Springtime at Regent College. 

He is risen and I am a Christian....

I am a Christian by Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean living."
I'm whispering "I was lost," Now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches so I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow.

Author ~Maya Angelou~

The World says Christians are something that we aren't. Don't believe the lies. Hold the truth close to your heart and realize God wants everyone to come into his saving embrace. Share your struggles and God's miraculous replies; Share your flaws and God's value on you; Share your before and God's amazing transformation. Just share and the truth of being a Christian will shine and glorify Jesus....The One who allowed God's grace to flow freely to us. Who knows someone new might say, "I am a Christian" because of you.........(this is what I said to myself when I read this beautiful poem.) Jen

this about people

This quote really captures the way I interact with people. I am continually awed by the work God is doing in all our lives. We are never the same when we meet again. We naturally ask..."How's it going? What's up? What's happening?" We expect that people have experienced something since the last time we were together.



Since you last saw me...
I have experienced more of life,
I have encountered new depths in those I love,
I have suffered and prayed,
and I am different.

Approach me, then, with a sense of wonder,
study my face and hands and voice
for the signs of change;
for it is certain that I have changed.

but even if you do recognize this,
I may be somewhat afraid
to tell you who I am.

John Powell
Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am?

Life still goes on...

I'm heading toward the end of my semester and stay at Regent. I'm studying and living through discussions regarding the unity of the Church, and the end of Time. I am writing reports on Pastoral Ethics and Discourse Analysis in the Gospel of Mark. I finished writing a paper on Cranmer's views regarding Eucharistic presence and I'm dealing with the surreal notion of wondering if someone is going to die soon so I can observe a Funeral for Pastoral Care.

And yet...Life still goes on.

I still skip class in the morning so I can make pancakes for my kids(and myself). I try to have pleasant conversation with Jennifer as she rolls her eyes at her husband because he had the clever notion of giving the kids sugar for breakfast on a rainy day. John is bouncing on top of the coffee table, Hope is doing laps around the house and I'm sure Paul is actually talking faster.

I am glad for the educational foundation I'm getting at school. It helps me know that God is in control as three kids spin around me seemingly out of control. I am intimately familiar with God which will enable me to explain Him to my children. A God who desires unity in the Church, who communicates through the Gospels and is present at the Communion table as well as at the side of the woman who lost her husband to an aneurysm this week.

Papers are due and life still goes on...

Chris

Something about disagreements...

Regarding disagreements:

If the answer were so obvious...
Why is there any disagreement in the first place?

Jennifer

Her rich hair and deep sparkling eyes.
Her smile that lights up the room.
Her heart for adventure in all areas of life.
From the heights of a mountain trail,
To the depths of the soul.
Have you ever noticed?

Have you noticed her example of unconditional love?
I never truly understood what it meant to be forgiven until I experienced it from her.
She knows all about me and still loves me.
She makes it easier for me to understand how God loves me.

Have you noticed Jennifer loves to learn?
She’s willing to do what it takes to change and grow. She’s not satisfied with stagnant waters or monotony. She’s much more prone to Roller Coasters than she is the Merry-Go-Round. If something looks scary she remembers the roller coaster and says, “Look at the people getting off! They’re smiling so it can’t be that bad!”

Have you noticed Jennifer’s deep love for God? Her hunger for intimacy with the Savior? Her respect for God’s awesomeness? Jennifer reflects that love by respecting others; by having an anger for selfishness and weeping over injustice. Her post called, “What about time” is an example of being tuned in to God speaking in her life.

Have you noticed how Jennifer pours herself into her children? She respects them, studies them and is amazed at their growth and accomplishments.

Have you noticed that Jennifer is a tough, little girl? She can take it and she can dish it out. She is incredibly patient with all the “idiots” in the world. Yet she loves to run and play and laugh. She tries not to squash the fun-loving girl inside.

Have you noticed how much I love her?

Chris

Have you ever noticed John?

John loves to sing and can do a respectable job "la-la-ing" the Barney song
even though he can't talk yet.
He also loves his big brother Paul and wants to do everything Paul is doing.
Have you noticed Paul isn't usually thrilled about that?

Have you noticed John loves to hold things
and study them.
He hugs his stuffed animals, his siblings, his Mommy and Daddy.
As serious as John is, he is also quick to laugh.
He likes to be chased and to join in the chase with Hope and Paul.

Have you ever noticed that John is intense?
He usually goes forward in his day with a serious look on his face.

John is determined to succeed.

Have you ever noticed John? 

Have you ever noticed Hope?

Have you noticed Hope is cautious?
She's not shy, in fact she can be quite friendly and LOUD.
She takes the time to observe before she enters in.
Hope is very loving and mothering especially to her babies (dolls).
She also loves her brothers...real hard!

Have you noticed Hope has a great imagination?
Her humor is very creative and intellectual.
She has a sharp and clever sense of humor.
Once she had Daddy going around in mental circles as she continued to ask,
"Where's Daddy? Where's Daddy?" I kept saying, "I'm right here!"
With a twinkle in her eye she said, "No, you're Chris!"
Hilarious.

