I gots the bumps, yo

Some things that gave me the chill bumps today....

I talked to my sister-in-law on the way to work this morning and she was telling me about a new group she's joining at church. It's more than just a Bible study, but a time to bond with other women with young families and share in each other's lives, and it's led by the elders' wives. They even cook and eat lunch together every Thursday! I just loved hearing Ashlee get excited about this group. I'm so thankful for her and love her bunches. I'm headed up to see their fam in a week for Emily's 3rd birthday!

E & J and four young kids were recently kicked out of a Central Asian country and have temporarily relocated in the same area. In their last newsletter, they asked prayer for finding a Russian-speaking school for the kids to attend (the language they've recently learned) and generally that this would be one step in helping the kids adjust to such abrupt changes. In particular, their 7-year old daughter, Lydia, really wanted to wear a uniform to school. This week's newsletter came with news of finding a school and acceptance even though they're Western. The next line read that mom and kids went out to lunch to celebrate and then to the outdoor market to buy uniforms, much to Lydia's delight. Isn't that precious? God does care about the little things!

Can I get an AMEN?

Have you seen this month's cover of Christianity Today? The cover story is

Young, Restless, Reformed: Calvinism is making a comeback - and shaking up the church.

Really, please go read this article. It's absolutely fantastic. Enough said.

But I'll keep going. The article begins with the undeniable popularity of John Piper, especially in relation to the recent "Together for the Gospel" conference and regular Passion conferences. Piper is credited as "more than anyone else, [the contributor] to a resurgence of Reformed theology among young people."

The article goes on to illumine Reformed theology's commitment to doctrine, spiritual depth, God-exalting focus, and of course, TULIP. I'm so proud of my generation of the church. Discontent to simply accept, we are impacting the Church with a genuine yet aggressive persual of deep truth in Scripture, doctrine, grace, worship, and soveriengty. AMEN, I love it.

It's risky asking for comments on my blog, because it usually results in a jinx. (Yeah, I said jinx in my blog entry about God's sovereignty.) But seriously, I'd love to hear your comments on this article. Unfortunately, it's not online or I'd link you to it.

Quotes worth quoting:

"Someone like Louie is saying, 'You know what, it's not about us, it's about God's glory, it's about his renown.' Now I don't think most kids realize this, but that's the first step down a pathway of Reformed theology. Because if you say that it's not about you, well then you're on that road of saying it's not about your actions, your choosings, your determination."

"'This generation of young Christians is more committed, more theologically intense, more theologically curious, more self-aware and self-conscious as believers because they were not raised in an environment of cultural Christianity,' Mohler said. 'Or if they were, as soon as they arrived on a university campus, they found themselves in a hostile environment.' Mohler explained that Calvinism offers young people a countercultural alternative with deep roots."

"'I think the criticism of Reformed theology is being silenced by the mission and justice and evangelism and worship and counseling - the whole range of pastoral life,' Piper said. 'We're not the kind who are off in a Grand Rapids ghetto crossing our t's and dotting our i's and telling the world to get their act together. We're in the New Orleans slums with groups like Desire Street Ministries, raising up black elders through Reformed theology from 9-year-old boys who had no chance."

"'If you really understand Reformed theology, we should all just sit around shaking our heads going, 'It's unbelievable. Why would God choose any of us?' Harris said. 'You are so amazed by grace, you're not picking a fight with anyone, you're just crying tears of amazement that should lead to a heart for lost people, that God does indeed save, when he doesn't have to save anybody."

I started a blog that nobody read

I think this song is rather funny. (click on the title/link above)

In other news:

Don't you just love it?!

Monday, Monday

Mondays mornings at work usually mean there are a million and one things on my mind and I'm not quite sure where to start. So, being Monday morning - this blog entry is meant to reflect that. In a word: randomness.

Chicken - marinated in pineapple juice, thrown on the grill, then stripped over salad (with Mango dressing, good call Jennings) - is really good!

Thanks to Mom and Pop, I'm an education junkie. I'm so thrilled that school starts this week, I could scream. I smile as I walk the halls of RTS. I relive memories everywhere I walk on the UCF campus. I love reading. I even like taking tests. When the 2006 list of Orange County Adult Education courses came in the mail, I highlighted all the ones I wanted to take. Ceramics, anyone? Healthy Cooking? Ballroom Dancing? What will I do when I can't go to school anymore? Oh yeah, teach. Maybe that's why I'm pursuing a career on a college campus.

On my nightstand:
The PAPA Prayer by Larry Crabb
Lost Women of the Bible by Carolyn Custis James
The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently by Richard Nisbitt

Sunday night movie at my house this past weekend: Alfred Hitchcock's "Rebecca." As a child, I liked watching this movie because of it's great name. As an adult, I was thinking "why did my Dad EVER let me watch this?!" It's a bit morbid. Have you seen it?

My Monday morning started off great... I actually got out of bed on time, ate my big bowl of Fruit Loops while watching the Today Show, and then prayed for the day with my roomie. All was well until I was drying my face and -oops- what was that? Something feels weird. Aah! My nose ring fell out!! I ran around like crazy trying to defrost the bathroom window, get the ring back in, put in my contacts so I could see, try again to get it through the hole, throw some clothes on, and go screaming down the hallway looking for help from Angela. I flipped out. Then, 20 minutes later, it was back in with minimal bleeding and a little bit of pain. I calmly sighed. ....Now to begin the day.

Oh yeah - didn't I tell you about my new bling? It's groovy. Real sparkly. And it's in my nose!

< big gasp >

According to WESH news online...

"The final closed restaurant is going to surprise sushi lovers. The state shut down Seito Sushi in the Winter Park Village on Aug. 11 because of roaches.

