Monthly Archives: May 2012

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2012/05/27/pentecost-prayer-for-the-week/

I read a post this morning titled “What Happens When You Live Abroad”

I was fascinated by it for several reasons. Here is a quote:

“But one thing that undoubtedly exists between all of us, something that lingers unspoken at all of our gatherings, is fear. There is a palpable fear to living in a new country, and though it is more acute in the first months, even year, of your stay, it never completely evaporates as time goes on. It simply changes.”

The first thing about the post that jumps out at me is the theme of “fear.”

The second thing that jumps out at me is that fear is just seen as a condition that everyone has and ‘that is that.’

The third thing that jumps out at me (in my own head) is this thought I stole from an unknown someone long ago and it applies specifically to followers of Jesus: “We are to be thermostats not just thermometers.”

I would be curious if any of the 5 of you who will read this post, will read the mentioned post and then agree or disagree with my assessment: While fear is normal, we are not called to normality, normal is natural, we have the supernatural in us. Thus, shouldn’t we be thermostats not just thermometers? Isn’t this what we are called to do as followers of Jesus, empowered with the Holy Spirit? So, when we fear (we all do) shouldn’t we meet it with faith? or at least exercise to build our faith? No matter if we are abroad or not?

I need your support! My organization’s Spring Fund Drive begins today.

Our goal is $23,000 in the next six weeks! Would you please help us reach our goal???

You can learn more and donate here: www.ceokids.org

EVERY donation matters!!!!

Please be advised, this fun device has numerous (and some serious) historical errors… but it is a good way to test your knowledge of the real history of the region. Use the comments to tell me what errors you see… (but be civil about it or your comment could wind up in oblivion).

The north and the south, you have created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
For our shield belongs to the LORD,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
(Psalm 89:12-18 ESV)

These are a selection of quotes from 2 days of solitude.

Out of Solitude by H. Nouwen

“Before we are fully aware of it, we have sold our soul to the many grade givers. That means we are not only in the world, but also of the world.”

“When we have sold our identity to the judges of this world, we are bound to become restless…”

“When you are able to create a lonely place in the middle of your actions and concerns, your successes and failures slowly can lose some of their power over you.”

The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

“Pride, arrogance, resentfulness, evil imaginings, malice, greed: these are the sources of more human pain than all the diseases that ever afflicted mortal flesh.”

“The heart’s fierce effort to protect itself from every slight, to shield it’s touchy honor from the bad opinion a friend and enemy will never let the mind have rest.”

Forgotten God by Francis Chan

“What would the… church look like if everyone was as committed as you are?”

“Our lack of intimacy [with God] often is due to our refusal to unplug and shut off communication from all others so we can be alone with him.”