Radical Love

I was up late talking with a close friend this past weekend (my best thinking starts after 10 pm.) She has just finished her freshman year at college and was telling me about how much she loved her new church. They immediately made her feel welcome and included, without even knowing her at all, she said. She described it as if they we saying to her, "We love you, we don't know you yet and we'll have time for that later, but we are choosing to love you anyway."

This church group is 90% of what I hear come out of her mouth and it's obviously impacted her life in a huge way. She longs to be around them and with them and loves them like family.

I knew I had read about this sort of radical love somewhere...oh, yeah. The Bible. This is exactly the kind of love that God has CALLED us to give to one another. In John 13:34 Jesus hits his disciples with an new way to live life. He says, "A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
"As I have loved you" refers to God's unconditional love for us and it says that we are to love others with that same unconditional love, meaning without reason. I am going to call this Radical Love. It is not an earned love or a reward for good behavior, rather a decision made to love this person regardless of who they are, how they treat you, what they do, or what they believe.

So, if we are obviously commanded (that's an order, not a choice) by God to radically love others, what's the hold up? So many people despise Christians, saying their judgmental, hypocritical, and fanatics. Personally, I doubt that any of the Christians these people met ever loved them radically. Folks, that's OUR FAULT. We are the ones to blame for our unloving behavior toward others and yet we complain that numbers are down in the church or that others mistreat us for our faith. It is my belief that, just like my friend who deeply desires to spend time with her church group, others would long to be with us if we chose to love them unconditionally.

I believe that we could all begin to love people better simply by changing our greeting-style. Take a look at this typical salutation between Joe and Sarah.
Joe-"Hi"
Sarah-"Hey"
Joe-"How are you?"
Sarah-"Good. And you?"
Joe-"Good."
They part, both relieved to have finished with social formalities without having to tell the other person how they're actually doing because, let's face it, the other person doesn't really care anyway.

Why do we ask how they're doing if we don't care? Would it not be better just to not ask them at all and save them the discomfort of lying to you? Or, we could shock them by asking a different question to show that we are actually interested in what they have to say. For example, "How was______? (fill in the blank with a recent activity they had), or "What's God been up to in your life?. Or maybe, "What's new with your life?" (and don't take "nothing" for an answer)

Think of how strongly we could rattle the world's perception of Christians if we showed them that having Jesus in our lives actually makes a difference in the way we lived, even in the way we greet others.

So, What WOULD Jesus do? He'd love radially.

A Face Full of Mercy

I was in the bathroom a few nights ago in the middle of one round of the way-too-many facial cleansers I use in an attempt to ride my face of acne. I began to fall into the "Life's not Fair" mode, when my mind switched back to a conversation I had with a person very dear to me just a few days earlier.

The topic: Why do bad things happen to good people?
This question had always plagued me before I became a Christian, just over 3 years ago. Why would a God who's good and loving allow His people to suffer?

Since then, I have searched and prayed to find a good answer. My understanding as of now is, 'Because there's no such thing as "good people".' We are all sinners and the payment of sin is death (Romans 6:23) We are getting exactly what we deserve due to our sinful nature and thus our sinful actions.

Yet, though God is just, He is also merciful and has provided us a way out of eternal punishment. He sent His son to die for us, thereby paying the eternal penalty for us so that we don't have to. This does not mean, however, that we will not suffer in this lifetime. In fact, God has PROMISED that we will. (2 Timothy 3:12 "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.")

I began thinking about how many times God has shown His incredible mercy to me, not just in giving me eternal salvation, but in everyday occurrences. He has given me an incredible family who are willing to support me and encourage me, a working brain, functioning body, wise mentors. Yet I have done nothing to deserve these things. I continually fail in my walk with Christ. I am a sinner and deserve every bad thing-every sickness, heartache, and separation from God. Thank goodness life's not fair. If it were, not a single one of us would ever smile, love, or have a relationship with the Lord.

So now, as I wash my face in the morning, I am reminded how wonderful it is that life's not fair (and how much I love the person who invented concealer.)

Biblical Weightlifting

I am bursting with joy right now and I need to get it out. So, you all get to hear about it.

I just arrived home from Bible Study, where were were studying God's promises. We studied that there are 2 general types of promises: Personal and Universal. Personal promises are made to an individual or a specific group of people (ie. The Israelites.) For example, when God promised Abram a son in his old age, that was a personal promise to the specific person of Abram. Therefore, I am not included in the promise (aka God has not promised to give me a son in my old age.) There are however, Universal promises as well, which are made for all people.

