Tow Trucks

Rather than blog about how long it's been since I've last blogged, I thought I'd just get right to it.


Earlier today, I got stuck behind a tow truck that looked similar to the one in this picture. If you'll give me a second to vent, I think this post will come full circle.

Tow trucks are annoying. Am I right? They're never a sign of something good. It's usually expensive, and completely inconveinent. Not to mention the person driving them is usually less than sympathetic for your need of their services.
So, you could say I have a beef against tow trucks. A great example of a first world problem.

As I complained about not being able to see around this tow truck, during 5 o'clock traffic, after a long day of work, it hit me. Some people call it an epiphany, some call it an "ah-ha moment," but I'd like to give credit where credit is due. The forgotten God, the Holy Spirit, HIT me. Like a tow truck. He's good at that. 

So, let me unfold my thought process for ya. As I'm stopped behind this truck, I began examining its parts, thinking, "what exactly does it take to tow a car?"

1. Look at the cross bar. Man.
What a picture of what God is all about. He's my tow truck. His function is to pick me up when I'm not runnin' anymore, or when I'm stuck in park in the wrong places.

2. Then I remembered my first thought; "Tow trucks are expensive."
So is following Christ. It costs everything. And admitedly, it can feel inconveinent. When God comes to our rescue, it's not always in the way we expect it. And it usually isn't. Nor is it on our time schedule. However, tow trucks arrive precisely when they get there.

3. Next I thought, "the drivers never seem polite. They're always in a rush."  I think I get that stigma from a movie. And I'm instantly reminded of how patient and merciful our God is, even when we don't deserve it. The truth is, we park ourselves in places we shouldn't be all the time. And yet we cry out against the One who delivers us out of the spots we're not supposed to be in in the first place. Crazy, but true.

4. Again, I thought: "Tow trucks are hard to see around in all this traffic."
Funny how accurate that is of God. Sometimes it's impossible to see where our help is in the middle of the every day. But on the same hand, it's right in our faces - almost obvious. I loved that I couldn't see past the "cross" of this truck in the midst of the traffic. (I think you're following my analogy pretty well, so I digress.)

5. Lastly, I thought, "well, at least we have tow trucks when we need them." What a cheap view of God's purpose in our lives. When we need Him? Come on, Jordan. We ALWAYS need God and His assistance. I got the biggest lesson out of this thought. When you're stopped on the highway of life and you can't seem to go any further, you need a tow truck. But you have to be the one to call. You have to call to get it to come to your rescue.  Telling them exactly where you're at, the truck is able to come pick you up.

How big is our God that He's made a way for us even when we're in the wrong places? When we're broken, or feeling stuck. Or even sometimes when we have to stop because things are getting dangerous. Even when it's our own fault that our "cars" break down. Lack of maintenance will do that. All the while, His assistance is only a call away. You need only examine the cross.

Probably never look at a tow truck the same.
I hope you don't either.

-J

Capital C.

"We've drifted away from being fishers of men to the keepers of the aquarium." -Paul Harvey

Morgan Chilulu, an African pastor of a small church in the midst of the AIDS pandemic once said, "A Church that lives within its four walls is no church at all."

Sometimes I think there's a hole in the Church. We need only read our church bulletins to see where our priorities have been placed. How many annoucements involve programs that focus more on meeting OUR needs than the needs of those outside the church?

It's not that churches shouldn't minister to their own members, but that there should be balance. A balance between interal  and external ministry.
When our churches become spiritual spas in which we retreat from the world, we're doomed to lose our saltiness. And then we can't impact our culture.
I know a lot of people that GO to Church, expecting something. Entitlement creeps in instead of worship. Their hearts are far from the teachings of the Lord. They come to be entertained, to be noticed, or even to hide. Why do we do that? What does the Lord OWE us?


Maybe there isn't a hole in the Church, but there sure are some holes in its members--myself included.

The Church is God's hope for the world. Does it feel like that to you?

Revival will come when the Church believes it will--because the Lord is able.
"Return to Me, and I will return to you..." Lord, I believe that. Help us to be obedient and to be found diligently doing Your work--all of us.

Redeemed, JAS.

A true confession...

...I need to blog more.

But sometimes your hands are just too full and you can't find the time to digitally journal it down.

Other times, your heart is just too full and there's nothing you can really say.

 

Either way, life is brief, isn't it?

Make it count.

Redeemed. And remaining more than a conqueror... JAS. <3

 

Here's one story to start it off!

"Growth demands a temporary surrender of security."- Gail Sheehy

Surrendering security is exactly what I did. I was nervous about having any major disruptions in my life. I was the least likely recruit in the cause of the poor--and now that I have seen, I am responsible.
Growing up in America, we've always seen the commercials about the hungry children dressed in rags. These commercials are usually accompanied with Bono's endorsement, or a Sarah McLaughlin song. You know what I'm talking about. However, these past two weeks have opened my eyes to the heart of the Father. I feel as if I realize this beautiful love story even better now that I have seen a glimpse of God's love for ALL people. Poverty, disease, and squalor had eyes and faces that stared back, and I have seen, smelled, and touched the pain of the poor.
I wanted to share one story (of hundreds) that I encountered while in Kenya that struck me to the core. Meet Ann.

