...brief trail off

Summer of 2012 I became more concerned with the people who attend church rather than the people who do not. Why you ask? There seems to be too many screw-tape letters that “religious” people have come to believe. Attending church regularly does not save you, nor make you righteous. Church was initiated back in the day for community, to support one another.  Is that the case in today’s churches? I would say no. In fact, every church is against each other and it has come to sitting in the same spot at the same time, every Sunday. You may be thinking about what happened this past week or even planning for the following week, month, or year. You browse the crowd, seeing familiar faces and then notice that someone has not been showing up recently or missed a couple bible studies. Insert gossip and assumptions.

I started my faith walk first year in college in good ol’ Iowa. I joined a campus ministry, served in inner cities and volunteered at various events. I have always been offended when people used the word “religious” to describe my spiritual situation, never understood why until these past few months. In my heart, I have always asked God to give me a heart of a Gentile. Yes, you read that right. I want a pariah heart, to be an outcast of religious people, and avoiding the categorization of having a religion. Why can I not just be a servant of Jesus with no denomination?

As my continuation of faith deepens, my heart has been exposed to a sad realization: church has become a “need” rather than a “want.” There is a HUGE difference. When people need to do something, it allows them to be passionless, un-tuned, and safe. I am sure going to church every Sunday gives other people the assumption that God and you are perfect. Where is your passion? Your Desire? I do not know about you, but cookie cutter prayers like, “God, thanks for today” or “Lord, bless everyone here,” saddens me. There is no passion but rather a routine and this is where our stagnant walk with Jesus becomes problematic.

God does not call us to put our desires on the table for sacrifice. We have desires for a reason and we need to persistently pursue them. If you have never read the story of the Persistent Widow, please do (no, this is not a ploy to passively push you towards God). It is a perfect parable about never giving up. Too many people in church today have fallen into a mundane, routine to righteousness life.  This is what you call bleak; a perfect scenario where evil can easily access you. Following God should be adventurous, life giving, stimulating, passionate, and moving. I would challenge you to take time to see what you really desire. This is not you being selfish. This is you looking internally to see what seeds God has planted in you.

It has always befuddled me how Jesus would be standing right in front of the Pharisees, the “religious” people who knew the scriptures inside and out, and yet they missed their Messiah standing there. They knew the 613 Written Laws of the Torah and it hardened their hearts!  This reminds me of various scriptures saying to avoid drunkenness, sexual immorality, impurity, homosexuality, and gluttony. If you see a Christian friend having a drink, your thought may be, “well they need to repent.” You see two gay people pray over dinner, and in the back of your mind, “no way that is possible.” If you see someone promiscuously dressed, your automatic response is, “that person is lost and needs Jesus.” Those are all thoughts with no action of love or genuine compassion. Too many people have a checklist on what a Christian is and this has marginalized us from each other. My list is simple: love God, love people. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, supposedly. Yet, all we do as “church people” is compare and condemn. This is a screw-tape letter, my friends. God does not seek the checklist, but He seeks our heart.

For the rest of the year, these next three months, I will not be reading my Bible daily, just during church and my daily scripture email from Air 1. No, I am not turning away from God and His word. Not sure what your notions on that may be, but I can tell you this: there is a deep longing in my heart to know Him after spending so much time in nature this summer, that I feel like I have missed the point on what being a follower of Christ really means. I am asking God to hold his promise to show me His love; to physically show me. I have read the stories, now I am seeking real life relevance. In other words, I am calling God out. I do not want to be a cookie cutter Christian who says the right things, dresses appropriately, leads Bible studies, and prays the correct prayers. That may seem unexpected, but are those not some of the requirements on the list of being an ideal religious person?

I have a mixed category of friends: Christians (Meths, Bapts, non-denoms, etc.), atheists, drunks, Mormons, gays, druggies, religious people, and sadly, those who have been deeply hurt by churches. The biggest dream I have is probably the most aggravating: where everyone serves together, for one another with one another. However, because we are in a broken world and there is always some church that has more truth than another church, and blah blah blah, we will always remain undeveloped in our walk of faith. We will always hurt each other, secretly comparing our doctrines or ideologies, instead of living the dream God has for us.  So, pray what is actually on your heart. If you are hurt, tell God. If you are angry, do not be afraid to let Him know exactly how you feel. Let him know how pissed off you are.  Feeling joyful? Then praise Him! If there is one thing that I have learned, God can take anything you throw at Him. What He cannot take is you suppressing yourself, giving up your innate desire He gave you, seeing you throw a beautiful life into the “religious box.” He called us live.

