Haiti

I saw on CNN tonight a story about a group from a church in Idaho that have been arrested and accused of child trafficking for trying to take 30 or so kids over the border to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic.

The tagline on the bottom of the screen was, "Were these people missionaries?"

Ughhh. I don't know the whole story about what was actually going on, but it sounds like they were a group on a mission trip trying to get kids out of trouble and over to safety in the DR. They just didn't have all the legal paperwork to bring a group of kids out of the country.

It breaks my heart that "missionaries," and therefore Christ, are being put in a bad light with accusations of child trafficking, an injustice that is very near to my heart. There has been so much good done, and so much hope in Haiti already amidst all the pain and death...it is so sad that stories like this are the ones that make the news.

BUT.

I believe in a God who is unfailingly good and absolutely dependable. Especially in Haiti.


"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

"You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 34:7)

Bondye Bon.

(Creole: God is good)

Dreadlocks

I have a small confession to make: I have wanted dreds since 6th grade. They fascinate me.

Here's my problem, though: I'm not sure that they look so great on:
1. Caucasians
2. Ladies

Myself being a part of both of those groups, I have a very real fear that were I to ever actually get them, I would end up looking rather like a small homeless child. Not exactly the look a 24-year old women, trying to make her way in the world, should maybe go for.

Oh well. I still think they're pretty sweet.

Operation: Detox

Caffeine.

I need to stop drinking it. It is an addiction that working at Caribou has enabled, and so I have begun a regime to get rid of it.

The real start day is February 1, but I'm trying it out this week to see how I do. So far, yesterday I didn't have any caffeine all day and ended up with a massive headache. That should tell me how badly my body needs it. Yikes. I gave in today during work...no headache, but no closer to being rid of the sneaky drug.

I'm going to spend the next five weeks (well, four, since this one doesn't count) trying my hardest to go the healthy road as far as caffeine goes...which, for me, means none in the form of coffee and espresso (I've allowed myself the option of black tea).

Wish me luck (and pray for endurance)!

Undeserved.

I am SO thankful for the grace and forgiveness my friends extend me even when I'm a jerk and don't deserve it.

It's a poignant reminder of the amounts of it that are lavished on me every moment I am alive.

Goals for 2010

I have learned much this year.

Last year around this time, I made a similar list of goals for the year, with 47 items. I think I accomplished less than 15 of them. I didn't put as much thought into my seriousness in a desire to accomplish them. Not so this year. I've broken it down into two lists: the first is the 15 or so things I desperately and intentionally would like to do this year. The second is a continuation of last year, a bucket list of sorts, that are things I would like to do someday.

That being said, here they are:

List #1: Real Goals for 2010

1. Be sacrificial in how I spend my time (always have time for people, and be willing to adjust my schedule for the needs of others)
2. Go overseas (a continuation from last year that is in the works to be completed by 2011!)
3. Memorize all the fighter verses
4. Stand up at least once in church to recite a fighter verse
5. Become an impulse not-buyer (that is, stop buying things!)
6. Gain confidence on guitar
7. Consistently spend more than half an hour with God daily
8. Be intentional about my relationship with family members
9. Write to Joyce (my compassion girl) once a month
10. Floss everyday
11. Give stuff away
12. View my quiet times not as a works-based part of my faith
13. Pray for Kayla (my 7th grade mentee) every day
14. Develop a more active/diligent/vibrant/consistent prayer life
15. Finish applying for Operation Mobilization
    
16. Read (at least) 12 books (I broke them down by month so I'll have a more concrete goal)

• Jan: The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by DA Carson
  
• Feb: Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
  
• Mar: The Justification of God by John Piper
  
• April: Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
• May: Bruchko by Bruce Olson
  
• June: Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
  
• July: Prayer by Philip Yancey
  
• Aug: Desiring God by John Piper
  
• Sept: The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
  
• Oct: A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper and The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
  
• Nov: Terrify No More by Gary Haugen
  
• Dec: The Legacy of Sovereign Joy by John Piper

(some of these will probably change. That's okay with me.)

List #2: A Bucket Lst for 2010, 2011 and Beyond

1. travel
   
2. make homemade ice cream (peach and/or peppermint)
3. paint more
4. take another ballroom class
5. go a week without my computer
6. take an african dance class
7. actually finishing a knitting project
8. cook more
9. be bold with someone about Jesus
10. go iceskating on a lake
11. backpack through Europe
12. read Peace Child and other missionary stories
13. Go on a mission trip

The great divide

It's official: Lindsey is moving out on Saturday. We've lived together for two and a half years now, making it somewhat difficult both emotionally and logistically, to separate (especially when you don't remember which dishes and silverware are yours).

We've been iron sharpening each other during some hard transitions, family stuff, and growth over the last 18 months especially, and even though I am SUPER excited for Kendra to come live with me, it's certainly going to be a transition.

BUT I still believe that God works ALL things for the good of those who love him. I said it a year ago, and I say it now. Great is Thy Faithfulness.


In other news, I went to my first small group tonight!! Very exciting. I've been waiting to be in one for a several months now, and the day has finally come! A great group of 20-somethings, some of which are involved in Bethlehem's college ministry, something I would maybe like to become more involved in. And I met a girl named Lydia. I LOVE the name Lydia, and this girl seems like she'll live up to my high expectations of her namesake...I think we're having coffee next week. :)

A Doozie

From a blog I recently read...

"While a pastor bears great responsibility in preparing for and delivering the Word of God each Sunday, the listener shares in the responsibility. The church has no place for an audience. We are all to be involved in the preaching, even as listeners. We may drive home on Sunday muttering about the pastor’s lack of preparation after a less-than-engaging sermon, but how often do we drive away reflecting on our own lack of preparation? How often should we trace our lack of learning or our lack of engagement right back to our own lack of preparation?"


Whew.