17 August 2008
Football....
The dawg-days of 2-a-days are over and now it is HAWG TIME!!!! Football season is here! I go from reflecting on gymnastics to football and have a funny flashback to years ago of Coach Sun asking giant Chilipepper to join his gym squad years ago bc G-Chili would attack a vault like a Wildcat charging through a pack of Wolves...when Sun discovered that Giant Chili was a little too big...not 12 but only 8...and he agreed with me that Giant Chili would be a just a tad-big too early on to be pounding out gymnastics...then he was disappointed when li'l Chili had just turned 4 to join the team but was going to be moving away...4 of us all leaving his gym at the same time with us never knowing what life would bring next....after all those years ago...now, it is football time. With '2 on the field'-- in very different ways-- we get to cheer the whole team on at the same time. Li'l Chil loves helping out Giant Chili's team.
My favorite part of Nastia's "Gold".
Last night I have a fun time chatting with my little 6th grade gym friend about the Olympics. She loves gymnastics, and so it is fun to hear her chat about it. She likes Shawn Johnson and wished Shawn had taken the gold. I'm happy we took 1-2, but I told her I was sort of pulling for Nastia this time...maybe we will see Shawn return to the next olympics. Shawn is fabulous...always trying to be friendly and maintain a positive attitude. She's got power on all events. She resembles the Mary-Lou-American style gymnast. I do like her gymnastics. She is awesome. But...I was pulling for Nastia...maybe bc of WOGA...maybe bc of her dad...maybe bc Vladimir beat him in '88 for the AA and I wanted Nastia to get it and not silver ...but, my favorite part of the AA competition wasn't just Nastia and Shawn's routines and seeing He on the bars again for China....it was when Nastia nailed her vault...what did she do?--she ran over to her dad and smacked him with a big kiss instantly bc she was so happy. That was my favorite....seeing a daughter and father's love and excitement after many years of her putting up with 'grueling Russian attitude' in the gym. : ) ...and she followed each event with the same actions..but the vault was great bc she was bubbling over...so, that gold wasn't just for the US or herself...but for her dad in a very personal way...and her and her father's expressions of shared joy were priceless...That was the gold...not the medal around her neck.
14 August 2008
Pat got saran-wrapped...
Giant Chilipepper just came home and announced that he and his friend went and saran-wrapped their friend's car last night with like 8 rolls of saranwrap mixed with tp. Hmm...where do kids learn these things? From stories their YOUTH LEADERS tell them....yes, sweet, innocent youth leaders(though that youth leader had paid for his mistake of telling kids that prank bc they then did it to his car a few years ago)....but poor Pat then learned of this funny trick.
At least it is a prank that causes no risk of harm and no damage...I can handle that.....and it doesn't make a mess bc it isn't flying everywhere from trees...you just have to unwrap the gift and throw away the wrapping. LOL. I'll have to see if Pat's parents took a pic of that one. I'm sure they laughed when they saw it on their way out the door to go to work.
At least it is a prank that causes no risk of harm and no damage...I can handle that.....and it doesn't make a mess bc it isn't flying everywhere from trees...you just have to unwrap the gift and throw away the wrapping. LOL. I'll have to see if Pat's parents took a pic of that one. I'm sure they laughed when they saw it on their way out the door to go to work.
13 August 2008
3rd Day kills 'bad-ittude' over mad chicken
Some chicken was tired of the cow conspiracy to boost chicken feed for humans, and tonight, "3rd Day" saved my evening. I was on my way to the store nearby to return my mad-chicken. We had bought a few basics the other day and it turns out that despite the latter sell-by dates, the food was bad. Tonight, I got to my 3rd item that was supposed to be good through the 16th, and it was smelling bad. We decided we'd go to the store to show the manager. He is a nice guy and would want to know that several meats were bad. While I was somewhat irked on my way in the car, "3rd Day" came on the radio, and I remembered to chill my bad + attitude=badittude. The manager recognized me and immediately helped after hearing my story and noticing the smell from the package of chicken. He gave me a refund. I asked the butcher to open a new package for me to double-check it before I took a pack home. Other than the last few days, I never had a problem with anything at this store..not even produce, so I quietly just talked with the manager and let him know to double-check the stock or the time it is sitting open on the delivery truck during the hot days of summer.