Have you noticed Hope is a dancer?
She'll be great at whatever physical activity she puts her mind to.
She can run like a gazelle.

Hope is determined to be excellent.

Have you ever noticed Hope? 

Paul...

Have you noticed Paul is an engager?
He is very curious and not afraid to go right up and look.
He walks onto a football field to see what the big boys are playing.
Paul wants to be with people.
Paul loves cars and machines and wants to know how things work.
He might be an extroverted engineer!

Have you noticed Paul has a physical sense of humor?
He loves slapstick and silly noises and being thrown in the air.
Paul is musical and loves to both sing and dance.

Have you noticed Paul likes accessories?
He wears hats, necklaces, and sunglasses.
Then he takes them off and says, "It's me, Paulie!"

Paul is determined to have fun.

Have you ever noticed Paul? 

What about Time

What about the most expensive thing we own. Time. When I hear Jesus talking about treasure I am not sure he really means money. I know that we tend to spend time to get money to get other things. But the basic is time. As we continue in ministry and I see that we as a family will not be able to spend time to earn vast amounts of money, I am consumed with the thought of Time. We have chosen to spend our time for God only. Not that that isn't any different than if we were to spend our time in a job that earned a lot of money. It is still for God. Maybe that is why it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Maybe he has the illusion that he is getting to use his time to get money as well as do God's will. I guess it really goes back to the heart. Are we really serving God where we are? Or are we trying to somehow serve ourselves as well as God. A house divided will fall & it will just not function as a very good house until it falls.
So as I think about serving in a pastor position for the rest of our lives, it is easy to think we are giving up a whole path and access to excessive wealth. That is a thought that is easy to have in North America. We have a unique ability in America and Canada to start from nothing and gain large sums of wealth. There are amazing stories. And many of them come from Christians that have really just served God and God has taken them to a position of great wealth.
Yet, I am left with the comment from Jesus that the poor will always be with us, so we should honor the Savior while he is to be found with us. We all have time. All of us will have different amounts of wealth. But, we all have equal access to time and worship of God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I know that the time that is given to us to be with God was very expensive. It cost God a lot of pain and patience and longing. Everyone's time here on earth has been purchased at an incredible price. We don't even have the burden of planning and knowing what we will do. If we seek God's will, He has assured us we will find it. He wants to do a group project with us....Life.
Lord Jesus, help me know how precious my time is while I am here on this earth. Help me not be stingy with my time. Help me give it over to you so you can multiply it and my one little action for one little moment can effect as much of the world has you would have it. Help me take joy in the task that you have set before me...cleaning....laundry...dishes...as they all represent the incredible riches you have bestowed on me as I have tried to do your will each day. Somehow in my time each day let me reflect a part of your greatness. I am grateful for your love and care for me especially through Jesus Christ. Amen
Hopefully,Jen

Jennifer at a local beach in Vancouver. 

Have you ever noticed that some people ....

Some people walk right by you and don't say anything.

Maybe there is a look or a smile. What is wrong with hello? I have never heard anyone say "Wow, did you hear that guy say hello.. what a jerk!"

Today I had a couple of girls on horses (big ones) ride by and say hello before I did..very strange because I have gotten used to saying hello first. Then I looked up to return the greeting and I found out why. I had never seen these girls before. They must be new around here.

I wonder what makes them so polite. DO you think their parents bugged them more than the other girls that I see everyday and hardly ever say hello? If they did bug them more I guess Hope, Paul and John better get ready for some intense bugging because I think everyone enjoys a hello.
Jen

Today Hope drew her name. It is more a picture in her head than an actual name. Aren't they glad we gave them 4 letter names? 

Hope is riding Chloe. Her first horse ride. It was a little more than she expected. 

Hope (3), John (1), and Paul (2) 

how hard it is to be grateful?

do you have a hard time remaining grateful? I do. I usually look for the bad in things and ignore the good. It's like I enjoy feeling bad or worried.
Psalm 95 says:
"Oh come, les us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"

Why?

"For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
For he is our God,
andwe are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand."

I thank God for a great job in Dallas where I can work with youth, build a team, play music at Trinity After Dark, preach, disciple and pastor!
I have a great person to work under and build me up.
We have a great place to live with help for the Jennifer and the kids, a place to play and run and a price we can afford!

The end of the Psalm has a harsh truth for Israel:
"For forty years I loathed that generation and said,
'They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways.'
Therefore I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter my rest.'"

I don't want to live in worry, fear or anxiety. I want to live in God's rest. When I think of all the negatives, or obstacles or "Yes, but..." then my heart goes astray from God who holds me in his hand. I am letting my flesh reign and not God who is a great king above all gods.

So I will remain grateful.

Chris

everyone has something to say

Have you ever noticed that everyone has something to say?
Even the quietest person has an opinion.
An idea.
A piece of information to contribute to the whole.
We just need a place to provide it.
We need the space to speak it.
We need the trust to transmit it.
Speak...