Thursday, April 30, 2009

Blue Bird Nestled.




This is my home.
This is where I rest my head and the first thing I see when I wake up.
I am all moved in. Everything I own in the back of my Saturn station wagon. It feels good.
A new city. A fresh start. A cool pad.
Living in a bus.
Blue. Bird. Bus.
I am excited for the adventure that will be Duluth, MN. It is such a pretty city. Built into the side of a mountain, overlooking Lake Superior. I had never paid much attention. But now, like a paper cut to the finger, I know it exists. And I am learning what it is about.
I am beginning the awesome process of making friends with various ministry people here. I want to know what God is doing here already.
Then join Him there.
As Brandon Heath sings: "Give me your eyes..." so I want to see people of this city through the kind, loving eyes of our Great King!
I do not have much to give Him. Not much money left in my pockets. No degrees or great skills. Just me. And "me" brings along with him his passion for understanding God's heart for the world, church, creation. I am a simple person. I need very little. So my new home is perfect.
Please pray that God opens abundant doors into this vast city.
Duluth is:
College town.
Tourist Trap.
Ghetto Gateway.
Industrial.
As one pastor who I have spoken to has already said: "this city is hard soil for the gospel."
Yet others have said: "God is clearly moving in this city."
Thanks for reading.
I am home.
I am living on a bus.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Awakening.

Father, speak to me.
Where am I?
I know why you sacrificed.
But have forgotten that you
Sacrificed.
I have been raised to celebrate.
Forgotten to remember.
Raised to appreciate.
Forgotten to say "Thank you."
Will I ever learn?
I am a long history of doubt.
Fly-by-night faith.
Fleeting glances of You.
Wandering in Nowheresville.
Do I simply accept this fact?
Do I stick my head in the sand?
Or do I finally break free?
Finally accept the truth:
You are nothing like
Nothing I have ever known.
You are more.
More than knowing.
More than worthy of celebrating.
More than needing of appreciation.
Yes, Lord.
Here am I.
Ready to listen.
This is your day.
Your moment of glory.
Our moment of life-birth.
This is Easter.
May I never forget.

(a poem I wrote a few years ago after realizing that Easter had come and gone and I had paid no thought to it's meaning.)

Friday, April 10, 2009

iDENTITY

I am Fearfully and Wonderfully made. I am created in the image of my savior. I am a worker in my Father's harvest field. I am His breath. I am loved. I am forgiven. I am made clean in his blood. I am more precious than even a sparrow. I am a son. I am a daughter. I am a servant. I am a friend. I am his reason. I am a follower. I am sought after. I am healed.
I am restored.
I am strong in His strength. I am needed. I am new life. I am trusted.
I am redeemed.


 

All through one sacrifice…