Meanwhile, there are some mad chickens out there around here saying 'eat more tig'r'.
11 August 2008
"Over Yonder"
Over yonder, there is...
Over yonder there is a mom --walking the dog while the boy rides along on his bike.
But over yonder, there is a young man who peers out at the city-streets below--waiting for the gang to leave the sidewalk.
Over yonder, there is a farmer's stand --where the boy goes with his $2 to buy his mom and himself old-fashioned bottles of soda.
But over yonder, there is a girl--who waits for something to eat to calm the rumbles of her stomach.
Over yonder, there is a school --where the rhythm of the marching band is heard from a distance and the whistles blow on the football fields.
But over yonder, there are children happy to be given a pencil and dream the Taliban would go away.
Over yonder, there is a lake --where plentiful picnics are a joy and fishing lines fly from the rod of the father and sons.
But over yonder, there is a village with no well where people cannot find fresh water nearby.
Over yonder, there is a church--where people worship the Lord and come together for fellowship and serve others there and afar.
But over yonder, the Games continue where freedom and harmony only resides in the hearts of those who have found Christ and kept Him hidden to quietly share with others.
Over yonder, there is a young woman--trying to shine amidst a difficult time.
But over yonder, there is a young man--clinging to hope in a helpless land.
Over yonder, there is the world--our neighbor.
Over yonder there is a mom --walking the dog while the boy rides along on his bike.
But over yonder, there is a young man who peers out at the city-streets below--waiting for the gang to leave the sidewalk.
Over yonder, there is a farmer's stand --where the boy goes with his $2 to buy his mom and himself old-fashioned bottles of soda.
But over yonder, there is a girl--who waits for something to eat to calm the rumbles of her stomach.
Over yonder, there is a school --where the rhythm of the marching band is heard from a distance and the whistles blow on the football fields.
But over yonder, there are children happy to be given a pencil and dream the Taliban would go away.
Over yonder, there is a lake --where plentiful picnics are a joy and fishing lines fly from the rod of the father and sons.
But over yonder, there is a village with no well where people cannot find fresh water nearby.
Over yonder, there is a church--where people worship the Lord and come together for fellowship and serve others there and afar.
But over yonder, the Games continue where freedom and harmony only resides in the hearts of those who have found Christ and kept Him hidden to quietly share with others.
Over yonder, there is a young woman--trying to shine amidst a difficult time.
But over yonder, there is a young man--clinging to hope in a helpless land.
Over yonder, there is the world--our neighbor.
Preliminary Results--Gymnastics O-2008
http://www.abc.net.au/olympics/2008/results/gymnastics/
Okay, the US teams made it to the men's and women's team finals.
Horton and Artemev made it to the AA and each qualified for one individual event...Artemev...NOT the son of Artemov of '88 but of another Olympic Russian gymnast is phenomenal on pommel...amazing leg extension...He was terrific at the trials also but came off. He is a very good gymnast...when he pulls through and doesn't come off, his routines can be excellent.
For the women, they did well, but not their best. They Q'd for team also...Shawn Johnson is an 'american-style' gymnast totally. Nastia Liukin is an amazing 'classic-europian-style' gymnast'. I enjoyed cheering them both on.
One particular favorite of China is Kexin He( He Kexin for China). She is a gold uneven-bars kid. I don't care if she falls off...she is gold on the bars. I hope she stays on for her finals. I thought she might not make the top 2 of her team on bars to make the cut for the top 8 individuals for bars. She was doing, well...total gold routine...then missed her high-bar to low-bar salto-change and slipped off. I could have cried for her.
You know someone's routine is gold talent when they fall off and still qualify in the top 2/8 for an individual event. I do hope she hits it in finals. There is nothing like seeing a gold-potential nail their routine. I want her to hit her best. Of course, I want the US gals to hit their best too and may their best be the best! But I do love Kexin's bar routine as much as I love Artemev's pommel. China's gymnasts look great on their specialty events, but I'll pull the most for Kexin out of all of the Chinese gymnasts in the finals.
