Love Is Mine To Give

Lately I’ve found myself loving people but only the people I want to love. I WANT to love EVERYONE but find myself caught in a mindset thinking some people are more deserving of my love than others. I’m choosing to let the love in my life be a commodity. Somebody loves me so I love them back—a “deserving” exchange correct? Kinda… but not really. (Don’t you love answers like that).
Since when did we as a society let LOVE become something we could hoard? We take it so freely and disperse it sparingly! Are we scared it’s going to run out? As far I can tell there’s a never ending supply of love being LAVISHED down upon us. If we would only look to the cross (the ultimate display of love I might add) instead of at ourselves, our perspective on love might change for the better.
Jesus doesn’t say “love those who love you back”. On more than one occasion I’ve wished those words were written. Love is not mine to keep. Love was gruesomely nailed to a piece of wood so I could get past the sinner that I am. So I could receive the undeserving gift of grace and love given to all humankind. Who am I to hold onto something so tight, point my little finger and say “you weren’t nice to me today…you don’t deserve ‘my’ love” when I didn’t deserve love to begin with!

Love always hopes.
Love always trusts.
Love always protects.
Love always perseveres.
Love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices when the truth wins out.
Love keeps no record of wrong. (that’s a toughy isn’t it)
Love is not easily angered. (I find myself fighting this battle everyday)
Love is not self-seeking. (when I start to look at “me” and what “I” deserve that’s when I turn love in the commodity it was never meant to be)
Love is not rude.
Love is not proud.
Love does not boast.
Love does not get jealous.
Love IS kind.
Love IS patient.
Love NEVER fails.

I know I fail. But I continue to look to the cross for strength. It is there, it is when I am on my knees that my cup overflows and I find the strength to love those I tend to withhold love from.

Adolecense

Last week I had the privilege of meeting up with a family from Smithers (my home town in Canada) all the way over here in Iowa. They were dropping their daughters off at the college just down the street from my house. We sat around and chatted for an evening, bringing back memories that almost seem surreal now. As I was leaving a "heaviness" was hanging on my heart. It was the feeling of "being known"... being around people who saw me grow up, who knew my past--something I tried to run away from for a long time. Suddenly I found myself wanting to cling to that once familiar feeling. I've been around the "unfamiliarity" of new territory since I moved out to Iowa that when the familiar hit I realized how deep my desire was to be known again. I felt like I was in an adolescent stage all over again... wanting to go back to what I had but wanting to move forward at the same time. I will encounter the familiar once again... it's just going to take time. Knowing that I can't go back; and knowing in my heart that going back wouldn't look the same even if I did. Life is pulling on my heartstrings and I'm choosing to take each tug one moment at a time. I think that's all I can do. If I can make it from adolecense to my 20's, I can make it moving from one town to another!

Power Connection 2009

I did it! I just finished my first big event!!! This past weekend there were almost a 1000 middle schoolers at NWMSU learning about Jesus’ CRAZY LOVE for us (and baby bunnies—check out www.synodyouth.org). I did everything from registrations to *cough* dancing on stage. It was a blast to say the least. I was in my element using the gifts God has given me. I was able to encourage and be encouraged. I’m continually learning what it means to lay down “my plans and my ideas”. I’m seeing what happens when I let Holy Spirit lead. I’m not going to lie and say transition isn’t hard. I miss my close friends—as spread out as they are. Sometimes the ache is so deep I all I can do is let my heart bleed. In those moments I cling to the promises I know. I am thriving in my job. I really love what I do and would not trade it! I KNOW I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I follow a FAITHFUL God who is doing GREAT works in and through me. "It's not about what you can do, but what God can do with your life when it's fully surrendered to Him" (TWFT). I know HIS grace is sufficient and I know HE will never leave me nor forsake me. I am called here because HE LOVES ME and I will follow because I LOVE HIM.

Tragedy in the Heartland

Yesterday morning my heart broke for the community of Parkersburg. How much tragedy can this little town bare? I was sitting at my desk when I heard the news--a prominent leader in Parkersburg, Ed Thomas, was shot and killed.
I did not know Ed personally but I met many people that did. I heard incredible stories how this man had impacted those around him. After the tornado hit Parkersburg, Ed was on the forefront helping this town pick itself back up again. He was the one saying "this tornado is an opportunity from God for us to help one another." He was a talented football coach who valued family and teamwork over wins and loses. (Four men under his leadership play for the NFL now.) Ed was undoubtedly a man of character striving to teach people what it mean to be a part of the body of Christ.
I know if Ed had been in town when our youth were volunteering he would have been motivating, encouraging and thanking them for what was being done.
Ed, Thank you for being the person this community needed you to be!

Parkersburg

Video created by one of our media guys... click on the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi1S_7zUYMs

Last week I was in Parkersburg, IA helping lead a service trip. Memorial Day weekend 2008 a massive tornado (aka F5) hit this little Iowa town destroying almost 300 hundred homes. It didn't just "destroy them" it ripped them apart and flew them away. I had the chance to talk to many of the locals and hear what they experienced. Dorthy was one lady in particular I felt drawn toward. She was 85 years old and had blue eyes that sparkled like a 15 year old girls would.
Dorthy's home was torn to pieces in seconds. Not once did I hear her say she was sad about the loss. She continually talked about how peaceful she felt in the midst of the storm (she was sitting on a chair in her hallway because she couldn't walk down to the basement). She watched pieces of her bed flying away yet ONE thing remained in her bedroom: a picture of Jesus she had on the wall above her bed. I heard stories of people finding debris in their locked safes, pictures being found all the way in Wisconsin days later, and a outside table piled high with styrofoam cups & plates that didn't move an inch.
I had the privilage of helping over 200 youth pour their time and energy into a community that was still healing from something that happened a year ago. In return this community showed us how their foundations of faith have not become weaker but stronger in spite of what happened. Every person I talked to said "it should have been worse." Hundreds of people should have died; there were "only" 8 fatalities.
I walked away from Parkersburg wanting to cling to the faith they had found through this storm. I want my faith to continually grow deeper. I want to fall more in love Jesus each day I wake up. I saw the community of Parkersburg changed amidst a tragedy and drawn closer together because of it.

Too Long

Life has been crazy busy since arriving in Iowa. I hit the ground running and am not slowing down till August hits. I thought I'd share a few pictures from the last couple months so you can see what I've been up to and enjoy this journey with me.

Bob (my boss), Sarah (our intern), and I having a lunch picnic down by the water

In front of Sioux Falls when Jer came to visit Memorial Day weekend

At the Tulip Festival with Emma and JJ in Orange City

Midwest Hospitallity

It's almost been a month since the big move. Time seems to be passing quickly as I'm adjusting, learning, and getting to know new position. I feel more than ever that this was the right move at the right time. I can tell without a shadow of a doubt God's hand has been on this situation from day one.

I was a little nervous about coming out, but I've really started to like where I'm at. I even changed my license plates ... I feel like a true Iowatonian now!! A few things I've learned since being in the Midwest are:

• I get GREAT gas milage out here!!! I have a 25 minute commute to work everyday--I can stick my cruise control on 60mph almost the whole way.
• I can buy a dozen eggs for $1 (can't beet that unless I'd raise my own chickens!)
• When it gets really hot out... pigs can explode (disgusting I know)
• There's nothing like corn in Iowa. It grows so fast you can hear it.

All in all I can say I'm learning the true meaning of Midwest Hospitallity. I have felt nothing but kindness since being here.