So my good friend Bethany has inspired me to write a post about what made me smile in October. I'll tell you what made me smile in October! Lots of things did, but I suppose one of my biggest things was getting to see my cousin Amy get married to my friend Gabe Wahl from college. They had a beautiful wedding and they were both so happy and so in love. It was cool. I loved watching Gabe as he grinned from ear to ear the entire time he was looking at Amy during the ceremony. I wonder what it feels like to have a guy so into you like that. Where they devote all their attention and love to you and make you feel special. Gabe said the two reasons he was excited to marry my cousin was because he wants to see Amy grow and grow with her and she makes him a better man.
You know that feeling you get when you know there's so much out there in life, in the world...and so much to conquer and go after...and it's so big...and even though you don't know how you're gonna do it, you just know everything's going to be okay? You know...the feeling where you believe life hasn't even begun yet and there's so much more to do...and you just know in your heart you're gonna go after it no matter what comes your way...? I hadn't felt that way in a long time until the day of that wedding. And that, my friend, is what made me smile in October.
HORSE prompt: What do you think it means when the Bible says we have the mind of Christ?
I have been thinking a lot lately about details and how they're important. But not always are they important enough for other people to care about them. God cares about the details in our life, but he doesn't always share with us what He's doing or going to do. Could it be, not because they're unimportant or He doesn't care, but because He wants us to discover them ourselves? He wants us to notice what He's doing. Maybe He wants us to show Him that we're paying attention to the good things, the bad things, the hard things, and we're coming to Him about it. Maybe it's because this is a way to show our love...by noticing the details. When you love someone, don't you love them for the details on what makes them who they are? Not just because they're "nice" or "friendly" or "encouraging." But because there are specific things about them that you can describe that make them different from someone else.
So, have you ever felt misunderstood? Like you weren't able to say everything you wanted to say, and what you did say got misinterpreted? Yeah, well...that's happened to me recently. I try to not let stuff get to me and I can usually let a lot of things go. But I guess when something's really close to you, when you feel it really means something, and you aren't able to get across what you want to...then it's hard. Especially when you feel shut down and that you can't try to explain it again. Well, I had kept pretty much everything to myself and just lived with my thoughts. I prayed about it [the situation]. I cried about it [which was good]. I prayed more. I kept trying to let it go, but this...this really got to me. As I was driving in my car this week, thinking about the situation again, the thought came to me, "God knows exactly how you feel." And I assured myself that was true, and it made me feel a lot better. Then I was able to move on. I realized it was more than just God knowing how I felt, it was that He would take care of the situation (even though it was over). I could release it all to Him, because He knew what happened, and He knew what I wanted to say. He understood, even though other people didn't. And He probably understood at an even deeper level than I do, on why this affected me so much. But anyway, so after all that, I had a friend email me some really encouraging words, and she didn't even know I was going through anything. She felt "urged" to write to me. God is so cool.
So tonight I felt like being creative. I'm not an artist, but sometimes it's just fun to color, or paint, or draw. So I cleared my table, went to Walmart to get some paints and a canvas, lit some candles, and played worship music while I painted. I decided that I wanted something to remind me of the moment when I realized all that matters is that God understands, because He'll take care of things. I mean, He understands not just one thing, but everything. So I just painted this with colors and a cross and the word "understands" at the bottom so that I can focus on that if I get discouraged again. I put a picture of it below, but I am not finished yet. I still have to make a few changes, but that will be for tomorrow. :)
So, I have met both of the authors of Generation Hex, Marla Alupoaicei and Dillon Burroughs. I met Marla for the first time in Orlando this year in July at the International Christian Retail Show. I was also able to see Dillon there again this year. Both are wonderful people! I'm really excited about their new book and I wanted to let you know it provides a great perspective on Wicca. They explain what it is, why it's important we know about it, and how to reach out to Wiccans. They have talked with Wiccans and done a lot of research, so they speak on the subject with a lot of knowledge. I also appreciate how they talk about it in relation to Christianity. They discuss the subject very respectfully, and as Marla mentions, it's kindness that leads people to repentance. (Romans 2:4) So, to all my teacher friends and youth leader friends, this is a great book for you because it addresses the subject in relation to kids (along with discussions about the Harry Potter books) and to teenagers. I am part of a blog tour right now and wanted to share some info from an interview with Dillon and Marla. I pulled out some questions I thought might be of interest to you.