Nastia rocks...so does Johnson. Nastia got robbed on beam. She and Shawn are rock-gold-solid there; I hope they just hit those routines. Liukin will get her bar routine too.They know them...just need to not overthink it. She is giving her dad some gray hairs I think--that's all.
Go teamUSA!
Okay, the US teams made it to the men's and women's team finals.
Horton and Artemev made it to the AA and each qualified for one individual event...Artemev...NOT the son of Artemov of '88 but of another Olympic Russian gymnast is phenomenal on pommel...amazing leg extension...He was terrific at the trials also but came off. He is a very good gymnast...when he pulls through and doesn't come off, his routines can be excellent.
For the women, they did well, but not their best. They Q'd for team also...Shawn Johnson is an 'american-style' gymnast totally. Nastia Liukin is an amazing 'classic-europian-style' gymnast'. I enjoyed cheering them both on.
One particular favorite of China is Kexin He( He Kexin for China). She is a gold uneven-bars kid. I don't care if she falls off...she is gold on the bars. I hope she stays on for her finals. I thought she might not make the top 2 of her team on bars to make the cut for the top 8 individuals for bars. She was doing, well...total gold routine...then missed her high-bar to low-bar salto-change and slipped off. I could have cried for her.
You know someone's routine is gold talent when they fall off and still qualify in the top 2/8 for an individual event. I do hope she hits it in finals. There is nothing like seeing a gold-potential nail their routine. I want her to hit her best. Of course, I want the US gals to hit their best too and may their best be the best! But I do love Kexin's bar routine as much as I love Artemev's pommel. China's gymnasts look great on their specialty events, but I'll pull the most for Kexin out of all of the Chinese gymnasts in the finals.
Nastia rocks...so does Johnson. Nastia got robbed on beam. She and Shawn are rock-gold-solid there; I hope they just hit those routines. Liukin will get her bar routine too.They know them...just need to not overthink it. She is giving her dad some gray hairs I think--that's all.
Go teamUSA!
09 August 2008
The Olympics, Lopez Lomong, and JESUS
LOPEZ LOMONG ran, and ran, and ran........if you aren't familiar with this young man, it is worth your time to google his name.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfIf0aQIWrI&feature=related
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080800009.html?hpid=topnews
Last night, I sat and watched the televised opening ceremonies of the Olympic games. I must say I did enjoy the opening ceremonies more than 4 years ago.
China, host of the Games, placed great emphasis in balancing a choreography of harmony. Yes, I would say they did attempt to portray this well from China's perspective. I would say to those seeking harmony, that there is no greater teaching of harmony than that which is found in the Gospels of Jesus Christ.....the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible where we can read about the life of Jesus to realize that the ultimate harmony is found through the Living Son and His death that has the ability to reconcile all people if they choose Him.
If China noticed, yes, their goal of emphasizing harmony was also balanced by the USA. With the arrival-entry of the US athletes, we saw that the USA choice of flag-bearer was an American but one with roots from Sudan. Lopez Lomong, our flag-bearer, is a newer U.S. citizen. He arrived here as a refugee from Sudan as one of the "Lost Boys" whose families faced persecution from the Sudanese gov't...a gov't, who China supports, which is guilty of atrocious genocide. I did think it was great too that China selected Yao Ming too to carry their flag with the help of the little Chinese earthquake victim who tried to save his schoolmates.
China did an excellent job of preparing for the opening ceremonies....I know the performers must have been very proud of their performances. They did do a terrific job. Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, their success of all that perfected precision of the drummers and boxes is overshadowed by stories of their training system....and such made me a little nervous for those performers. One might wonder what burden the Chinese athletes carry to perfect themselves under the Communist gov't.-run sports system. Have they changed their attitude and system of carrying out extreme harshness and punishment on those who mess up? Hmm...I don't know, but I wonder, ......and so, while I know those performers were proud and must have had a wonderful time finally pulling together all their hard work for the moment they had been appointed to, there is a little bit of sadness somewhere within me that wishes those in China had the freedom to pursue the highest harmony....that of peace found in Christ Jesus.
So, now that you googled Lopez Lomong and know who he is, you can also search for Jesus to find out who He is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfIf0aQIWrI&feature=related
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080800009.html?hpid=topnews
Last night, I sat and watched the televised opening ceremonies of the Olympic games. I must say I did enjoy the opening ceremonies more than 4 years ago.
