Empty Nest

This week has ushered in a new season of my life...the empty nest.

Both girls are happily tucked in to NNU. Jenna lives in a wonderful little house just on the edge of campus. Nicole moved into Ford (Freshman Girls Dorm) one week ago today. Roy and I drove home last Sunday night, with many tears, many fears, many prayers. God has proven Himself so faithful to us this week. Even in the midst of the waves of emotions that have flooded over me all week.

My heart is full of joy and anticipation for, not only what God is doing in our daughters' lives, but what He is doing in Roy and I's lives as we begin this enter this new season together...

OUTRAGEOUS

OUTRAGEOUS. This is the title of a new series of sermons that Pastor Bob is preaching at Cornwall Church. The premise of the series is to look at 6 different outrageous statements made by Jesus. Here are a few of my thoughts on the first two.

Last week's outrageous statement is found in John:14:12: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Here is Jesus, in the middle of His ministry of healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the thousands, changing lives for all eternity. And he tells the disciples that they are going to do greater things than these! And He is saying the same thing to you and I today. This is His promise to us. Because He went to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to us. With His Spirit within us, we too can "do greater things than these!" Jesus is thinking globally here. Divide and multiply. Reach out and touch someone. Everyone reach one. However you want to say it. He is calling us to live out our lives in such a way that He is able to reach people through our lives!

This morning's outrageous statement is from John 8:58: "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" There is Jesus, in the middle of the temple with all the worshippers and Pharisees. People are listening as the Pharisees and Jesus have quite the discussion about Jesus' teachings and claims. Then, in this place filled with Jews who weren't even willing to speak the Name of YHWH, the "I Am" Who delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians, because it is soooo holy, Jesus says, "That's me." Jesus is God. I believe that with every fiber of my being. Do I understand it? Can I fully grasp what it means for the God of the Universe to come to earth to be a man, walk around with us and die a cruel death on a cross? I can't wrap my mind around it. But I believe it. And therin is where my faith lies. Jesus IS God. And He alone is worthy of all of my praise and adoration. Amen!

Both of these sermons (and other series) can be found at (and downloaded from) the church's website (www.cornwallchurch.com).

Live in His Presence and blessing this week...

Mosaic

While I was galavanting in Europe with Nicole a couple of Sundays ago, I missed what may just well be my favorite sermon ever (Thankfully I could listen to it on I-Tunes when I got home. Not quite the same but I am still thankful.). I wondered where Pastor Bob would go with his series on Sacrament and the word "Mosaic." What I didn't know was that the Sacrament - the visible sign of an invisible reality - of Mosaic was Christ calling each one of us to be His Body, the Church. We ARE Mosaic. Each one of us, as believers in Him, become part of the Body of Christ, representing Him to the world He created.

I took this picture with my cell phone on Sunday. It is part of a very large canvas - a Mosaic of Christ. It has, I am told, several thousand images of people at Cornwall Church. It is the image of Christ. What a beautiful picture of what we as "the Church" are to be. What an astounding thought that as we live our lives, side by side, intertwined with one another, we make a complete picture of Who Christ is. This is what the Church is to be. A living, breathing, serving, worshipping picture of our Risen Lord.

May we each represent Him well. May a new, fresh outpouring of His Spirit move among us as we contemplate the events of Passion Week and look forward to the victory which is Easter. May our lives be so radically changed by this Man, our Lord, that the world will take note - and find themselves seeking after the Risen Savior - Who is waiting eagerly to begin a relationship with each one, welcoming them into His Kingdom and adding them to the great Mosaic: His Body, the Church.

On Things These Days...

I have read several interesting articles and quotes in the last few days that I just have to share. Some are from blogs, others from e-mails and the news. I am very, very, VERY concerned about the direction our country is going and the rate of speed in which we are going there...how are you feeling about things that have taken place in the last month or so? I would invite some honest, civil conversation about the following information...
Jenny

*****
You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

~ Dr. Adrian Rogers (from my friend Cindy's blog: http://waeagles.blogspot.com/ )

*****
Barack Obama has been in office less than one month. In that time, he has launched a pro-abortion blitz against the values of millions of Americans. He has ordered tax dollars to pay for abortions worldwide. He has made it clear that his judges will be pro-abortion. Now Fox News is reporting that he will issue an executive order within days forcing taxpayers to subsidize life-destroying embryonic stem cell research.

