kingdom travelin'

so yesterday we were sitting eating a late lunch in the Charlotte airport when we look up at the TV and see that a USAirways Airbus plane bound for Charlotte had “watered” on the Hudson river… yes, we were flying USAirways… what in the world… the ride was smooth though it was like being in a London to Budapest type plane for 5 1/2 hours… but I was with sweet Anna and has a brand new Atlantic magazine to read between naps… but they ran out of food! can you believe it? the guy in front really pitched a fit and the flight person pitched one back… holy cow…
so we land at SFO and rent the car and drive to Silicon Valley – that’s where we are – in San Jose… and yes, Laci this is gadget heaven… we drove by an Intel building on the way in… anyway…
this morning on TV we see footage of the aforementioned “watering” and it looked like the people we standing on the water… the wings were just barely submerged from the camera angle… but their support was unseen… beneath… they had got themselves out of the “boat…”
I know a lot of people who are heading for a new station on their journey… folks are thinking about getting out of the boat and getting in the deep water…
Jesus is there, below the surface, waiting to hold us up, when we believe Him and step out on faith in Him…

heading out to CA for the weekend to meet with awesome folks of like mind and heart for this needy, broken world… posting may stay on the back burner…

Last night when Sweet Anna and I both got home and realized that the house was cold. Our heating system had failed… I thought of my friends in Europe and the ongoing saga between Russia and Ukraine over the gas piplines and the thousands of people who had no heat. By morning the inside of the house was 57 f (about 5 c?). Our bedroom and downstairs sitting room were warm because of two electric space heaters that we keep on hand for such emergencies. Tonight the temp outside will be -7c so I called the repair man… wow, we are getting a new heating system! (and our wallet will be a lot lighter) But I am thankful that the heat is available (tomorrow night it will be -12 c)… I am glad to know that our hose will be warm again soon…. I pray for the people who are worried because they have no such assurance of a warm house… May the governments stop feuding and care for the people…

Followers of Jesus should be stepping behind him in faith… its like Peter in the boat… the boat was safe… but Peter knew that Jesus was offering more… and that he could not receive this while he was in the boat… so he had to get out of the safety of the boat… he had to look at Jesus and walk, by faith, on the water…

what is my/your/our boat?

where does Jesus want to lead us if we would just get out of the boat?

While at the local law school with students, I saw and visited with a student of yore who is now an attorney. As I heard about his experiences in defence work, I became aware of the fact that even defendants who admit their guilt to their lawyer want to be cared for, to have someone advocate for them in court. There is a spiritual principle at work here too. I am guilty and Christ is my advocate… He also took my punishment, reconciling me with the Judge.

Last night I learned of an acquaintance from some years back whose life had come to an end. I read the obituary for this young person and realized what I always do when I hear of such, the deep pain that the family and friends are left with when this one is gone. The questions they are faced with at the loss of this beloved person.

Many years ago in another city, I got a call after midnight from a friend who said “I need your help.” I dressed and went to visit a family whose daughter had died suddenly. The whole foundation of this family was cracked beyond human understanding and repair. A deep and profound sadness enveloped all who were connected to these people. Of course they all asked why? They began to second-guess their actions, words, intentions and even faith. Heavy weeping was endured in the presence and company of friends. I was asked by the family “Where is our child now?” I answered as best as a human can, that no man can truly know the heart of another human being, but God does. I told them that God was kind. God is compassionate. God hears every word that is thought and prayed and God even understands the confusion in the mind which one doesn’t even understand himself.

We are all sometimes confused by life and its pain and brokenness and we don’t even know our own thoughts, but God does. God gets it. God cares. God is there at the end, knowing the heart and intentions of every human being and he is  extending grace to those who somehow embrace  his infinite compassion, even if they don’t quite understand what is going on… God does understand. God loves.

At the end of his life, Jesus looked over to a man whose own life was ending and gave him hope. Years ago when this young life ended, Jesus was waiting, with understanding, with comfort, not judging, but allowing, and he was present.

Those who are left behind may do what the mother of the young woman did those many years ago, embrace Jesus’ offer of comfort in the midst of  hurt. 

This world is full of broken people, God gets that. God cares. That’s why Jesus came. That’s why he lived and suffered. To suffer as we have. To suffer as we do. 

When we hurt because of a suffering friend or one who is gone, please know that Jesus cares and wants to bring you peace through the grace he offers. He is right there in the midst of our hurt. He wishes to embrace you with his love and care. He wants to give us comfort in the midst of hurt.

Reach out to him, and accept his offer of peace from grace and he will give you comfort in the midst of hurt.