China, host of the Games, placed great emphasis in balancing a choreography of harmony. Yes, I would say they did attempt to portray this well from China's perspective. I would say to those seeking harmony, that there is no greater teaching of harmony than that which is found in the Gospels of Jesus Christ.....the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible where we can read about the life of Jesus to realize that the ultimate harmony is found through the Living Son and His death that has the ability to reconcile all people if they choose Him.
If China noticed, yes, their goal of emphasizing harmony was also balanced by the USA. With the arrival-entry of the US athletes, we saw that the USA choice of flag-bearer was an American but one with roots from Sudan. Lopez Lomong, our flag-bearer, is a newer U.S. citizen. He arrived here as a refugee from Sudan as one of the "Lost Boys" whose families faced persecution from the Sudanese gov't...a gov't, who China supports, which is guilty of atrocious genocide. I did think it was great too that China selected Yao Ming too to carry their flag with the help of the little Chinese earthquake victim who tried to save his schoolmates.
China did an excellent job of preparing for the opening ceremonies....I know the performers must have been very proud of their performances. They did do a terrific job. Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, their success of all that perfected precision of the drummers and boxes is overshadowed by stories of their training system....and such made me a little nervous for those performers. One might wonder what burden the Chinese athletes carry to perfect themselves under the Communist gov't.-run sports system. Have they changed their attitude and system of carrying out extreme harshness and punishment on those who mess up? Hmm...I don't know, but I wonder, ......and so, while I know those performers were proud and must have had a wonderful time finally pulling together all their hard work for the moment they had been appointed to, there is a little bit of sadness somewhere within me that wishes those in China had the freedom to pursue the highest harmony....that of peace found in Christ Jesus.
So, now that you googled Lopez Lomong and know who he is, you can also search for Jesus to find out who He is.
08 August 2008
The Olympics
Oh, here comes the opening ceremonies of the Olympics...a place where good will is pursued amongst neighbors.
Hello Wenjing and Jing, and Sun...I wondered if you've gone home to visit and attend the Olympics! ! I'm thinking of you! I know you are excited to see the Games hosted by your home-country! I hope you are all well and have prayed for you all. I wish I could have seen you all again this spring! We always loved you all! You were great coaches and coworkers! Maybe one day you will see this to know our family is thinking of you!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/2008-07-08-nbc-tv-web-schedule_N.htm
Gymnastics Events Shown on NBC - 2008 Olympics
FRIDAY, AUG. 8NBC and NBC HD8:00 p.m. - MidnightOpening Ceremony -- Parade of Nations, Lighting of the Olympic Cauldron
SATURDAY, AUG, 9 -
DAY 1Men's Gymnastics - Team Competition8:00 p.m. - Midnight
SUNDAY, AUG. 10-
DAY 27:00 p.m. - MidnightWomen's Gymnastics - Team Competition
MONDAY, AUG. 11 -
DAY 38:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.Men's Gymnastics - Team Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
TUESDAY, AUG. 12 -
DAY 48:00 p.m. - MidnightWomen's Gymnastics - Team Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13 -
DAY 58:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.Men's Gymnastics - Individual All-Around Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
Hello Wenjing and Jing, and Sun...I wondered if you've gone home to visit and attend the Olympics! ! I'm thinking of you! I know you are excited to see the Games hosted by your home-country! I hope you are all well and have prayed for you all. I wish I could have seen you all again this spring! We always loved you all! You were great coaches and coworkers! Maybe one day you will see this to know our family is thinking of you!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/2008-07-08-nbc-tv-web-schedule_N.htm
Gymnastics Events Shown on NBC - 2008 Olympics
FRIDAY, AUG. 8NBC and NBC HD8:00 p.m. - MidnightOpening Ceremony -- Parade of Nations, Lighting of the Olympic Cauldron
SATURDAY, AUG, 9 -
DAY 1Men's Gymnastics - Team Competition8:00 p.m. - Midnight
SUNDAY, AUG. 10-
DAY 27:00 p.m. - MidnightWomen's Gymnastics - Team Competition
MONDAY, AUG. 11 -
DAY 38:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.Men's Gymnastics - Team Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
TUESDAY, AUG. 12 -
DAY 48:00 p.m. - MidnightWomen's Gymnastics - Team Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13 -
DAY 58:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.Men's Gymnastics - Individual All-Around Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
Today is Friday...aah...