The aggressiveness of Obama’s anti-life agenda is ironic given that new research suggests as many as 25% to 30% of people who identify as pro-life voted for Obama. This is particularly true of younger evangelical voters, who voted in larger numbers for Obama than they did for Al Gore or John Kerry in past elections.

~Gary Bauer www.ouramericanvalues.org

*****
GOP Urges Obama to Come to His Census

In a November 2007 with ACORN leaders, candidate Obama said, "I've been fighting alongside ACORN on issues you care about my entire career." It took President Obama just 29 days to elevate that partnership beyond "fighting" to funding. After promising to ban "special interests" from his recovery plan, the new administration just handed his party's keys--and $2 billion of your tax dollars--to groups like ACORN, the liberals' get-out-the-vote powerhouses. The move is one of many political payoffs in the liberal swag bag known as the stimulus bill. Unfortunately for conservatives, it will go a long way toward creating the permanent liberal majority in Congress.

~Tony Perkins www.frc.org (Family Research Council)
*****

One Month to Live

This is the title of the series we are going through at Cornwall Church. It is not an announcement to friends and family that we have received devastating news. It is, however, an interesting concept to think about. How would you live your life, what would you do (or not do), what choices would you make if you knew you only had one month to live?

"The average person goes to his grave with his music still in him." ~O.W. Holmes

This quote, from Pastor Bob's sermon on Sunday, has the potential of being life-changing. It reminds me of the Rob Bell Nooma video "Rhythm." Each of our lives is a voice in this symphony called "life." Our lives blend with the other lives around us to make the beautiful music that is every day life. God gives us melodies to play out in our lives. Are we following Him, our Conductor...our Composer? Or are we trying to "march to the beat of our own drum?" I believe that as each one follows the Conductor (God), He will blend our lives, our goals, our passions...and the community that we are a part of will be more beautiful because we are each playing our part.

Back to Oliver Wendall Holmes...what happens to the person who refuses to play his music? Who settles into a nice comfortable rut and decides that is is "good enough." I don't ever want to be the person who "goes to his grave with music still in him." I want to play every note, every melody, every harmony, even some of those disodent chords that are hard to listen to. I want to live life fully. Fully experience all that God has for me. And fully give of myself to Him, and to the ones that He has created.

I want to live passionately. Jesus lived with a passion for people. He loved at great, even ultimate cost. He also lived with a passion for God. He truly loved God with all His Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. He is my example. He is also my strength. I want to know His passion and to live it out every day of my life. So at the end of my life (even if it was to be one month from now) someone might say, "She played all the music He gave her."

Travels and Fulfilled Dreams

Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated with travel. There are so many exotic lands to be explored. So many people groups to meet and learn about (and from). So many historical sights to see and learn from.

We didn't have too many opportunities to travel when I was growing up. We made one amazing trip from San Diego to Boston in 1966. All 7 of us (us 5 kids ranged in age from 9 years down to 6 months) in our green station wagon. Staying at Holiday Inn's and eating at Howard Johnsons...all the way across the country. I remember my mom appliqued a pillowcase for each one of us kids and filled each pillow case with some toys, writing/coloring supplies, and things to keep us busy during our many long days in the car. I loved my little pillowcase full of treasures and to this day I think my mom was pretty ingenious for coming up with such a great idea. Most of the rest of my childhood travels consisted of camping in the Cuyamaca mountains, visiting my grandparents in Los Angeles, and going to the cabin in Crestline.

As I've gotten older travel has become much more accessible. Roy and I have taken several road trips with our daughters. Most of them to California to see family, but there are a couple trips to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons that are family favorites. We have also been on several cruises over the last 15 years. I have loved seeing the Caribbean, Bahamas and the Mexican Riviera while enjoying the luxury of being served on the ship. I've tagged along on some of Roy's work trips to Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Orlando. We had a great family trip to the East Coast (DC, New York, and Pennsylvania) in 2006. 2 years ago I traveled to Bangkok, Thailand to visit Prim and her family. That was my first "overseas" trip and it was a wonderful 10 days in a very foreign land. Prim and her parents were so gracious and treated me like royalty! I have also enjoyed many trips to Vicente Guerrero, Mexico (Baja) to work at the mission and in the community. I'm looking forward to my 7th journey to the mission at the end of this month.

