A GREAT IDEA!

Alina Chau is an Asian American Artist who works for Lucasfilm - which before God called me to seminary would have been a dream job. She is selling this painting on eBay for a program called Art Blocks for Ghana. The proceeds from the paintings will be sent to help families in Ghana build homes. A part of the money from the auction of this painting will go to "Artists Help Japan" and Give2Asia - Artists. Alina is planing to have another auction in April specifically to help those in Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami. All of these programs are legitimate. I wonder if there are any artists out there creating specifically Christian artwork for these programs?

Psalm 29

I am taking a preaching class and a couple of weeks ago I chose Psalm 29 as the passage I would preach from first. It was one from a list the professor assigned. As I have been praying about what message God would have me to reveal from Psalm 29 the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have weighed heavily on my mind. Psalm 29 makes it very clear God is over the waters, and his voice can boom like thunder. There is tremendous power in the voice of God over all things. One commentary went so far to say Psalm 29 places God, enthroned over the waters of chaos. Japan has certainly seen its fair share of chaos - especially with the impending nuclear threat. Japan would seem to be struggling against earth, fire, and water. I am sure there are those who would say, "Where is God if He is enthroned over the waters of chaos, and if His voice is so powerful?" The "Where is God" question in the face of tragedy is always difficult. The answer is tied up in God's character, the gift of free choice to human beings, and the Fall. This is a blog and not a term paper so I won't give the long winded answer. I'd rather focus on the last verse of Psalm 29. "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace (NIV)." John Wesley in his sermon "The Almost Christian" points out that God delights to work through people for the good of the world. Humanity was God's stewards of creation going all the way back to Genesis. This does not mean we are on our own to handle natural disasters. Quite often God's blessings in our lives are meant to be used to help others. Wesley puts it this way. Those who are given ability have the responsibility to act. Uncle Ben put it this way, "With great power comes great responsibility." The blessing of God is quite often the Holy Spirit moving in our lives to will and to act for God's glory. One way you can help the people in Japan is by offering to help through UMCOR the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Won't you prayerfully consider how God's prompting in your life today and give as you are able?

Bucket List

Click here to go to the website.

Good Morning,

A few years ago there was this movie called, The Bucket List where a couple of guys near the end of their lives decide to do all the things we all say we want to do before we die, but never do. I stumbled across this blog post this morning, and it is so cool I had to post it here. Just one question though. What do you want to do before you die?

Flintstone Powered Car

First a disclaimer: Karen did not dress Evan this morning - I did. And everything matched this morning until he peed on his shirt and pants. After that I just kinda made due since Karen was off running errands. She thought Evan's wardrobe was so comical she took a picture of him with her phone and e-mailed her Mom and sister. However, this is not the reason for this post.

Evan sat in the driver seat of his first car. Granted it's Flintsone powered, but there he is. We decided there was no sense in paying for an activity center for $100 bucks and then turning around to pay another $40 for a walker. We've got a blanket in front and behind him, but it won't be long until he doesn't need those at all. He likes it pretty well for a 4.5 month little boy.

Lybia

This is going to give away my age, but the only thing I really know about Lybia comes from the Back To The Future movies. I stumbled across this blog with images of Lybia and I am reminded they aren't just angry people, half way around the world, rioting in the streets. They are people with hearts and minds, with families, and a culture all of their own. It is really neat to see them this way. 

Crystal Clear Lybia

Check out the blog article and then follow the link to Charles O Cecil's photo gallery. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Lybia for many years and took some great photographs of the people there. Most of them are not Christians, but that certainly does not mean we shouldn't love them as fellow creatures of God. God made us all. Jesus died for us all. I don't think we have the luxury of not praying for people who are not like us. 

Wood Burning Robots

I thought it would be a good stress reliever to ink some of the stuff I drew before I came to seminary. It’s been a lot of fun, but I am really slow, and since I can only afford allow myself 15 minutes a day to doodle it takes me a while to get anything finished. Enjoy!

Learn from my mistakes

“What is man that you should note him, and the human creature, that You pay him heed, and You make him little less than the gods, with glory and grandeur You crown him?” (Psalm 8:5-6 Translation by Robert Alter)

I’ve just returned from North Carolina where I appeared before my District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM), and I learned a couple of very valuable lessons.

#1 If you are a verbal thinker the very best thing you can do when you get nervous is to shut your mouth. Abraham Lincoln was right. “It’s better to let someone think you are a fool than to open your mouth and prove them right.”

#2 This one is tied to number one if you are a verbal thinker in a situation where you are nervous. Take an extra moment or two to center yourself before you attempt to answer a question, and when you do answer a question, answer the question asked. In my nervousness I bounced all around what they were asking without landing on the point they were looking for, and what’s worse I didn’t take the time to clarify what they were asking.

#3 Never wander into theology with a group of ministers, whether by accident or on purpose if you haven’t had any training on the subject. If you do find yourself in that dark forest make sure to point out what little training you’ve had.

For all of these lessons learned I too ask God who am I that you should take note of me? Who am I that you would call me to follow this path? In the end I too must admit like Job, God is God and I am not. I cannot explain a fraction of the resources God used to create the universe much less His plan for my life. Instead I will rely on His mercies for today. I have fallen down. Now I will rely on God to stand back up.