Today is Friday...aaah...like it matters to my schedule right now? I am so blessed to have some serious downtime this summer....I love it. It has given me the freedom to relax our schedule. I almost feel guilty...but it was been a long time...last summer was pretty light, but before last summer, each summer was just as busy as the school year. Poppy was home yesterday for a special day around here yesterday. It felt like the weekend....so I'm already in weekend mode today and will pretend I'm on a 4-day weekend.
Today, Poppy sent me an email titled "And you think your job is tough and risky?" or something like that. Well, it was of an African snake catcher photographed of him crawling into tiny holes and getting snakes and being pulled out with the snake. ???? Hmmm....I wonder if he is trying to send me any subliminal message through that. I don't know. I just heard from a wonderful old friend who has teens.....teens...vs. African snake catcher.....don't know which job could be tougher. By golly poppy, you want more teens? and are making a reference that maybe the snake-catcher job is rougher? Okay!....just pulling your hair...oo0ps....the teens made that fall out enough already....lol...love you poppy.
The OLYMPIC Games start today, right?! Yea! Can't wait to watch gymnastics!!!!! That is my favorite....then track and field and swimming and diving.
I think I'll go check the schedule of the Olympic competitions coming up first.
Have a great day.
Today, Poppy sent me an email titled "And you think your job is tough and risky?" or something like that. Well, it was of an African snake catcher photographed of him crawling into tiny holes and getting snakes and being pulled out with the snake. ???? Hmmm....I wonder if he is trying to send me any subliminal message through that. I don't know. I just heard from a wonderful old friend who has teens.....teens...vs. African snake catcher.....don't know which job could be tougher. By golly poppy, you want more teens? and are making a reference that maybe the snake-catcher job is rougher? Okay!....just pulling your hair...oo0ps....the teens made that fall out enough already....lol...love you poppy.
The OLYMPIC Games start today, right?! Yea! Can't wait to watch gymnastics!!!!! That is my favorite....then track and field and swimming and diving.
I think I'll go check the schedule of the Olympic competitions coming up first.
Have a great day.
06 August 2008
04 August 2008
The Joy of the Lord...
This morning, I re-read a wonderful little email I got from a little Albanian girl who will be 10 soon. Her name is Aulona. I wanted to write back to her this morning. When I think back of how the Lord asked me to get out of a boat and 'fix my eyes on him', I always remember how much He worked in our lives and how there is no way I could have stepped out without faith; courage didn't mean I was without fear. Little Aulona recently emailed. She is no longer in the US but back in Kosovo. When she came to live with us with her parents, she was not yet quite 1. Her birthday beholds a September 11 date...one that makes it easy to remember her birthday, and the year she was born was the year we had moved to TX....so I can remember her age. I got to see her and her family in May prior to them returning to a war-torn country that is slowly rebuilding. There are many things I can recall of how the Lord moved and still moves amongst us and with us...mainly to begin with...how could we assuredly feel we were supposed to welcome these people and love them as we would our own family when they were complete strangers??? Honestly, I haven't had that assurance of bringing other refugee families into our homes.....so why that one and not others? I don't know why...I'm utterly human with human faults....so maybe I'll never know until I die.....
But, as I read that email again from Aulona, such a fountain of joy floods my heart...in thinking of her and her parents and sisters, their relatives, and all of the other refugees we have met over the years....people that faced oppression, desired freedom, and wanted peace for their families....this particular family group led to us opening our hearts to other refugees--some we'd maybe wonder why we are suppose to welcome.
So many people today react and live off of fears of terrorism. Here is the little girl with a 9-11 birthday (though not 2001) and the greatest lesson the Lord taught me through her and her family is that God has already created a bridge for us to him and to others; we just have to choose to walk it. I remember when Aulona's mom called me on September 11, 2001. She was very sad over the event of the day and that people could somehow equate her muslim beliefs with those of being the same as the terrorists....But she knew I understood her situation, because, it was so-called 'christians' who went about persecuting and carrying out ethnic-cleansing campaigns against her people. She knew I did not blame her just as she learned that real Christians (emphasis on REAL) didn't believe in an ethnic-cleansing campaign against her ethnic group of people.