As I think of all of the opportunities I have had to travel, I am so very, very grateful. God has truly given me the desires of my heart. Somehow I feel like he has already outdone Himself in 2009 though. January 15th Jenna and I flew to Europe together. We spent a weekend in Zurich, Switzerland and explored Florence and Rome for a week before heading to European Nazarene College where she is studying this semester. We loved our time in Italy and filled our days with visiting churches, seeing wonderful art, visiting historical sights, and enjoying the passionate, gentle ease of the Italian culture. Experiencing a few days at Jenna's school, in a small village along the Rhine River, was fantastic. All of this by itself is more than amazing! And yet (think Ginsu knives) there is more! Roy's work sent him to England to work and our flights happened to coincide at Heathrow Airport in London. We were able to change my return ticket and I spent a week in England (4 days in Cambridge, 3 in London) with Roy! The entire week was fabulous!

There is more travel in my future...celebrating senior spring break with Nicole! I am amazed at the opportunities that have been given to me. I recognize each one as the huge blessing it is. And I am praying that God will continue to grow my heart as I learn more about new cultures and living "globally."

I had always dreamed of traveling. And I have. And I have always dreamed of going to Europe. Now I can say I have. The little girl I once was would never believe all of the places I've been. I am so incredibly grateful.

A Beautiful Example of Christ...

The following is from www.breakpoint.org. I have followed this story and been moved by this man's testimony and example during a time more horrendous than I can even imagine...

Christmas and HopeA Testimony Amidst Tragedy
Chuck Colson
December 24, 2008

Dong Yun Yoon of University City, California, will never forget this Christmas. Two weeks ago, his family was killed when a Marine F-18 Hornet fighter jet lost power and crashed into his home.

In an instant, this season of joy become a time of unimaginable sorrow for Yoon. However, his response to the tragedy can only be described as a great gift to all of us.

The plane’s engines failed during a training flight off the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. The pilot, Lt. Dan Neubauer, tried to reach Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego but wound up safely ejecting from the plane about two miles from the station.

The plane crashed into the Yoon’s just-moved-into home. Young Mi Yoon, their daughters Rachel and Grace, and her mother were killed.

While the tragedy was front-page news, what happened next captured the imagination of the country. The next day, an understandably devastated Yoon told reporters that he didn’t have any “hard feelings” toward the pilot and that he knew that the pilot “did everything he could.”
Not only that, Yoon said, “I pray for him not to suffer for this action,” and called him “one of our treasures for the country.”

Having embodied grace and forgiveness, Yoon then told reporters what made it possible: “I believe my wife and two babies and mother-in-law are in heaven with God,” and he prayed with other family members and friends.

Yoon’s words and actions reminded Adrian Hong, a human rights advocate, of the circumstances surrounding the writing of the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”—in both instances, tragedy and sorrow were turned into a great witness to the power of Christian hope.

There’s another hymn this episode brings to mind—“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley. In the last stanza we sing that Jesus was “born that man no more may die” and “born to raise the sons of earth.”

While we may not associate Christmas and the Incarnation with our Lord’s victory over death, the Church fathers did. In “On the Incarnation of the Word,” Athanasius wrote that it was because all of us were “under penalty of the corruption of death” that the Word took “to Himself a body capable of death.” Since the Word “by His one body has come to dwell among” us, “the corruption of death which before was prevailing against [Man] is done away.”

As a result of what Athanasius called “His gracious coming among us,” “the way up into the heavens” is “made ready” for those, like the Yoons, who put their faith in him.

This “new beginning of life for us” and the graciousness that makes it possible is at the heart of the Christian hope. It consoles us and enables us to be gracious even when our world is falling apart. It is this hope, born on the first Christmas, that Peter tells us we must always be ready to explain.

Dong Yun Yoon certainly was. For that he has my gratitude and prayers.