What would you say to someone who wants to become a published author?
Marla: Go for it! There’s always room for one more. If you need help, please ask me and I will be happy to help. Author Mary DeMuth also has a great blog called So You Want to Be Published? that can help you in that regard.
Dillon: Start small and don’t quit. I was 0 for 10 on my first 10 magazine queries. Later it was 1 for 10, then 2 for 10, until editors eventually asked me if I had something to meet their deadline. The second piece of advice is to write with an attitude of servanthood. Most of my writing has been helping other established authors produce better books. In the process, I gain writing experience and credits that have helped me write books like Generation Hex down the road. Finally, it’s all God. I can’t give a “how to get published” talk. I don’t completely understand it myself. God wants me to write and has opened the doors. I can’t take any of the credit.
Where did you get the idea for the book?
Dillon: I had already worked on three world religion books where I had included some material on Wicca. However, most of my research showed most people were either unaware of Wicca or were misinformed. I thought a book that included talking with Wiccans and sharing what they had to say before comparing it to my faith made the most sense. Our publisher, located in Eugene, Oregon, is in a very strong Wiccan community and saw the need for the project. We did our homework on the proposal and after sharing our passion for it at a meeting during ICRS in 2007, were offered a contract in less than 30 days.
Marla: Dillon asked me to partner with him on the book to provide the female perspective on Wicca and to interview women who are involved in the practice.
What are the major themes of the book?
Dillon: It’s simply one, two: “What is Wicca?” and “What Should I Do about Wicca?” In 176 pages, we cover the basic of what Wicca is, why it matters, and how to influence those involved in it with the love of Christ. I guess you could say it’s part awareness, part outreach.
Marla: Each chapter addresses a different element of Wicca or witchcraft. We talk about Harry Potter and other media and their influence, the history of Wicca and witchcraft in America (including the Salem witch trials), the practices of Wicca, what Wiccans believe, how you can share the gospel with a Wiccan, how Wicca is spreading on college campuses, what Wiccans believe about the God and the Goddess, and much more.
What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
Dillon: Marla and I stopped by Barnes and Noble one day and took notes from every Wicca book on the shelf. We got a lot of weird looks! We read hundreds of pages of online content and magazines. We interviewed over 20 people involved or formerly involved in Wicca. I read every conceivable publication on Wicca, both by Christians and Wiccans. It has been my toughest book to write so far because I became part-researcher and part-journalist in seeking out personal stories from people on the inside.
Marla: We did quite a bit of research at libraries, on the Internet, at bookstores, and personally. We interviewed many Wiccans personally and read at least 20-30 books on the subject.
What do you hope to accomplish with this book?
Dillon: My overarching goal is that people who practice Wicca will experience the love of Jesus. This requires helping Christians understand the point of view of Wiccans, promote positive friendships between Christians and Wiccans, and provide examples and ideas of how to share Christ with those involved with Wicca. We’ve already seen some Wiccans turn to faith in Christ through our book, which lets us know God is already at work in accomplishing this goal.
Marla: The ultimate goal is to magnify Jesus Christ and to give people involved in Wicca/witchcraft the opportunity to come to a saving faith in Jesus. Secondly, we want to educate and equip Christians to know what Wicca is and what it is NOT so that we can teach our children about it, be aware of this powerful spiritual trend, and share God’s truth in a gracious way with those caught up in the practice of witchcraft.
Abby: I hope you'll get to pick up a copy of Generation Hex. It's not only a great book, but a great resource to have!
