Leaving the Shire

People are scared of different things. Some people have issues with snakes. Others really are paranoid of tomatoes. The greatest fear in people is speaking in front of a large crowd, and I can definitely sympathize with that.

In Tolkien's classic books about middle earth, we read about the Hobbits, a funny little people who live and let live. They have their ways, their traditions, and their passions. They don't travel much, they sacrifice greatly if they miss one of their day's ten meals (besides snacks), and generally crave a quiet life. The shire is an ideal place to live, we would all admit, but it's not the ideal place for a story. In fact, both in the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the story begins and ends in the Shire. But a good story must be found elsewhere.

We know well Frodo's musing to Gandalf as they make their way down a peaceful country lane.

"Before you came along we Bagginses were very well thought of. Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."

Hm. Read that again, if you must, and think about it.

One of my greatest fears is monotony. Not changing. Accomplishing nothing.

Why is it that we are so scared of adventure? We chuckle at Bilbo and his longings for a nice hobbit-hole, or for a handkerchief. Fact is, neither he nor the foursome from LOTR were unhappy that they had gone. They all had scars. They had hard and difficult memories. Frodo was missing a finger. They could never settle back into their old lives the way they had before.

Are we willing to sit by for the rest of our lives? To work a job, support your family, and live to a ripe old age? Is that it? Parents do their children an injustice if that is all they teach them to do. Parents should raise their kid with the clear expectations that he or she will do something to change things. Better yet, they should drag him or her alone on the parent's adventure.

My parents haven't done that. I'm getting ready to embark on my own adventure.

But we all must leave the hobbit-hole. Maybe you have a loved one who doesn't want to go. Maybe you are the one who would stay.

Why settle for a hobbit-hole? There are battlefields out there, prisoners, and a present darkness to be battled.

Stay in your hobbit-hole, and remain respectable. Do nothing unexpected, have no adventures. Saruman is still going to come for you.

Or you can leave the Shire. You can become a ranger, a soldier. You can be a horseman, or a healer. You can be a swordsman, or a shield-maiden. You may well become a ring-bearer along the way. :)

"I will take the Ring to Mordor...though I do not know the way."

Go out. Find yourself with a fellowship. Or a party of dwarves. Know that Jesus goes with you, and that Jesus is invincible. He died once, and he's back.

And he call for you to leave the shire.

Initial Thoughts on Manhattan

I went to Manhattan. Since I found out there was going to be a new church plant there I've been praying about it. So I went there. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney hosted me, and I got to take over their basement for the weekend.

Mr. Whitney showed me some of the city. I helped him move some chairs at the church. (Some things never change) Their powerpoint person was gone to a wedding, but she took the laptop along with her or else I would have run that, too. Ah, well.

It's very quiet in Manhattan. You don't know how loud Kansas City is until you're not there. (I know all you who have been to the really big cities like NY, LA, Chicago, etc, are laughing, but whatever) In KC, there's a subdued rumble...even at three in the morning. Not so in Manhattan. It's quiet, but not dead. It was so easy to sit and just think. And talk with God. It was peaceful.

There are sinners there. Which means that there is a need. Not that there is a place on this planet without a need for the gospel.

There is a team. A small team, maybe numbering a dozen, who came to share the gospel a year ago. The church has over a hundred people now. Not all are saved. But they're not coming for laughs and giggles. If they are, then they won't be. The truth is preached in love, and love can be hard sometimes. But it is so good, and more people are finding out every day.

We raked leaves on Saturday. A bunch of people around my age showed, and set to work with me. I tried to keep track of names and faces. It was a mixed group. There were those who had been saved since they were little, those who had gotten saved in their early teens, those who had just been saved in the past few months, and those who were not saved. All smiles. The younger brothers (young in the faith) were very open and wanted to get to know me. I wound up spending the afternoon the house of one.

Later they invited me to their accountability group on Sunday morning at 7. I then felt bad, for my cell phone was on silent and when my alarm went off, I did not wake and missed it. They weren't mad at all, though.

The reason my cell phone was on silent was because I didn't want to disturb the movie that a group had at the sister's apartment. A Christmas tree was decorated, snacks were passed about, and laughter was everywhere. I felt at home, and knew nobody. But I got to know them, in just a few short hours.

Every Sunday starts off with a fifteen minute prayer meeting. Then worship, and the message. Followed by snacks, and then most everyone leaves, while the next service arrives. Repeat.

I was invited to join the young people after church was done. They went to the only Panera in town. (for the record, Manhattan needs another one) It was drizzling and 37 F out. The line also went out the front door, and we waited outside for a while before we got in. Finding an empty table was a process for our group of a dozen.

We waited about ten minutes to order, and half an hour to receive our purchase. But we laughed, and they discussed projects and papers and tests and work. And then they talked about their homegroups, past and future. They discussed what had been gone over, and speculated about where they might be going. The older believers explained answers to questions.

After I finished eating, it was time to head for home. I still have a job in the morning. They bid me farewell, asking when I would know. The answer is that God only knows. I will now be in prayer, and in pursuit of counsel. I've got a month and a half, and then I have my degree.

I've returned a different man. But feeling quiet in my mind. I like it. I'm excited. God's going to reveal a plan to me, soon.

Insanity: Doing the same things over and over again and expecting a different result

Great change never came without great sacrifice. The Person who made the greatest sacrifice of all time made the greatest change - we even use his birth to define time.

What change are you pursuing? What sacrifice have you made to see that change?

Hebrew 13:13-14 "Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come."

And I'm back!

So. I have returned. Been returned, actually, for a week now.

It was an excellent time. I could have sworn I already put some thoughts on it here, but apparently not. I have already written some...I must post them later. Which should be tomorrow. But will probably be much, much later.

Just some quick thoughts. God is good. So good. Something I've been focusing on for the past two months has been simply being aware of Christ in all things at all times. What does that mean?

If I'm conscious, I want to be thinking about Jesus being right beside me. I want to share each moment, each "random" happening with Him. With each trial, I want to look for Him, and consider what He is trying to accomplish. With each good thing, I want to thank him. With each bite I eat, I want to thank him for the food, the taste, etc. It's been awesome, and I have so far to go.

God has provided so much for me. I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. You all are an additional highlight to my week, whenever I get to be around you.

I go to bed content and loved. I have the biggest God, and the biggest family in the world!

And I'm off!

Hm. First post in quite a while.

I'm taking off for the weekend to little Manhattan down in Kansas, where one of the pastors in my church organization has planted a new church.

Should be an awesome time. I believe I'll learn a lot, get to see what they're up to, and hopefully receive some direction from God. Cause I need it, given I'm taking the walk this December.

Keep me in your prayers!

One of my favorite Psalms

Psalm 67
To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments.[a] A Psalm. A Song.
1 God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
2 That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
For You shall judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations on earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 Then the earth shall yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us,
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Latest Drug