'When the inspector closed you down, were you pretty shocked?' Meredith asked the owner.

'Very shocked because we have always been clean,' she said.

She said the problem has been corrected, and Seito Sushi is open for business."

Um...I'm not sure what to do with this. This is my favorite, favorite place to get sushi and comes as quite the surprise.

Can I go back? Can I just forget this ever happened? Do you think I'm gross?

Don't hide all your attributes in a stirofoam container (savvy)

We confusingly looked at the Jack Sparrow-looking fellow who was talking to us, our eyes traveled to my take-out box sitting in front of me on the counter, then we looked at each other.

What did that guy just say? We laughed and repeated the story...over and over again all weekend. We're pretty much still baffled at what-in-tarnation that comment meant. Was it the beer he had for breakfast speaking? Was he just a local who likes to say weird things to tourists? Haven't a clue! Can you shed any light? (He did, however, look a lot like Captain Jack!)

Anyhow, such was the scene at New Smyrna Beach this weekend while Lauri, Joe, and I enjoyed lunch at Breakers overlooking the water. Yeah, think about it and wish you were there. It was fantastic.

I seriously contemplated never coming home.

The beach was our escape after a busy week at PI debriefing 87 amazing students who served overseas this summer. They sacrificed much in order to take their place in the story God is writing of His glory among the nations. Well, they "sacrificed" in the world's terms anyway. I'll update again soon with some of their incredible stories, then you tell me if it was much of a sacrifice. Once again, let me reiterate that I LOVE MY JOB!

Since we're talking about quotes, I have to share my new favorite: as Mr. Miyagi once said, "Never trust a spiritual leader who can't dance." That's what I'm talking about.

Can you please tell me the Story again?

Breakfast meeting - check.
Cleaning rooms - check.
Put together 87 conference folders - check.
details, details, details - check.

...so went the better part of my day today. (yeah, it's Saturday) I'm not quite drowning, but am barely keeping my chin out of the water in my pool called work. With one thing right after the other, I barely get a full night's sleep before the next event, let alone a weekend to recharge.

So, what the heck is all of this for? Why am I killing myself one stress-ball at a time? I asked myself this question on the way home from work today.

My thoughts first turned to Pratt's sermon last Sunday at St. Pauls. He pointed out one of the worst handicapp's of the American church - you know those famous declarative words "all men....are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." It's in our American DNA that we have rights, for goodness sake! And we deserve happiness! And we deserve to do things our way so that we ensure that happiness.

This aspect of my American persona, however, diametrically contradicts the teachings of Christ. You are not your own, you were bought at a price - 1 Cor 6. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord - Rom 14. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit - Phil 2. As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling which you have received - Eph 4. It's all over the place in Scripture!

So, really, my idea of happiness is not the standard by which all things are measured. (newsflash!) I belong to a great God who is orchestrating my life according to His glorious riches, as different as they are from mine.

Great. Another thing to do. My task-oriented self adds #3782478 to the checklist: Realign my priorities with Christ's.

These thoughts and emotions exhausted me, so after praying about them with my roomie this afternoon, I decided it was time for a nap. Two hours later, as I was coming out of my coma, I heard the Lord whisper "Bec, it's so much better than that. Stop doing and just sit with me a while." In His gentle way, He reminded me of His Scripture that I've read this week.

Still reveling in the prophets after my Isaiah-Malachi seminary course this spring, I studied Habakkuk earlier this week and found an honesty I could connect with. Habakkuk cried out to the Lord - how long must the unjust triumph? The Lord responds that justice is on the way! And Habukkuk answers...you call this justice? Apparently the Babylonians slamming Israel and taking them into captivity is not what Habakkuk had in mind. But an assuring word from the God of all gods renewed the promises Habakkuk knew to be true in his soul and enabled him to truly say, "Do it again, Lord! Renew your deeds in our day! And whatever happens in the meantime - I'm with you."

Then I started through the book of Acts and was amazed at Peter's teaching in the Temple in chapter 3. This is just after Pentacost, just after the Ascension, and I read this chapter twice last night simply amazed at Peter's grasp of the Gospel! He quotes Moses and the prophets, presenting Jesus as the completion of all the promises in the Old Testament and the covenant, challenges people to repentance, and declares that a time will come when God will "restore everyting as promised long ago through his holy prophets."

Before you think I'm rambling, let me tell you why my heart is singing...God is writing a story. It's a grand story that spans across millenia from the beginning of time - through the prophets - through some very dark times (see Habakkuk) - gloriously personalized in Christ's life, death, and resurrection - sustained by the Holy Spirit thoughout generations upon generations - and one day fully restored and completed by our Warrior-King.

And -now for the best news- I'm part of this story!! I'm so "in." It's not just about me wanting my happiness, or me slaving for Christ. It's about living out the Story, loving my role in the Story, hanging out with the Author of the Story, and enjoying every minute of this adventure.

God had to remind Habukkuk of the Story and encouraged Habukkuk to hold on tight and press on. (that guy needs a nickname) Peter reminded the Israelites of the Story and encouraged them to jump in. And oh! how I need to be reminded of the Story again and again and again! All of *this* that I get so easily caught up in is nothing without the eternal perspective my Father offers. My stubborn hearts needs a refresher course in that eternal perspective about every other minute.

"Hey, kid. I'm not done with my Story yet. Wanna be a part of it? Wanna hop up here and see what I'm doing? I'll give you a sneak peak: I win. And here's a tip: Live in the adventure of my Story and you'll have the time of your life."

Yo Readers...tell me about your chapter in this Story and remind me of what He's up to!