I’m Especially Fond of You By Abby Van Wormer, August 19, 2008
Why do I hold on to my Great Sadness, when I can release it to you? You’ll take it away, you’ll hold me close, but moments like these are few.
Papa, I ask that you’ll take it for good, all the junk that’s made me a mess. And for all those future mistakes I’ll make, thank you for not loving me less.
Sometimes it’s all so hard to grasp, Your constant love everyday. You’ve never stopped reaching out to me, Even when I’ve pushed you away.
I want a deeper relationship, God. Just like you and Mack. I’ve been gone for way too long. Lord, will you take me back?
Papa, You’ve opened my eyes to Your love. Help me continue to open my heart. I long to experience life together, so thanks for the brand new start.
If anything matters, then everything matters, and I guess that even means me. Oh Papa, your love is bigger than life, And it’s truly what’s set me free.
So thank you for knowing who I am, And for the power of Sarayu. And help me believe it when you say, “I’m especially fond of you.”
Every part of our life is based on decisions. I've been thinking about this lately. To start, we're here because God decided to give us life. And in this precious life He gave us, He allows us to make decisions. Giving us that opportunity shows us how much he values us and loves us. He knows we can make wrong choices and bad decisions and yet he doesn't take away our freedom. In order for love to be real, He has to allow us to choose if we want to follow Him or not. He's not into making us bots or programming us to do what He wants. He's not into forcing His way into our life, trying to MAKE us accept Him. He's not into that. He does want us. He wants ALL of us, every PART of us. I believe He is always wooing us to Him, always pursuing us, never giving up on us. But He's a gentleman, and will wait for us to accept Him as our Lord. He'll wait for us to allow Him to enter our life and heart.
We've all made bad decisions in our life. I have made lots of bad decisions. I still do, and I learn from them. But the best decision I ever made was to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Today is what I call my "spiritual birthday." On August 10th, 11 years ago, when I was 15 years old, I was baptized - buried with Christ, and raised to walk in the newness of life.
I've been listening to the audiobook of The Shack and I'm almost halfway through it. If you get a chance to read it or download the audiobook, I'd like to know what you think.
Anyway, I was listening to it this afternoon, and there's this part where the character referred to mostly as "Papa" was talking to Mack. Papa was having a discussion about the nature of God with Mack, and Mack was starting to "get" that God was loving. Not distant or mean or any of the other thoughts he may have had about Him. As their conversation was ending, Mack said, "Papa?"
And Papa said, "Yes, honey?"
"I'm so sorry that you--that Jesus--had to die."
"I know you are. And thank you. But you need to know that we aren't sorry at all. It was worth it. Isn't that right, son?" She turned to ask her question of Jesus, who had just entered the cabin. "Absolutely."
He paused and then looked at Mack. "And I would have done it even if it were ONLY for you. But it wasn't."
(It was for all of us).
I stopped the iPod at this point. It just kinda struck me how much God loves me--how much God loves us--all of us. It's not like He ever looks back and says, I wish I never died for you. You'd think that after the many times I've betrayed Him, the many times I sin against Him, He'd get sick of it and regret all that pain He went through. For me. But that's not God. That's not His character. His love is unchanging and unconditional and forever. He considers us valuable and "worth it" despite the fact that we 'miss the mark.' And it's His love that changes us. Even if we are able to grasp just a little bit of how much He loves us (I don't think we can truly understand it. Maybe when we get to heaven!), that's what changes us.
My friend Dave at work got a questionable email in his inbox at work this last week. He forwarded it to me and I told him how it was clearly a scam. He wrote back, "What a sad, pathetic world we live in." Yes. But he followed that by saying, "Glad I have a Redeemer!" And I responded to him by saying, "Yeah, thank God for God!"
And that's pretty much what I have to say today. Thank God for God. Thanks to Him for allowing us to make decisions. And thank God for His love!