Within these two categories, there are also Conditional promises and Unconditional promises. Conditional promises have conditions--we have to do something as well. For example, in Mathew 6:33, the Bible says "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you" ("these things" signifying our material needs, see v.31.) If we do not first complete the condition (seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness) he will not fulfill the promise (giving us all things.) Unconditional promises, on the other hand require nothing of us. It is simply a promise that God will fulfill regardless of what we do (ex. God promised never again to destroy the earth by water)

We were studying some of God's universal promises and the pastor asked for examples of promises that God has completed in our lives. Someone spoke of 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

"Is that a conditional promise, or an unconditional promise?" the pastor asked.

After rereading the passage we decided that it was unconditional because there is no prerequisite given, nothing that we, as humans, have to do. Everything is on God.

Wow, I felt like I had been hit by a truck...a really light, fluffy truck, full of chocolate.

So, that means that God is saying that he will NEVER give us any temptation (also translated as problem or struggle) that we cannot handle and that he will always provide a way out. AND that it never depends on me and whether or not I've completed my half of the promise. He just does it.

Therefore, even when I am going through situations and I feel as if I can't handle it anymore, God will provide the means for me to "aguantarme" (to bear or endure) until He provides a way out. But that I will never be presented with a situation that I absolutely CAN'T handle with the help of God. So cool.

The pastor used the example of lifting weights. I, a weakling, cannot lift very much weight. Maybe 50 pounds. However, my brother, who is much stronger than me can lift much more. We'll say 150 pounds. God will never give me any more weight to lift than 50 pounds. He may give me 49 or even 50 and I will struggle, because it is my limit, but he will never give me even 50.00001. However, someone such as my brother, who can lift much more, will receive a larger amount, yet never more than their personal limit.

If a weight lifter wants to be able to lift more weight in the future, they need to do a little more every day. Similarly, God will give us more and more and we can handle it. That's not to say however, that he will constantly be loading us with our absolute limit. Even professional weight lifters don't bench their maximum weight the entire time they are in the gym, nor even every time they go. Rather, they allow their bodies to rest, and train gradually, and only sometimes bench their maximum, so that when the time comes, they will be ready and able to lift their absolute max.

But, some may say, I'm already feeling overwhelmed at 10 pounds. Maybe it's better if I never accomplish this because I don't want to experience 20 pounds. Yet, once someone has been lifting weights for a while and they improve, the 10 pounds that once used to cause them to sweat and pant now seems easy. The same in life, if we grow in God and with his help push through our trials, then when a similar situation comes again it will seem easy and no longer an immovable weight.

With all this in mind, we now know that no matter WHAT happens to us--death of a loved one, sickness, school, stress, job loss, the economy, children, friends---whatever it may be, we can always stand up under it, like a weightlifter stands up under their weight. God will never give us more than we can lift. Even when things look despairing--believe me, I've had several desperate times this year--we can have peace in our hearts and confidence that God will provide a way and that we will stand up under it. That is an UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE FOR ALL PEOPLE!!!

My new understanding of this verse gives me so much joy, I could hardly keep from crying in the meeting. I wanted to share it with all of you, so that you too may experience the freeing joy that comes from knowing that you do not have to worry, because God will provide a way in everything. That's a promise.

Viva la Vida Mexicana

Living in another country for an extended period of time has attachments that I never thought about on 2 week mission trips. For example, the government kicking you out of the country every 180 days. They like to call it "renewing your Visa." So, I decided to take the opportunity to do some out-of-country traveling. Some of you may remember the Coronado-Guerrero family (The are a Mexican family who lived in Farmington for almost 5 years and went to Ward Church.) They graciously invited me to come and stay with them in their hometown of Villahermosa, MX for 4 days.


At 6:30 in the morning, I hopped onto a plane and headed off to Mexico City. From Mexico City I took another plane to the gorgeous city of Villahermosa (the city really lives up to its name, as it literally translates to "Beautiful City." Flying in, I looked out the window and saw only winding lakes surrounding by lush vegetation. Letty and Jose picked me up at the airport and we went out for some traditional Mexican food (aka delicious.) Letty is a university professor of health studies as well as the director of the health department. They also own a clinic, where a team of ~30 people treats sickness, broken bones, preform surgeries, and provide medicine.

We picked up Paola (17) and Karina (14, going to have her quinceaños this year) at school and headed over to their grandparents house to meet Pablo(10) and have lunch with their grandparents. One part of the Latin culture that I respect and adore is their hospitality and inclusiveness of others. Within hours of meeting the Coronado-Guerreros, I was in their grandparents' house, watching Mexican soap operas with them, and being treated like one of the family. They asked me to think of them as grandparents and adopted me into their family instantly. Just think of the witness we could have if we treated all outsiders in such a way. Talk about loving people like Jesus.

During my time there, the Coronado-Guerreros took me all over Villahermosa, obviously so proud of their beautiful city. We went to the local sports park, which in addition to tennis courts, soccer fields and a track, included a skate park for rollerblading! That night we went to the movies (my first time in ~8 months). The next day, we spent at el Museo de la Venta, an outdoor "museum." You walk through the Mexican jungle and along the path are many Oyacan sculptures as well as animals, birds, and reptiles scattered throughout the park.