I offer two quotes to end this epistle:  1- Don’t define your world in black and white because there is so much hiding amongst the greys; 2- Look for strengths in people, not weakness, for good, not evil. Most of us find what we search for.

Much love,
Whit

... fire

Fire does not have a pleasant connotation meaning.  Smolder, burn, rage, fury, heat, destroyed or wrath can come to mind. But what about refine, re-growth, develop, and  purify?

This summer I am beyond blessed being able to work for the Forest Service. I get to hike, camp, snorkel and enjoy campfires. The biggest surprise that I have learned so far is observing the positive impact that fire has on the forest. I am not talking about the initial state after a burn when floods are cautioned for the next couple of years because of lack of vegetation; I am talking about longevity.  The forest recovers and adapts and even grows back stronger and denser. It is amazing how cones burn and release their seeds after the fire. There is growth in the ashes. The forest is refined by fire. Our hearts are refined by fire, too.

John 16:33, Jesus gives full warning that we will have trouble in this world but to take heart because he has overcome the world. How does this relate to fire?  Trials are our fires and we are refined when we choose to overcome the ashes of our past. The Refiner’s Fire poem is one of my favorite poems to read randomly because it gives me the picture of what purification means. I believe it is not by the lack of baggage you have but by how long you choose to remain in the fire and deal with all your “crap.” The longer you remain in the fire, the brighter you will burn (become more free) but the deeper God will ask you to go into your own heart. The best thing about being refined is that it is not forced but He will continually invite us and has eternal patience. Why? We are all His children and love isn’t forceful. This isn’t an easy step, however, for the reason that fear and anxiety will creep up and you will become your own worst enemy. It certainly is worth it. You are the only one to weigh the pros and cons. It is your choice to stay stagnant while something burns inside of you to break free.

 We may not see His plan for us but that doesn’t mean we need to question His motives (easier said than done!). Life is hard, gruesome and unforgiving; life is also beautiful and adventurous. My prayer is that you may be free from your  past bondage and chains that you have been hiding behind; know that you are good enough for God and He is always waiting with a watchful eye, continually fighting for you. God is your biggest fan.  

May you feel free and see that God does not see a weak human being but a jewel that was beautifully crafted in the Potter’s hands.
 

The Refiner’s Fire 

He sat by the fire of seven-fold heat,
As He watched by the precious ore.
And closer He bent with a searching gaze
As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test
And He wanted the finest gold,
To mold as a crown for the King to wear,
Set with gems of price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,
Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay."
And He watched the dross that we had not seen,
As it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter, and yet more bright
And our eyes were so dim with tears,
As we saw the fire, not the Master's hand,
And questioned with anxious fear.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,
As it mirrored a Form above
That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us
With a look of infinite love.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart
To cause a moment of pain?
Ah, no, but He saw through the present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,
With a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat
Than was needed to make it pure!

-Author Unknown

... skydiving 101

The joy of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane at approx. 10,000 feet with a parachute-- AKA skydiving. 

This past summer 2011 I had the pure joy of experiencing first hand what plummeting to the ground at 120 mph felt like. It felt AMAZING!  Thoughts have ran through my head about trying to get my skydive certification. Yes, this would be a fun spring/summer hobby... slightly on the expensive side for the beginning but well worth it at the end. 

Propeller airplane...need I say more?

Skydiving has always been on my bucket list. So many people talk about doing things, or going on adventures, and use the phrase "one day."  Well, I am part of the club. In high school I said, "one day I will jump out of an airplane."  Mentally, the only thing that shifted from 17 years old to 25 years old was simply--  I will tell my family after I skydive. Plus, it helps skydiving in Iowa. 


The worst part is probably the waiting period. You arrive, sign your death liability form eliminating all angles to sue them in case your parachute did not open, watch a sweet 1990's video, be instructed on how to fall out of the airplane while your instructor smokes his cigar, then wait...

JB and I 

Yes, waiting on the sidewalk but getting a good tan out of the painfully anxious 50 minutes.  The day was PERFECT-- no cloud in sight. Being halfway tempted to text my family that I loved them before I did suit up, ended eating a handful of mini-snicker bars. Ahhhh chocolate, how I love your taste but loathe your calories.

Back on subject... I would watch people walk to the propeller airplane, then the airplane would disappear for about 5 minutes. Without any warning it would reappear going at a blistering 45 mph. Yes, this is no Boeing 747.  The ride up to the dropping point takes about 25 minutes to reach 9500 feet. Again, very slow gradual process with excessive turbulence. If you were to thesaurus-ize (proudly made that word up) hate, all those words is how I feel about turbulence. Great relationship, right?