Rather than tell of what the sin of the world has done to her, or pay the devil any mind to the tragedies she's been a victim to, I'll glorify God by telling who she is in Christ. She is a 15-year-old whom Christ died for. She loves music, working in gardens, and wants to become a nurse one day. Looking at her circumstances, you'd think her hopes are hopeless. Let Ann be the first to tell you that God isn't a god of circumstances, but of power. And everything is possible when you're on His team. 
As I sat in morning worship with my newest Kenyan friend, I felt world's apart and wondered how God would use me to encourage her. Well, He did. But He used her.

I'd brought my Bible and let Ann hold it. She grabbed me so suddenly, pointed to my name imprint and said, "What is that?" I told her that was my first and middle name and she said, "You see now. God has placed us together since the time of your birth--you can see it there. My name and your name." Whoa. Seems so simple, doesn't it? But when you think of the majesty of God, He really did place us together since before either of us were born. I was meant to be in Africa that day. And I was meant to meet Ann. Holllly crap.  You can see the letters surrounding in the above picture. Here's a piece of what Ann's letter to me said:

"Heaven is depending on you. Heaven is watching you. And everytime you feel tempted and trial comes remember heaven is waiting on you."

Beautiful, isn't it? That's God. She is a child of the King. And holds a piece of my heart. World's apart, and still, we are sisters.

God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. I'm so glad that God called me to that place.


Redeemed, JAS.

P.S. I'm processing through pictures--so be patient!

What To Say

"Activity conquers cold, but stillness conquers heat."

I read this today and my interpretation of it reflects my emotion. A few months ago, I was completely downcast. A fellow Christian had criticized me to an extra low point. I felt shame and unworthiness. Hindsight taught me that the devil attacks believers in the most unsuspecting of ways--including feelings of inadequacy and regret. And for every bit of perfection that comes from Christ, the devil has come up with a counterfiet to it. Sneaky fellow.

BUT then there's God. Shame doesn't come from Christ. Inadequate emotions are the devil's playground and he will pounce if given the chance. Let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of inward shame. Amen to that.

"Activity conquers cold, but stillness conquers heat."
I stayed active. Doing God's work, doing MY work, school work. Working. I didn't take my hand off the plow. Most people would say I burn the candle at both ends, and I believe that's true to an extent. I conquered the "cold" that came from the feelings of shame and desolation with activity. I put my weapon of truth back in my hand, and got BACK TO WORK.

Now, as I encounter "heat" from my oppressors, I've chosen stillness. Vacationing with my family, cutting back on working, and hanging out with friends. I'm being still.
I believe God has used every scenario in my life to get to me the moments I live in each day. He has given me all I need, because HE is all I need.

Fear knocks at the door, faith answers, and nobody's there.

Redeemed, JAS.
(:

Jesus wasn't crucified...

"...I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves, on the town garbage heap, at a crossroad so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.  It was the kind of place where cynics talk smut, thieves curse, and soldiers gamble.  That’s where he died.  And that’s where Christians ought to be..."

-George MacLeod

God is SO big. Less than 10 weeks away from getting on a plane to step into a world I'd have never known if I didn't know Him. You're crazy if you don't get to know Him too. Praying for the lost today, more than ever.

God is beautiful, and we are made in that image. Let's live like beautiful people.

-Redeemed, now and forever-

JAS.

Hope Wins

It's been too long! Here's an update:

The pictures give the update on my world, the Scripture gives the conditions of my heart.

 

"When you see a person/situation as hopeless, you've slammed the door in the face of God."

 -Charles Allen.

 

Cleveland, OK has a chunk of my heart.
Crazy Love 



College is fun.
And I have a new internship!



Lamentations 3:

 ^19-21I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
   the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
   the feeling of hitting the bottom.But there's one other thing I remember,
   and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

 ^22-24God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
   his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
   How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
   He's all I've got left.

 

 ^25-27God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
   to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
   quietly hope for help from God.
It's a good thing when you're young
   to stick it out through the hard times.

 



 ^28-30When life is heavy and hard to take,
   go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
   Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
   The "worst" is never the worst.  



 ^31-33Why? Because the Master won't ever
   walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
   His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
   in throwing roadblocks in the way.



 ^49-51"The tears stream from my eyes,
   an artesian well of tears,
Until you, God, look down from on high, 



   look and see my tears.
When I see what's happened to the young women in the city,
   the pain breaks my heart.

^55-57"I called out your name, O God,
   called from the bottom of the pit.
You listened when I called out, 'Don't shut your ears!
   Get me out of here! Save me!'
You came close when I called out.
   You said, 'It's going to be all right.'

 ^58-60"You took my side, Master; 
   you brought me back alive!"

-------



 Proud to be on the

sidelines of all they're boldly doing.

 

Friendships are priceless.


-Redeemed, JAS.
P.S. 93 days and counting. Literally. :)

Hammer in one hand, a weapon in the other.

Remember the Lord, and get back to work.

Hope wins.