With all the hate and absurdity of things we see in everyday life, don't we wonder where it comes from? It comes from within us....things we do, things we pass on to others...to our children...through our families and down through the generations. Christ came and died for us to show us what love is....to give us an example to follow....not to plant hate nor carry out hate, but to tell us that God loves ALL of us. When Jesus's followers argued and disputed over the 10 commandments asking which of the commandments given to Moses was the greatest, Jesus said there are 2 new commandments.....commandments of the new covenant God brought to us through Christ because the people just weren't getting the point of the whole 10 commandments and what they truly boiled down to...
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul and strength....
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
God tells us to love everyone...even our enemies. It is easy to love our family/ our friends...but the kind of love God is showing us is to teach us to get 'beyond ourselves' and love who He loves even in the midst of everyones' faults. When we are somehow blessed to be a part of this kind of love, we discover that we are so small, and God is so big.....His love, His forgiveness, His compassion, His mercy and grace. When the only way we can justify our actions is through God's command to love even when we don't know why we should really attempt to love, we know God has filled us in that moment to love someone He wants us to love. And in the end, we discover we are the ones that have been blessed, through God's working, by the other persons we wondered if we could somehow love. Maybe sometimes it is hard to put the face of Jesus on other people to see them through the eyes of Jesus, but when it is hardest to love, that is what I try to remind myself. When I can't and struggle, I try to see them as my own child and think of how I would want others to love and care for my own child....and then it is easier to understand the face of God is upon them and that God wants us to love--just as Jesus loved us enough to walk among us and love us even though we fall so far short of God's perfection.
"We love because he first loved us."--1John 4:19
I love 1 John 4; it is probably one of my favorite chapters of the Bible in addition to John 17. Some people might say that those who do not acknowledge Jesus as their Savior is not a brother or sister in Christ...but do we know who will be our brother or sister tomorrow? Therefore, I will remember that God's love is stronger and can overcome. I can remember His great commands. I can choose to love or hate....I'd rather love....and hopefully, the bridges get built for us to walk hand in hand towards God...well, the bridge is already there through Christ; we just sometimes choose to not walk hand in hand with others; it is we that just need to step out and walk toward Him and for others. My pastor once noted that 'much of the New Testament is not written for unbelievers..but for believers--followers of Jesus. He said we shouldn't expect 'non-believers' to act in accordance with the New Testament bc they don't understand it.....so the problem and failing isn't just that others aren't following God because they do not know Him; it is that somewhere, neither are we following God, and we are the ones with the bigger problem because we do know a part of Him but fail to listen. Despite others actions, we are to strive to follow God's example given to us through Jesus...not strive to react to others but to follow God in accordance with the Good News of Jesus.
So, when I think of Aulona, and the joy God brought into my life, I try to remember that God's plan is bigger than anything we can plan or foresee or do. I once was 'lucky' and found a blessing that God had there waiting for me that I did not see nor expect. And like her emails, more joy and blessings continue to be there as I wait for them to understand how much God loves them just as God waits for each and every one of us; therefore, let us 'love one another." This is not burdensome for God fills us with the love when we are willing. Let us not be a burden to ourselves.
Maybe this sounds jumbled to you, but it makes sense to me. I'm sharing bc I had a great blessing today in being given the opportunity to return an email that I loved receiving from Aulona. It is just that simple...the joy of the Lord.
But, as I read that email again from Aulona, such a fountain of joy floods my heart...in thinking of her and her parents and sisters, their relatives, and all of the other refugees we have met over the years....people that faced oppression, desired freedom, and wanted peace for their families....this particular family group led to us opening our hearts to other refugees--some we'd maybe wonder why we are suppose to welcome.
