Confiscated



This is what I confiscated minutes before my afternoon class began. What you can't see are the makeshift itty bitty T-Rex arms clawing out. Oh, and the mouth opens to show a red tongue and scary teeth. Glad we're being productive here.



What's Left?

I keep these pictures on my filing cabinet at school.  Their haunting statement sends me a daily reminder of what has been left behind.  See her pain?


This past Monday, as I sat on my clean, pretty green couch in a nice air conditioned house, I watched a sleazy sitcom on my big, shiny TV.  A question blurted out at me, "So, someone must suffer to do good, then?" --A couple arguing.

The thought has plagued me all week.  I'd like to argue that I do plenty of good, even with my shoe collection, down comforter, daily bubble bath...  

Am I really doing good if it doesn't affect my daily comfort?

Is it wrong to be comfortable?

The story of the rich young ruler enters my mind, though I try to push it out. 
        "A man stopped Jesus and asked, ' Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?'
         Jesus said, ' Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.'
         The man asked, 'What in particular?'
          Jesus said, ' Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.'
          The young man said, ' I've done all that. What's left?'
          ' If you want to give it all you've got, ' Jesus replied, ' Go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.'
          That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go.
          As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, ' Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Let me tell you, it's easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than for the rich to enter God's kingdom.'
           The disciples were staggered. 'Then who has any chance at all?'
           'Jesus looked hard at them and said, ' No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself.  Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it. '
... ' This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.'"
Matthew 16:19-30 The Message

I think Jesus is clear in his message about money.  Matthew 6:24 says," No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
 
Okay, Jesus. I hear you.

Then, should my Christianity be driven out of guilt for what I know is right?

No. It should be driven by love. Love for my Savior, love for those who need help. 

"Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own." 2 Cor 5:14-15 Msg

 I don't know the answer to the question that blared through the TV the other night. 

But maybe, if we just ask God to change our hearts, we can find our joy in helping others and not the comfort we have--that it will be a wish on our heart, and not an obligation formed out of guilt.  That regardless of how much we have, our master is always God, and we serve no other. 

I can identify with the young man who talked to Jesus that day. I follow the commandments, and I've wanted to know, "What's Left?"

I'd Pay 99 Cents

This marks the second time in four days that I have draped my favorite jeans over the banister to dry.  Twice I have driven through a silent but deadly type of monsoon that caught me off guard.  Isn't that why God invented thunder? To warn us about rain? Why isn't he using it??

Tis a transportational hazard. 

Hear me out, I am an advocate for Hurricane Season. It's my second favorite season. After March Madness, that is. :)

I propose that someone create a Jeep App. 

The icon would be a yellow jeep covered in mud. I mean really, would you want another color besides yellow? :)

The app could use GPS technology to locate the driver and hopefully the driver's open jeep.  If a big dark rain cloud was to suddenly appear, the trusty jeep app would use it's radar sensing skills and simply alert you to cover your jeep.  "Get your top on!" would flash across your screen and play, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.

And maybe on sunny days, you could click on it to check the radar and it would say,  "All Clear. Rock on!" You know, with a little smiley sunshine guy with sunglasses, and a thumbs up... real cute like.

And maybe in the winter time, when all jeep drivers are depressed, there could be a countdown until the first day of spring.  With a little sad smiley face bundled up in a jacket. "Too Cold for the Road. 23 days till Spring." 

Think of the possibilities: options to buy jeep gear, off road maps, driving dry-- away from sneaky dark rain clouds....

Just sayin.  I'd pay 99 cents. 

Dear Liminality,

I hate you, and I love you.

Liminality can be loosely defined as the space or time in between, a transitional period, where we are pushed to the outskirts of society, preparing to cross the limits of what we were, into what we will be.  This includes many rites of passage, and interestingly enough, church camp and mission trips.  You come in as one person, enter a liminal state of being in between, and leave a new, altered person.

In a liminal state, many people build strong relationships quickly.  This explains why you make strong friends on trips, and in my case, Bluehaven. :)

Christians as general beings are in a liminal state, because we believe "this world is not our home, we are just passing through" (As the song goes). 


Liminality, I love you:
      I question our purpose here on earth in response to the "Glorify God" rhetoric.  We form routines that take over our lives. As a teacher, I am the queen of routine.  Having a routine helps us feel safe, and comfortable; however, I think you should treat your spiritual life like you do your body.  I don't know about any of you, but it's pretty easy for me to lose 10 pounds by eating nothing but cereal for a week or two and working out. I see results quickly, but after a while, my body goes into survival mode and thinks that's all it needs to survive. Thus, the weight loss desists, and I don't change.
        In order to beat your body in this weight-loss war, you have to change up your eating and exercise every so often. Your body is constantly on alert, growing.  In the same way, I think that if you live a mediocre Christian life, following the routine of praying and church (which are important...), you never grow as a Christian. Therefore, I love times when I am in a liminal state. I love the mountain top experiences with God and other Christians that push me out of my comfort zone. You need them to propel you back into the world, stronger in your walk.


