Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

Archive for November, 2006

As we were up getting ready for church this morning, Dana's dad called and told us Grandma's condition had declined to the point hospice said her death would come within the next 72 hours.

Elevation was great again this morning.  We stayed for the newcomer's lunch after worship and found out a good bit about the church and it's 1-year history.  We're excited to see how we plug in there.

My prescription refill at Wal-Mart in Lancaster had to be picked up so we didn't get home until after 3pm… about 20 laps into the race at Homestead.  Now that Jimmie Johnson won it all, I'm actually glad this NASCAR season is over.

Some weekend, eh?

After getting home late last night from the Third Day concert in Columbia, SC, Dana and I had to get up fairly early for a 3-hour drive to the mountains.  This past Wednesday, my grandfather died from cancer.  Mom gave me the opportunity to speak at his memorial service and I jumped at it.  I didn't want to stir any debates over whether he had placed his faith in God's grace through Christ, so I spent most of the time recounting my favorite memories of Papaw.  I closed it with referencing James 1:17 seeing that the gift of strength and comfort can only come from God and my family is in need of just that.

Afterwards, we went to the Chinese Buffet to eat.  Be careful when you go to a buffet as you can almost eat yourself sick.  From there, we headed up to mom's house (20 min. drive) with my 11 yr old nephew and two little cousins (10yr & 6yr) in the back seat.  By the time we got to mom's, Dana had decided she now wants a little boy!  They cracked us up.  It's nice to be able to just observe kids and watch their little personalities come out.

We decided to head back to the RV instead of staying the night in the mountains.  That would give us Sunday to rest before starting a busy week.

Another JAARS Classifieds Classic.

At one point in our NASCAR fan career, we actually cheered at a race for Jimmie Johnson (driver of the Lowe's Home Improvement sponsored #48 car) when he won.  Oh, how the tides have turned.  The fallout between us began at the beginning of this season when Jimmie's Crew Chief, Chad Knaus, was suspended for four races for a 'rules violation'.  In NASCAR fan vernacular, "he's a dad-gone cheater!"

Then, after a mid-season win, Jimmie said in an interview how proud he was of his team and the builders back at the shop.  He topped it all off with, "and I'm so proud of myself and how I pulled it out."  I know I'm being a little harsh on the poor guy but that just didn't sit well with me at all.  I don't think his arms are long enough to pat himself on the back so much anyway.

Thirdly, to keep with true NASCAR fan tradition, one must pull AGAINST a driver who commits such atrocity as winning a lot.  Jimmie has done just that and with only one race left, he has more than a 60 point lead in the championship race.  That means he has to finish 12th or better to be guaranteed the Nextel Cup Championship this weekend.  This cannot happen!  Please pray that God would protect him when he gets knocked out of the race with an accident or mechanical malfunction.  We can pray for stuff like that, right?

I'm going to start posting all the good headlines that come through on the JAARS E-mail Classifieds List.

JAARS has a classifieds e-mail distribution list that has quite a few ads and announcements come through each day.  Well, on Monday, I got one of the most entertaining ones yet…

—–Original Message—–
From: Classifieds
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 8:04 AM
To: Classifieds
Subject: [JCL] Missing Unicycle

 Have you seen my unicycle? It has gone missing. Color is chrome, with black seat and black pedals, and a 24-inch wheel with a new tire. The pedals are a bit beaten up. I think it has a decal on the inside of the fork that says 'unicycle.com', and the name 'Bobo'* was written in magic marker on the seat post just under the seat (towards rear). If you see it, please let me know. Muchas gracias, 

Chris

  *('Bobo' was my clown name when we were in Central America.)

I discovered recently that I'm in legal trouble.  After God helped me see it, part of me wished it was a simple kind of legal problem like a traffic ticket or something like that.  Unfortunately, I have a worse problem… legalISM.  I have always felt for those in the bondage of legalism, thus contributing to the shock I had when God showed me I was part of that crowd.  I almost cry as I see the destruction it has caused within me.  It has choked me like a chain as my focus on earning favor with God took my eyes off of the grace poured out on me.  I'm almost short of words because this is a new venture for me.  I plan on writing more about it as God works on this in me. 

I can say that I am WAY deeper in legalism than I could've even imagined.  Please pray for Dana and I both for this trap we've fallen into.  We are thankful that the past day and a half has been one of the most worshipful of and intimate with God times I've had in a long, long time… maybe even the most ever.  Carrying around legalism is one of the most burdening things I've ever recognized in my life so having it taken off of me is such a relief and release.  I thank the Beautiful One for helping me see what His grace really looks like.  It is a dangerous and destructive thing to curse your life with extra-biblical rules.  Most of mine have come from past experiences and tradition.  Keep an eye out.

And I also thank God for Elevation Church (we visited there yesterday – www.elevationchurch.org) in how He used that body of believers and their leaders to show us what He wanted us to learn and the freedom Christ has given us.  Bless you guys for the truth you preach and live.

I just got in from taking the dogs for their nightly poo-trip at the end of the rv park.  Up above my head was something I really hadn't taken the chance to gaze at in a very long time.  Growing up in the country in the mountains of NC gave me ample opportunities to stare into a pitch black sky and see the endless amount of different-sized sparkles.  At our house, Dana and I looked at Saturn through my spotting scope from there in Matthews.  It was visible but just being able to sit outside and look up in awe at all of the other heavenly bodies was a strain due to the city lights.  The stars just got lost in the glow of Charlotte.  But, out here where we live now is a different story.  We are plenty far enough away from 'civilization' to see many of the stars we haven't been able to in years.  It is a bonus to be able to walk out our door, RV or not, and look up to such a scene.  Evolution?!  Yeah, right.

I remember when we were in the Intercultural Communications Course, we covered worldview to a certain extent.  One thing I remember discussing is the view of Americans when it comes to certain things happening.  Spiritual attacks, blessings, miracles… we explain all of them away usually in either a scientific way or credit it to coincidence.  I unfortunately noticed that very thing happen in my head on the way back from Lancaster this evening.  Dana was back at the RV and I was talking to her on the phone.  She read me one of her recent blog posts and told me about the one she posted for today.  She has been dealing with anxiety in our VMS training but she noted how it had been absent today.  She recalled how many people she asked to pray for her in this regard and credited her good day to that very thing.  My conditioned American brain didn't give the glory to God that was due Him, rather I caught myself pretty much dismissing it a just 'finally, a good day' for her.  As soon as I saw it for what it was, I apologized to God and thanked Him for what He did for her.  I just hate it that so much of God's work in the USA goes unnoticed and/or simply dismissed or explained with so-called 'reason'.  I don't want to automatically discount God anymore.  Any prayer you can offer up for this area is graciously appreciated.