Such a joyful ride up, minus the turbulence and having the side door wide open, plus the continual circling. Over all, I lost a good 2 lbs of sweat and practiced singing "All of Creation" by MercyMe. (Great band, should Google them!) I chose not to sing aloud because I didn't want the last moments of my life to be damaging the eardrums of four other people. These four people would be-- my jumper, my friend and her jumper, then the pilot. Did I mention the pilot even has a parachute pack on?!  Talk about feeling secure ... 


Five minute warning by the pilot-- means you sit on your instructors lap, he tightens his hip straps and shoulder straps to you, then you put on your goggles. I had the delight to be the first jumper and this meant that I was dangling outside of the airplane, connected to my instructor, while he looked for the "spot." At this time I could only think two words-- holy cow. Second phrase-- hurry up and find this freakin' spot! 

Landed!

I'm very thankful for my instructor saying the jump is on 3... turns out 3 means 2 to a certified skydiver. It was a fast 5 seconds twirling in the sky before we end up in the right skydiving position-- flying squirrel. For the next 35 seconds ish I learn that even the slightest twist of the wrist makes you turn counter clockwise. INCREDIBLE!  Instructor pulled the parachute cord and because of the adrenaline I could not feel my underwear being instantly shoved up my butt. So thanks, adrenaline. Then comes the relaxing part-- coolest instructor!-- he let me hold the guiding cords and we vortex-ed down to the ground by pulling one cord on my side;  also included pulling both cords down to my side that caused us to stay in flight. Personally prefer vortex. Landing was easy but should have worked more on my flexibility because raising your legs up to your chest sounds easy but when you can't feel your legs, that makes it a little more interesting/difficult.

Someone is feeling a little sick...

Once I fixed the worst wedgie I have ever had, it was time to grab the parachute and hurry up out of the field since the airplane was landing. If you can dodge an airplane, you can doge a ball!  Perhaps a new video needs to be created and called the 5 D's-- dodge, dip, duck, dive, and doge. 


Thanks to Shannon, Jessica and Matty for a great afternoon!!! Looking forward to more skydiving opportunities, plus more adventures!  May the force be with you.

In the words of White Goodman: nobody makes me bleed my own blood. Nobody.

Whit, Jess, Matty and Shannon-- July 2011

... Dove chocolate

As I start to clean my office (yes, I still have about 2.5 weeks left!) I find Dove chocolate to be my inspiration for the day week. Ahhh yes... chocolate.  Who would have thought?!  (maybe every women in the world?) As a fellow chocolate lover I type the inspirational quotes below. The wrappers were sporadically placed all over my office and very thankful that my work allowed me to place random pictures, quotes, and scriptures wherever I wanted... quotes in no specific order... enjoy!

-Break the mold.
-Be proud to just run the race, no matter the finish.
-Happiness is in the heart, not in the circumstances.
-Live with no regrets.
-Be fearless.
-Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
-Create a happy place.

... sleep in the storm ...

From a Sermon by a Rabbi in 1975, New Jersey

"A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his new employer. It reads simply, 'He sleeps in a storm.' 

The owner is desperate for help, so he hires the man. 

Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley. 
Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly. 

So he dashes off to the barn. He sees, to his amazement, that the animals are secure with plenty of feed. 

He runs out to the field. He sees the bales of wheat have been bound and are wrapped in tarpaulins. 
He races to the silo. The doors are latched, and the grain is dry. 

And then he understands. 'He sleeps in a storm.' 

My friends, if we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of 'I could have, I should have.' We can sleep in a storm. 

And when its's time, our good-byes will be complete."


Book:  Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

...rediscovering God...

This past week I talked at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on-campus.  What an amazing opportunity! Not only did I rediscover my life testimony, but I also rediscovered why I fell in love with God.  God never stopped pursuing me-- not even when I rejected Him numerous times or persecuted people for going to church (sound like anyone in the New Testament?). I am SO thankful for Him.


When I look at the cross, the first thoughts are not salvation or sacrifice.  The cross reminds me of choices.  Isaiah 53 gives a great account of Jesus' story and his brutality.  It reminds me that Jesus chose to endure, and that he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him; nothing in his appearance that we should desire him (vs 2). For us to pursue Jesus, we would have to look into His eyes, or touch His cloak. Both would require us to get close to Him.  


