits enough to reach for and find the slipped jack, slide it under the frame, jack the car up and slide himself out from under the car, only to call the 911 operator and have her think he was joking around because his story was so far-fetched. Well, long story short, after lots of tests and some major worry, he was fine. No harm done. Well, he had a small (too small to see on ct of the head) fracture of the bones, but nothing that won't heal on its own!!! Amazing - now, let me tell you, that young man is exceptionally thankful for his skull!!
Now it is nice to appreciate our skulls and be thankful that we have not damaged ourselves too much over the years, but that would only be part of what we need to do with this story - my advice? Take a minute the next time you notice your skull, or anyone else's for that matter, and give some credit to the God who made us so amazingly. Stop for just a second and thank Him for making you so wonderful! Invite Him into the moment with you, ask Him to be a part of your life...to join you in the moments of your life. You might just begin to see life in a little different way - maybe you'll notice the important things in life and life will become More than it seems now!!
If you are sick of life as usual and would like to begin to live for More, we would love to have you join us next Thursday night, July 14th, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, from 6:45-8:00PM. There will be free, excellent childcare, as always!
Hope to see you there!
more specifically than your head - your skull - well, last Thursday we spent some time being amazed at how God made our skulls just right for us!! It was a great time!
Ever thought about your skull? Maybe when you raised up into that sign you thought you missed or that cabinet you did not realize was there!!!
Well, the skull is a complex of bones that develop separately during infancy and are not fused until past 1 year of age. Even this is amazing because the fact that they are not fused is many times essential to allow the baby's head (which is the largest part of the baby) to come through the birth canal and actually fit. Plus, the brain grows a vast amount in the first year of life and the unfused bones allow for plenty of growth - after all, we wouldn't want to have our brains smushed by not having enough room in the skull!! How perfect is this???
Then, there's the part of how perfect the skull is for it's job for the rest of our lives. What is the job?
Protection - how many times have you bonked your head? Imagine if those bonks were straight to the brain!!! Not many of us would live past toddlerhood, but instead we have this hard head - which incidentally gets much harder right about the time we get much more mobile and daring - that absorbs the blows we give it and protects us!!
Just to highlight how strong the skulls is i wanted to share a story a patient gave me permission to share:
This young man was working on his car. He was working on something just to the inside of the tire area. His car was jacked up and he was working with his arms inside the tire and his head under the tire. Well, the jack slipped and the entire weight of the car fell on his head, wedging it between the tire and the ground. He was then able to keep his wits enough to reach for and find the slipped jack, slide it under the frame, jack the car up and slide himself out from under the car, only to call the 911 operator and have her think he was joking around because his story was so far-fetched. Well, long story short, after lots of tests and some major worry, he was fine. No harm done. Well, he had a small (too small to see on ct of the head) fracture of the bones, but nothing that won't heal on its own!!! Amazing - now, let me tell you, that young man is exceptionally thankful for his skull!!
Now it is nice to appreciate our skulls and be thankful that we have not damaged ourselves too much over the years, but that would only be part of what we need to do with this story - my advice? Take a minute the next time you notice your skull, or anyone else's for that matter, and give some credit to the God who made us so amazingly. Stop for just a second and thank Him for making you so wonderful! Invite Him into the moment with you, ask Him to be a part of your life...to join you in the moments of your life. You might just begin to see life in a little different way - maybe you'll notice the important things in life and life will become More than it seems now!!
If you are sick of life as usual and would like to begin to live for More, we would love to have you join us next Thursday night, July 14th, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, from 6:45-8:00PM. There will be free, excellent childcare, as always!
Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Hugs
So, we had a great time 2wks ago and if you missed it, you missed out!
The best part of the time we shared was during the part of our time together when we share something amazing about God. So, while all stood up, Sophia, my 7 yr old who is famous for her hugs, went around the gave every single person a hug. Now, it was an amazing thing to watch people whi have been so hurt in their lives so touched by the love of a little girl. Some were even crying because of the way their hearts were touched to be hugged.
Now, i think it is safe to say that even if you weren't there, you can understand how cool it is to feel the warmth of another person's hug. It is safe and wonderful. We were made to feel this. Why? Because God loves this way and He wants us to have the joy of having this kind of love in our lives too and so He made us this way - this is no accident - in fact, He wants us to love Him too!