That night, we went out walking through the streets of Villahermosa and I was taken aback by the beauty of it all. Everywhere I looked, people were walking through lit streets with their families and loved ones. Vendors stood by their stands selling everything from meringue to T-shirts and bookmarks. On one street we watched as couples danced to the music of a marimba band. We walked all around the city, to the governor's palace, lit in the colors of the Mexican flag, the bridge over the river, and through the quiet back streets.

I spent the night in a hammock strung from one side of the girls' room to the other. That was a new experience! Sunday morning, we went to church and then made our way down to central park. On Sunday mornings they close off a large section of the main road and rent out bikes. Unfortunately, my wheel was not exactly connected as I found out when I watched it rolling away down the street...oops! We walked the boardwalk around the large lagoon in Central Park and watched several girls practicing their quinceaños dances.

Following our afternoon in the park everyone got ready for the weekly Sunday afternoon Guerrero family reunion. The whole family gathers and everyone shares a meal, spending time with eachother and enjoying the company of family. They even brought a cake and we celebrated my birthday with another family member's. Lots of laughter and good Mexican food later, I left, feeling like I had my own family in Mexico.

Monday, my last day with the Coronado-Guerreros I spent with Letty at her work at the University. They took me to the airport and I had to say goodbye to my new Mexican family, complete with sisters, a brother, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Looking back at my time with them, my mind continually reverts back to their kindness, acceptance, and hospitality of me throughout every moment of my stay with them.

A mi familia mexicana- Gracias por todo. Ustedes son my familia por siempre y les quiero un monton!

Maybe, with an Education

Saturday evening, I was standing just off the cone of Volcano Pacaya, watching a river of bright orange lava ooze out and down the side of the volcano. Being my third visit to Pacaya, I had seen lava before, but never like this. Every once in a while, a huge chunk of lava would break off and tumble down the steep slope, flinging hot lava as it went. We stayed and watched until the sun set and all we could see was the glowing trail of lava and it's orange glow reflected in the clouds above.

Following the clouds up even further, I was shocked to see the sky full of brillant stars. My sixth graders had spent the past week studing space, galaxies, stars, and constelations, so I was keenly aware of the majesty of what I was viewing. I saw our tour guide, Freddy, the 15 year old son of an official guide, gazing up at the stars. I started talking to him about the different constelations (the names of which I had recently learned in Spanish). He was obviously confused, so I asked if he knew what a constelation was. He said no. So, we started at the begining. I told him everything I knew about space, galaxies, gravity, the moon, light and how it travels, stars, and the constellations.

Freddy then told me about everything that his techers had told him about space. He told me that the moon was a planet that pulled on the earth and that giant worms came out of the stars. Then, a little later on, he began telling me that the volcano no longer had violent erruptions because the trees that lived on its sides soaked up all its energy.

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. I thought of all the girls at the Oasis who had, at one time or another, probably been in a similar schooling situation. I was later talking to a coworker about my conversation with Freddy, and we both agreed on the importance of education to bring about change in peoples' lives. Maybe, with an eduction, Freddy could leave the family business of leading tourist groups up and down the side of a volcano and find a job that would better financially support him and his family. Maybe, the girls at the Oasis, with an education will leave the Oasis an be able to find a job, support themselves, and avoid the same problems from which they were taken away. Maybe, with an education, the girls will learn to think for themselves, will see themselves as beautiful women with minds, thoughts, and opinions, and will fight for what they believe. Maybe, with an education, they will come to see that they are intelligent and deserve respect and will demand that they be treated as such. Maybe, with an education, they will come to understand more the God who loves them and will come into a better understanding of their relationship with Him. Maybe, with an education.

I firmly believe that each and every one of the girls here is capable of acheiving amazing things with their lives. I never want them to be pushed aside due to a lack of knowledge, or to see them lose opportunities they could have had because they never graduated the 9th grade. Yes, it's true, some of them may never make it past 4th grade, but they can learn to use their minds, to think for themselves, and to not let others look down on them. If, at any moment in my time here, I can help them learn how to learn, then my job as a teacher has been acomplished. From that will stem self-respect, a better understanding of themselves, of others, the world the live in, and our God in heaven.

Redefining 20/20 vision

This morning at breakfast, the girls asked me why I wear glasses. "To help me see," I said. "My eyes aren't shaped right, and so without my glasses I can't see." I took them off and tried to read Katy's sweatshirt, across the table from me. Failing, I put them back on and shrugged. "See? I need them."

Every 6 months, I receive a mailing from the local optometrist, informing me that the time has come to check my vision and see if I need to change my lens prescription. So it is also, as I have come to realize, with life. Every so often we need to "update our prescription" and take a moment to re-view our life in order to fully appreciate the beauty that God has given us.

