"For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."
I think these last lines of the book of Acts are my new favorite Bible verses. I wonder what Paul's rented house looked like. Did it have a front yard or a garden? Did Paul sweep the kitchen floors, scrub the toilet and bathtub, disinfect the sink? What did he make for lunch?
And he welcomed all who came to see him. May we in the Redemption House do that, too. I wonder if he struggled balancing hospitality with other responsibilities. Then again, he probably didn't have homework to worry about.
And boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. May we do this, too. Together. Did Paul have roommates? Friends that he watched "The Office" with on Thursday nights? Did he write poems or epistles to God in his spare time, or enjoy conversations over dinner? I bet he did. I hope he did.
12.9.09
9.9.09
Children's Prayers
The nights, my friend, haven't ever been this hot.
The children've stopped laughing, now they only sweat,
and you could put their sweat into a pot
and cook fish soup, so long's you've got a net.
Speaking of fish, I fried one on my foot
and how it got there heaven only knows.
Looked like it was sunburnt black with soot,
so then I toasted bread on my elbows,
alls I did was add a little cheese.
It melted in the night skyfall of smoke,
the children burning, begging, Jesus, please
blow out this heat. And then it's like God awoke
'cause when the children spoke, the sky turned pink.
Children's prayers must be that magic link.
The children've stopped laughing, now they only sweat,
and you could put their sweat into a pot
and cook fish soup, so long's you've got a net.
Speaking of fish, I fried one on my foot
and how it got there heaven only knows.
Looked like it was sunburnt black with soot,
so then I toasted bread on my elbows,
alls I did was add a little cheese.
It melted in the night skyfall of smoke,
the children burning, begging, Jesus, please
blow out this heat. And then it's like God awoke
'cause when the children spoke, the sky turned pink.
Children's prayers must be that magic link.
28.8.09
Southeast Sunrise
The belltower sun chimed from behind my head
through horizon lines of window blinds,
bubbling dry paint on my concrete nose
and leveling my desert legs,
a morning mural on my glassy feet.
through horizon lines of window blinds,
bubbling dry paint on my concrete nose
and leveling my desert legs,
a morning mural on my glassy feet.
25.8.09
"Enjoy the journey"
Today was the first day of my senior year, and probably my last day of rehearsing with Voices in Praise Gospel Choir. After the rehearsal tonight, and after the crew and I loaded the Rec Room wagon with the speaker, the black metal stands, the rubber cables, and the disassembled microphone held together by crinkled blue tape, and after we prayed with choir director Dr. Bogan, I told Dr. Bogan I couldn't stay in the choir.
"I want to stay," I said, "but there are some things that--yeah." I don't know why I didn't complete the thought and tell her my main reason of leaving, that I wanted to free up time for other things I'm committed to. But she understood.
"We know you are very busy, and that there is other work God has for you this year," she said. "So we release you to have the time to do those things."
Not only was I relieved that she wasn't mad at me for leaving; Dr. Bogan's words also encouraged me. God has work for me to do? And I'm making the right decision in leaving Gospel Choir to do that work? When I'm encouraged, the future becomes full of hope.
Dr. Bogan has given me much courage over the last three years. The first week of my freshman year, I went into her office to figure out my schedule and consider a major, since she is the academic advisor for undeclared students. She may have recommended a major, but even more, she gave me the confidence to trust in God during my time at PLNU.
"Look at Joseph, in the Bible," she said, explaining how Joseph's life had so many interruptions and sharp turns, but God ended up having a good plan for Joseph. She said God had a good end for me, too, and that I didn't need to worry about making a wrong decision. "It's the ending that counts, and God will bring you where he wants you to be. Don't worry about how you get there. What I want you to remember is to enjoy the journey."
I still need to remember that.
When I remember my three years at PLNU so far, the classes I've had, the rooms and passageways I've discovered, the people I've loved and who've loved me, I am amazed at such an overflowing gift. Sometimes, I don't know what to do with the rich experience of being a PLNU student. Sometimes, I feel like I shouldn't appreciate the experience because I don't deserve it.
Maybe I need to learn how to receive gifts, even extravagant ones that I think can't possibly be from God. Maybe God works in ways beyond our ways. Maybe God thinks thoughts beyond our thoughts. Maybe he wants me to be here. I have enjoyed this journey, this adventure, so much.
"I want to stay," I said, "but there are some things that--yeah." I don't know why I didn't complete the thought and tell her my main reason of leaving, that I wanted to free up time for other things I'm committed to. But she understood.
"We know you are very busy, and that there is other work God has for you this year," she said. "So we release you to have the time to do those things."
Not only was I relieved that she wasn't mad at me for leaving; Dr. Bogan's words also encouraged me. God has work for me to do? And I'm making the right decision in leaving Gospel Choir to do that work? When I'm encouraged, the future becomes full of hope.
Dr. Bogan has given me much courage over the last three years. The first week of my freshman year, I went into her office to figure out my schedule and consider a major, since she is the academic advisor for undeclared students. She may have recommended a major, but even more, she gave me the confidence to trust in God during my time at PLNU.
"Look at Joseph, in the Bible," she said, explaining how Joseph's life had so many interruptions and sharp turns, but God ended up having a good plan for Joseph. She said God had a good end for me, too, and that I didn't need to worry about making a wrong decision. "It's the ending that counts, and God will bring you where he wants you to be. Don't worry about how you get there. What I want you to remember is to enjoy the journey."
I still need to remember that.
When I remember my three years at PLNU so far, the classes I've had, the rooms and passageways I've discovered, the people I've loved and who've loved me, I am amazed at such an overflowing gift. Sometimes, I don't know what to do with the rich experience of being a PLNU student. Sometimes, I feel like I shouldn't appreciate the experience because I don't deserve it.
Maybe I need to learn how to receive gifts, even extravagant ones that I think can't possibly be from God. Maybe God works in ways beyond our ways. Maybe God thinks thoughts beyond our thoughts. Maybe he wants me to be here. I have enjoyed this journey, this adventure, so much.
2.8.09
Six years
Just when the jacaranda began to bloom,
the lavender flowers are now all blown away.
Next summer.
Next summer.
the lavender flowers are now all blown away.
Next summer.
Next summer.
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