Imagine this:  Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane and the weight of the worlds sin has just caused the Son of God to sweat blood.  You are standing right next to Jesus and He stretches His hand out to you.  Jesus invites you saying:  "will you come with me to the garden?  Will you embrace the cross?  Will you open your heart fully to me?  I am inviting you into the fellowship of my sufferings.  I understand that there is the possibility of you turning away from me and that would bring me great sorrow, but there is no other way to purify a heart except through the fire of my all consuming love." 


Did fear show up?  If there is one thing I know about fear, it's it inhibits our relationship with God. Fear changes your mentality where you think you are a sinner who sometimes loves God but, in reality, you are a lover of God who sometimes sins. Fear lets us forget that at the foot of the cross, everybody looks the same.


God pursues us individually through the power of purity.  God will never force us to choose Him...NEVER!  Because His love is the true example of 1 Corn 13--  love that is not freely given is not love at all.  This also reminds me of the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)-- the son wasted half of his fortune on drunkenness, prostitutes, gambling... yet when the son walked back in shame the father didn't shut him out, lock the gates, and say, "you chose your bed now lie in it." Rather, the father picks up his cloak (shaming himself) and runs after his son. Remember this: your flaws do not determine who you are or your worth; any darkness you may have magnifies your true beauty because it shows endurance, character, and how God pursued you. 


John 4 is about the Samaritan women and in vs 4 is says that "Jesus had to go through Samaria." Think about the timing-- it wasn't after the women's first, second or third husband. No... it was when she was living with the fifth man.  Yet, Jesus STILL pursued her and waited for her to show up.  Then you have Zaccheaus in Luke 19 where he went ahead of Jesus, climbed up a sycamore-fig tree and waited for Jesus.  What does Jesus do?  In Whit's 21st century version, "Zach! Get down from there immediately so we can go to dinner together!. I have been expecting you!"  Christians everywhere-- there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ (Rom 8:1). 


God will never stop placing Himself in the paths of those He loves... and it will always be your choice to say yes or no to Him. 


God surrounded me with nature for my entire life.  It is in the moments of stillness that when I listened long and often I could hear Jesus' heartbeat.  God has shown me his fingerprint in nature.  God is our one true love and the ultimate pursuer. 


In any pain, God is still worth praising.  May you know Jesus with your eyes closed.

Missing the point ...

Republicans are tearing each other into pieces. Why don’t they concentrate on the fact that 36 of Obama’s aides owe $800,000 in back taxes.  Further, Federal employees owe millions. Also, all this talk about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae—Franklin Raines, Tim Howard, and Jim Johnson—where are they?  They received millions taking down the housing market and now are advisers for Obama.  Why are the people who make the policies not held to the same standards?  Is there something the American people are missing?

Handouts breed laziness.  It's that simple. Yes, I believe handouts are un-American. We are founded by a Constitution that promotes equality, justice, and the opportunity to work for our future. Keyword: work. I love how people are finding reason to argue the point that Mitt Romney makes so much money, but how many back taxes does he owe?  Does he donate to charity?  Does Newt Gingrich donate?  Santorum?  Ron Paul?  They all do!  Some donate more than others but that's not the point.  

I grew up in a conservative state and, quite frankly, am embarrassed on how the Republicans are acting. Perhaps the symbol for Democrats and Republicans should switch for this upcoming election in November. After all, Republicans are making a(n) "donkey" out of themselves.

Would also recommend researching government websites on policies rather than relying on someones opinion. So, before you start to rant off who to vote for because of their religion, race, ethnicity or gender, research the information. Yes...in other words-- work.  Don't rely on unbiased opinions and Google research.  Have confidence and rely on yourself.


Also, note that everyone has their own opinions and do not have to think how you think or act like you act.  We are not robots.  We are Americans.  We are bipolar, flip flop on issues, watch movies, and have numerous opinions that we feel the whole world needs to hear. However, we have freedom, have the right to worship anywhere, can give our opinions freely to whomever will lend an ear, AND the United States of America, despite the economic hardship, is still one of the most giving nations in the world.  


Whoa, Big gulps, huh?
Well, see ya later!
(in the words of Lloyd off of Dumb and Dumber)

Fulfill One 2012 Goal... check

English Comp or Language Arts has never been a strength of mine... but since this isn't for an in class presentation or for a grade, figure why the heck not!  This is for me to fulfill one of my goals for 2012:  to give my opinion to whomever will listen.  Too often I leave my opinions in the silence just for mind to wrap around concepts or connections within this world, and I never write it down in my own journal.  Typing is much easier and quicker!  We do live in an advanced world and, please correct me if I'm wrong, but we all rely heavily on technology each waking day.

So, this blog will help me fulfill one of my goals.  Too bad it couldn't help my triathlon goal for this summer... can blogs run?