Well, my Aunt Kaye and Uncle Roger came to visit this last weekend. Growing up, whenever we'd get to see them, I made up a little rhyme. I'd always chant with my sister, "Roger and Aunt Kaye, YAY!" Actually, I still do say that whenever I get to see them. They're the kind of people you always like to be around and you never want them to leave.
On Sunday afternoon after church we all went out to eat at a place called PF Changs. They have good food. Anyway, we had a really nice waitress and she had a lovely accent. We were all trying to guess where she was from. Towards the end of the meal, she came by and my uncle said to her, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but you have such a beautiful accent, and we were wondering where you were from?" She told him, "Okay, if you guess I'll tell you if you're right." So he thought about it a minute and then said "Africa." She was excited and impressed and said, "Oh yes, you are right! How did you know? Most people don't guess that." He explained that he had been to Africa (3 times by the way) and that she sounded like one of their African friends. Then my uncle talked to her about the ministry he's doing there with orphans. A little while later she came back and my aunt pulled the pictures out of her purse from their last trip and handed them to her. As she began looking through the pictures, tears filled her eyes. She was truly moved by seeing those photos of where she used to live, where she's from. Quickly she said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that." Then she left. It was touching for us, too, to see her reaction.
Later we asked her, "What brought you here?" And she said, "My husband. He went to look at animals and then he came back with me. He fell in love and we came back and were married. We have been married 17 years now."
She took some plates away and then came back again. She asked how the food was and such. My uncle mentioned that it was very good, but not as good as some of the African dishes they had, of course. :) He knew the names of them! She asked them if they were from Eugene and they told her they were from California, visiting. Then she asked, "How long are you here?" And they said, "Well, we leave tomorrow morning." And she said that was too bad because she wanted to have them over to her house and make them those African dishes she was speaking of. And she wasn't kidding. She was totally serious. So my aunt exchanged information with her and the waitress, whose name is something like Mayuma (I'm sure I spelled that wrong), told them that next time they visit they should call her and she'd make us African food. My aunt told her if she ever came to CA to visit, she would have a place to stay.
So, I took a picture of them together.
It was such a cool experience. Coincidence? IDTS! More like a divine appointment. God does stuff like that. He's amazing. Who knows the why; maybe she needed to be encouraged. Maybe God wanted her to have hope, or maybe she will someday be a big part of the ministry my aunt and unlce are doing. We don't know. But, God does. And it was so awesome to see my aunt and uncle just allowing themselves to be used by God, as they do everywhere they go! They have had more divine encounters like this and I love listening to their stories!
All this sort of reminded me to notice and pay attention to those we come across in our everyday life. Everyone has a story, and God may want to use us in another person's life to bring them closer to Him.
If you are reading this, please pray for my Aunt Kaye's back! She needs to have surgery and the surgery she needs to have is being delayed because of insurance issues. Please pray that gets resolved! She really needs the surgery.
Here's another pic at the restaurant. My other Aunt (Aunt Ruthie) is the one behind my Aunt Kaye (the one talking). I have such a great family and I'm so grateful!
biz markie + sampling + stolen teachings.
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last week i was checking out my friend Ryan Guard's blog and he wrote this post about a book recently released by zondervan entitled, Should we use someone e...
Obama Spirituality
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As a Christian, I had never spoken out on politics. I just didn’t get too
fired up about it. I was more concerned about making it to church on time
and tak...
A thought for today…
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I have a sign above my computer desk with this saying on it. It’s always an
inspiration to me when I sit down to write: “Make time for the quiet
moments ...
Pictures.
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Here's the link to pictures from my trip to Atlanta. Enjoy!!!
Atlanta #1 and Atlanta #2
I loved, loved, loved Atlanta. It was gorgeous and people were supe...
The Day After
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You can guess what I watched on tv last night.
We saw history made. In our lifetime. That doesn’t happen just any day of
the week.
Perhaps you woke up...
Where did you get the idea for the book?
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