Consider how much a hug is worth - how much would you pay for a hug? What if it was from someone who you lost to death or a broken relationship? What if it was from someone that you always wished could love you and they just wouldn't or couldn't? What price tag would you attach to that?
See? A hug is beyond worth, but how many times do we rush right past them to get something done?
Well, the next time you get a hug, stop and savor, and then invite the God who made you enjoy it into the moment with you. Thank Him for making you that way. Invite Him into the moment and into your world with you - ask Him to join you in your day - it might make all the difference.
If you are tired of missing the really wonderful parts of life because you are caught up in the franticness of American life, we would love to have you join us tomorrow night - June 30th, at MCAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, from 6:45-8:00PM. As always there will be free and excellent childcare.
hope to see you there!
The best part of the time we shared was during the part of our time together when we share something amazing about God. So, while all stood up, Sophia, my 7 yr old who is famous for her hugs, went around the gave every single person a hug. Now, it was an amazing thing to watch people whi have been so hurt in their lives so touched by the love of a little girl. Some were even crying because of the way their hearts were touched to be hugged.
Now, i think it is safe to say that even if you weren't there, you can understand how cool it is to feel the warmth of another person's hug. It is safe and wonderful. We were made to feel this. Why? Because God loves this way and He wants us to have the joy of having this kind of love in our lives too and so He made us this way - this is no accident - in fact, He wants us to love Him too!
Consider how much a hug is worth - how much would you pay for a hug? What if it was from someone who you lost to death or a broken relationship? What if it was from someone that you always wished could love you and they just wouldn't or couldn't? What price tag would you attach to that?
See? A hug is beyond worth, but how many times do we rush right past them to get something done?
Well, the next time you get a hug, stop and savor, and then invite the God who made you enjoy it into the moment with you. Thank Him for making you that way. Invite Him into the moment and into your world with you - ask Him to join you in your day - it might make all the difference.
If you are tired of missing the really wonderful parts of life because you are caught up in the franticness of American life, we would love to have you join us tomorrow night - June 30th, at MCAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, from 6:45-8:00PM. As always there will be free and excellent childcare.
hope to see you there!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Forgiveness Followup
Well, I emailed the people who made the movie and they cannot allow us to give copies. So, if you are interested in having a copy, please feel free to post and i will get you the info.
We will be hanging out tomorrow night at McAllister Recreation Center - just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette - 6:45-8:00PM. As always there will be free, excellent childcare.
Also, want to let you know that any of you who are interested are welcome to join us on a community outreach night, next Tuesday night, the 21st. We will be helping to mulch someone's flower beds that we have been praying for for a long time. It will be a great time! If we only experience the goodness of God in our lives and don't share it with other people, we miss so much of the joy in life!!
If you want info, please post to the blog, or come tomorrow night!
Hope to see you soon!
We will be hanging out tomorrow night at McAllister Recreation Center - just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette - 6:45-8:00PM. As always there will be free, excellent childcare.
Also, want to let you know that any of you who are interested are welcome to join us on a community outreach night, next Tuesday night, the 21st. We will be helping to mulch someone's flower beds that we have been praying for for a long time. It will be a great time! If we only experience the goodness of God in our lives and don't share it with other people, we miss so much of the joy in life!!
If you want info, please post to the blog, or come tomorrow night!
Hope to see you soon!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Forgiveness...
So, we had a fantastic time last Thursday night at McAllister. We, you see, are tired of living life in the usual American way. Always get more stuff, make more money, more fitness, more health, more sex, more toys, more, more, more. Instead, we gather together every other Thursday night to talk about ways to change the way we live - we alter our focus intentionally - we choose to focus our minds and hearts on those things in life that really matter...
Thursday night we talked about Rwanda. We watched video clips from a movie called as we forgive - here is the web site for the movie http://www.asweforgivemovie.com/ - and heard from Cara and Josh, a couple who has just returned from Rwanda. They spoke of genocide - the killing of a million people in cold blood, just because of the type of family they were born into - and then of amazing forgiveness.
The lady in the film's husband and children were murdered and her sister and her family as well. It turns out that her sister was murdered by a family friend of this lady - he tells the story of what he did. He then feels intense guilt and remorse and comes to her to say how sorry he is and to ask her forgiveness. She, almost unbelievably, says that is God has forgiven her, then she will forgive him. she no longer fears death, or agony...it was humbling and intense and perspective changing.