So many people today react and live off of fears of terrorism. Here is the little girl with a 9-11 birthday (though not 2001) and the greatest lesson the Lord taught me through her and her family is that God has already created a bridge for us to him and to others; we just have to choose to walk it. I remember when Aulona's mom called me on September 11, 2001. She was very sad over the event of the day and that people could somehow equate her muslim beliefs with those of being the same as the terrorists....But she knew I understood her situation, because, it was so-called 'christians' who went about persecuting and carrying out ethnic-cleansing campaigns against her people. She knew I did not blame her just as she learned that real Christians (emphasis on REAL) didn't believe in an ethnic-cleansing campaign against her ethnic group of people.
With all the hate and absurdity of things we see in everyday life, don't we wonder where it comes from? It comes from within us....things we do, things we pass on to others...to our children...through our families and down through the generations. Christ came and died for us to show us what love is....to give us an example to follow....not to plant hate nor carry out hate, but to tell us that God loves ALL of us. When Jesus's followers argued and disputed over the 10 commandments asking which of the commandments given to Moses was the greatest, Jesus said there are 2 new commandments.....commandments of the new covenant God brought to us through Christ because the people just weren't getting the point of the whole 10 commandments and what they truly boiled down to...
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul and strength....
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
God tells us to love everyone...even our enemies. It is easy to love our family/ our friends...but the kind of love God is showing us is to teach us to get 'beyond ourselves' and love who He loves even in the midst of everyones' faults. When we are somehow blessed to be a part of this kind of love, we discover that we are so small, and God is so big.....His love, His forgiveness, His compassion, His mercy and grace. When the only way we can justify our actions is through God's command to love even when we don't know why we should really attempt to love, we know God has filled us in that moment to love someone He wants us to love. And in the end, we discover we are the ones that have been blessed, through God's working, by the other persons we wondered if we could somehow love. Maybe sometimes it is hard to put the face of Jesus on other people to see them through the eyes of Jesus, but when it is hardest to love, that is what I try to remind myself. When I can't and struggle, I try to see them as my own child and think of how I would want others to love and care for my own child....and then it is easier to understand the face of God is upon them and that God wants us to love--just as Jesus loved us enough to walk among us and love us even though we fall so far short of God's perfection.
"We love because he first loved us."--1John 4:19
I love 1 John 4; it is probably one of my favorite chapters of the Bible in addition to John 17. Some people might say that those who do not acknowledge Jesus as their Savior is not a brother or sister in Christ...but do we know who will be our brother or sister tomorrow? Therefore, I will remember that God's love is stronger and can overcome. I can remember His great commands. I can choose to love or hate....I'd rather love....and hopefully, the bridges get built for us to walk hand in hand towards God...well, the bridge is already there through Christ; we just sometimes choose to not walk hand in hand with others; it is we that just need to step out and walk toward Him and for others. My pastor once noted that 'much of the New Testament is not written for unbelievers..but for believers--followers of Jesus. He said we shouldn't expect 'non-believers' to act in accordance with the New Testament bc they don't understand it.....so the problem and failing isn't just that others aren't following God because they do not know Him; it is that somewhere, neither are we following God, and we are the ones with the bigger problem because we do know a part of Him but fail to listen. Despite others actions, we are to strive to follow God's example given to us through Jesus...not strive to react to others but to follow God in accordance with the Good News of Jesus.
So, when I think of Aulona, and the joy God brought into my life, I try to remember that God's plan is bigger than anything we can plan or foresee or do. I once was 'lucky' and found a blessing that God had there waiting for me that I did not see nor expect. And like her emails, more joy and blessings continue to be there as I wait for them to understand how much God loves them just as God waits for each and every one of us; therefore, let us 'love one another." This is not burdensome for God fills us with the love when we are willing. Let us not be a burden to ourselves.
Maybe this sounds jumbled to you, but it makes sense to me. I'm sharing bc I had a great blessing today in being given the opportunity to return an email that I loved receiving from Aulona. It is just that simple...the joy of the Lord.
Hello blogmaster???
Hmm..well, it appears that I'm trying to post a blog, but half of my blogpages are missing today...sidebars and bottom bars! Hello blogmaster? Are you out there? Why is half of my webpage gone awol? Time to call in the teeny-chili-squad since they are the ones that got me to begin this in the first place! All my pages appear on my maintenance site, but they are not loading on the internet site??!!!! I'll postpone my next blog until I figure it out!
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