Liminality, I hate you:
I despise the in between.  I love to belong somewhere, comfortable and secure.  I'd like to think my prayerful, eatin fried chicken and singin church songs kind of life will cut it.  After all, compared to the rest of the world, I'm doin pretty good, yes? There's also a risk involved when entering a liminal state.  I don't have time for that... I can't afford that... I don't want to go to that foreign country and catch Malaria... What, you mean I need to go without to help someone else? Don't all humans want to 'fit in'?


And then, I'm reminded of one of my favorite songs,

When my love to Christ grows weak
When for deeper faith I seek
Then in thought I go to Thee,
Garden of Gethsemane!


There I walk amid the shades
While the lingering twilight fades
See that suffering, friendless One
Weeping, praying there alone.


When my love for man grows weak
When for stronger faith I seek
Hill of Calvary, I go
To Thy scenes of fear and woe.


There behold His agony
Suffered on the bitter tree
See His anguish, see His faith
Love triumphant still in death.


Then to life I turn again
Learning all the worth of pain
Learning all the might that lies
In a full self sacrifice.  

Here's to a liminality hunt. 

"What good is it, if a man claims to have faith but as no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17   

The Proposition Eight Debate

Proposition Eight: a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008, state elections. The measure added a new provision, Section 7.5 of the Declaration of Rights, to the California Constitution, which provides that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."


When non-christians think of a Christian, what comes to mind? Warm and fuzzy feelings of good Jesus loving, or as my preacher Mark would say, "a lifetime of eatin fried chicken and singin church songs"? Or maybe it's a bad feeling: hate, judgment, exclusivity, intolerance.

The question: How do Christians vote on issues like Proposition Eight?


The Yessers, lefties, the liberal progressives:
We vote yes. A person's constitutional right is separate from my beliefs as a Christian. I should not have the power to take away another's civil liberties. And moreover, I am called to love and support all souls, not just the ones I am comfortable with or who are sinless.
1 Cor 9:19-23 "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible...I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

The Nopers, righties, the conservative old honkies:
We vote no. The bible is very clear on God's view of homosexuality. Supporting those in this would enable and encourage the sin to continue. To take a stand, to take a side, we vote no. 1 Cor 6:9 "Do you know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

The indifferent, ambidextrous, the pleasers who don't care:
We don't vote. Legalization of same sex marriage won't change whether the practice continues. As Christians, we make a difference by showing Jesus to all around us. The law doesn't convert people, God does.
Matt 22:18-21 "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
1 Cor 3:6-8 "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow...For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."



Where does your answer fall?

In the end, no matter where you would or would not vote, I think we need to evaluate the greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37-39 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."


Christians wear a lot of hats, and with that comes many preconceived notions. I hope that in a time of change in our country, we can hold true to our beliefs, loving those around us, shining the light of Jesus every step of the way.

Romans 12

Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil.
Cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice Hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.
For it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay" Says the Lord.
On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.

Why Wasn't I Born a Vegetarian?

I love all of my students, they are really a lot of fun and keep me laughing. But, there's something about students who need a little extra attention that keep me laughing and engaged. I have a little friend who loves dinosaurs. And when I say love, I mean love. We've had some conversations in the past week that I couldn't help but giggle at.

- "Why did the dinosaurs have to die???? What did they ever do to deserve being extinct???"

- "I don't know why I wasn't born a vegetarian."
"Are you a vegetarian?"
"Nope."
"So, you're a meat eater?"
"Yeah."
"Like a dinosaur?"
"Well, not all of them."

- "Why aren't you writing down the thoughts you have on your book?" Me, asking him to get back on task.

"Well, about that. I don't really have any thoughts."

- I took up a dinosaur from him in the morning and put it in my desk. After recess, I sent him inside on an errand and he never returned. I found him in the classroom looking for "Chomp" just to "Make sure he was ok."

- My teaching parnter, the math teacher had filled the kids in on what was in the class store on Fridays. Here's what was said to me following.

“I can’t wait till Friday.”
“Why?”
“Because, well, try not to freak out about this, but you know those stickers you give us? “
“Yeah, I do.”
“Well, those send us straight to a store! And sometimes you can get dinosaurs- like that one you took from me?”
“Yeah, I remember. You better be working hard for those stickers!”
“Yeah.”



LOVE IT!