The thing is, God made us this way. We find in our hearts the ability to forgive the most heinous. Now, let me clarify - forgiving does not mean that you are saying that what someone did is ok, or all right. It does not mean you forget, or even that you have some fluffy and healthy relationship with them, but you do make your peace with them, the most you can, right where you are. You choose to not hold tightly onto the reigns of revenge or bitterness. You do your best to see that person as broken and messed up and go on with your life. Now, i realize this is not easy and am not suggesting this - but the amount a human can forgive is absolutely amazing!!!
We went around the room, prior to the movie, and many of the people in the room had been wronged near to the lady on the screen, and had found it in them to forgive to the maximum that they were able at that time in their lives! And we don't live in Rwanda...but the midwest!
You see, as bad as things can be that are inflicted upon us from other people, as much pain as they can cause us, humans have it in their ability to forgive and go on. This is not natural - natural is to attack, to defend, to avenge. But, inside us is this deep seated God-likeness - You see, He made us in His image - meaning that He made us, at our root, to be like Him. We are made to have an ability to forgive, way beyond what it seems like we should be able to.
So, the next time you encounter that person who just really has hurt you (or even think of them)...the next time you see someone forgive past what is reasonable...notice. Pay attention not just to the peace, i am glad for that, but also to the fact that you are made that way. Stop for a second and thank the God who made you so amazingly that you could go through all that and still find the other side. Invite Him into your world, right there. Ask Him to join you in the moment and to begin to open your eyes to what's really important about life. It will not stop people from doing mean things, but it will change your world.
If this is sounding like it might just be a better way to begin trying to live your life, we would love to have you join us June 16th, 6:45-8:00 PM, at McAllister Recreation Center. We will be continuing our journey together, and having some serious laughs. McAllister is just off 20th st and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette. As always, we will have free, excellent childcare, and some exellent food.
Hope to see you there.
Jason
Thursday night we talked about Rwanda. We watched video clips from a movie called as we forgive - here is the web site for the movie http://www.asweforgivemovie.com/ - and heard from Cara and Josh, a couple who has just returned from Rwanda. They spoke of genocide - the killing of a million people in cold blood, just because of the type of family they were born into - and then of amazing forgiveness.
The lady in the film's husband and children were murdered and her sister and her family as well. It turns out that her sister was murdered by a family friend of this lady - he tells the story of what he did. He then feels intense guilt and remorse and comes to her to say how sorry he is and to ask her forgiveness. She, almost unbelievably, says that is God has forgiven her, then she will forgive him. she no longer fears death, or agony...it was humbling and intense and perspective changing.
The thing is, God made us this way. We find in our hearts the ability to forgive the most heinous. Now, let me clarify - forgiving does not mean that you are saying that what someone did is ok, or all right. It does not mean you forget, or even that you have some fluffy and healthy relationship with them, but you do make your peace with them, the most you can, right where you are. You choose to not hold tightly onto the reigns of revenge or bitterness. You do your best to see that person as broken and messed up and go on with your life. Now, i realize this is not easy and am not suggesting this - but the amount a human can forgive is absolutely amazing!!!
We went around the room, prior to the movie, and many of the people in the room had been wronged near to the lady on the screen, and had found it in them to forgive to the maximum that they were able at that time in their lives! And we don't live in Rwanda...but the midwest!
You see, as bad as things can be that are inflicted upon us from other people, as much pain as they can cause us, humans have it in their ability to forgive and go on. This is not natural - natural is to attack, to defend, to avenge. But, inside us is this deep seated God-likeness - You see, He made us in His image - meaning that He made us, at our root, to be like Him. We are made to have an ability to forgive, way beyond what it seems like we should be able to.
So, the next time you encounter that person who just really has hurt you (or even think of them)...the next time you see someone forgive past what is reasonable...notice. Pay attention not just to the peace, i am glad for that, but also to the fact that you are made that way. Stop for a second and thank the God who made you so amazingly that you could go through all that and still find the other side. Invite Him into your world, right there. Ask Him to join you in the moment and to begin to open your eyes to what's really important about life. It will not stop people from doing mean things, but it will change your world.
If this is sounding like it might just be a better way to begin trying to live your life, we would love to have you join us June 16th, 6:45-8:00 PM, at McAllister Recreation Center. We will be continuing our journey together, and having some serious laughs. McAllister is just off 20th st and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette. As always, we will have free, excellent childcare, and some exellent food.
Hope to see you there.
Jason
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