When my friends, Maria and Jackie, who decided to come and visit me over their Spring Break, stepped out of the airport in Guatemala City, I could hardly run fast enough to get to them and wrap them in bear hugs. How wonderful to see friends from home! We loaded their things into the van I had rented and headed out on a 5 hour drive to Santiago, Atitlan, an indigenous village located on the shore of Lake Atitlan. Watching them take in the scenery reminded me of how I felt driving down the same roads during my first few days in Guatemala: wide-eyed and full of questions. Since then, life has taken on a certain normality. Things that at first dazzled or confused me, now seem every-day. The cow walking down the road, the erupting volcano seen out my window, beans and tortillas for breakfast and dinner have all become the norm. Yet, having them here with me reminds me of the beauty and wonder with which I am surrounded. Every time they take out their camera to capture a moment in time, I am reminded that each moment here is special and has its own unique qualities.

Even walking to the grocery store is an eye-opening experience. After passing the man and his cow walking home, you see the women with their babies tied onto their backs and the men hauling piles of wood by a piece of fabric tied around their foreheads. Just to watch them makes my back ache. Then in town, the indigenous women walk by in their beautiful fabric clothing and tuk-tuks (the cheap form of a taxi) rattle by, looking like little beetles scrambling across the road. Farther down, vans congregate in an open field, waiting to fill with passengers looking for a ride. Finally, you reach "Restaurant Row," filled with smells of atol, churrasco, and guacamole. The bus station is just at the end of the road and you can always hear the shouts of "Guate! Guate! Guate!" calling for people to ride into the capital.

Walking these streets nearly everyday, I have come to know them well. But having Maria and Jackie there with me, marveling at the sights, sounds, and differences between here and Michigan, I was reminded of just how truly special this place is. They have brought me a new lens prescription and helped me to re-see the beauty of my home.

Marriage Counseling

My roommate, Kimberly, and I go on walks through the town of San Lucas almost every day. It's a nice way to take a little break for a while, get some exercise (although climbing the hill never seems to get any easier,) and it's a time for us to talk about the day and about what's going on. Since San Lucas is so small, we've walked the same streets over and over again many times. So, to pass the time, we play the Question Game. One person asks a question and then both people have to answer it. Then, it's the other person's turn to ask a question. (Ex. "If you had an hour with the President, what would you want to talk about?") As you can imagine, after weeks of playing this game for several hours at a time, we've touched on all topics: favorite things, life goals, memories, theology, love, the future, likes and dislikes, how we react to different situations, etc.

One day, one of the questions was "Why do you think a majority of marriages fail?" "Lack of good communication," was Kimberly's answer, which I think holds quite a bit of truth. I began thinking about all of the people we communicate with every day: family, friends, children, pets, mailmen, co-workers, complete strangers on the street, the person next to us in line at the grocery store, neighbors, teachers, babysitters, friends online, bosses, etc. The list could go on forever. But, does God ever make it onto our list?

If I never talked to my friends, they would not be called friends, because friendship involves a relationship and a relationship involves communication. If husbands and wives only spoke about the meaningless things that happened during the day and held no real importance, their relationship would also hold no real importance. So, if I don't talk to God, or if I only tell him fluff(that's how my literary teachers used to refer to the pointless sentences that kids put in their papers to fill space,) does that mean I have a relationship with him? No.

It's so easy to get wrapped up in life, work, other relationships, anything, and forget about spending time with my Lord. How can I expect to have a relationship with Him if I don't take the time to talk to Him? Not just when I have a petition, not just when He's done another miracle in my life, but every day, all day.

Sometimes, it's necessary to find a quiet place, alone, so that I can just talk to God. The more I do it, the more natural it becomes. As I spend time praying, it begins to no longer feels like a prayer, but like we're sitting next to each other on the couch, chatting. "Tengo cuello" or "I've got connections." I can talk, anytime I want, to the most powerful, amazing being, and He loves me and wants to listen to what I have to say. Of course, there are days where I feel like I'm talking to the air, or when I struggle to focus, but I've never heard a married couple say that they've been happily married for the past 50 years because they let the struggles of life take over their relationship.

God did not give us the power of prayer to have us never use it. Rather, as Paul said to the Thessalonians, we are to pray WITHOUT CEASING (1 Thesalonians 5: 16-18.) That means all the time-- when I'm tired, well, sick, busy, bored, joyful, brushing my teeth, trudging up the hill, singing in church, teaching math, or cooking dinner.

Pray with me, that as the bride of Christ, we won't let out marriage fail due to a lack of communication. WE are the break in the relationship, WE are the ones with the communication problem. May we rediscover the joy of going to our bridegroom to talk about our day, our fears, our joys, our sorrows and watch our relationship with Him blossom in the process.