haunting song - Wave of Sorrow ~ U2

I've been haunted for 6 months. The first is Bono explaining the song and the second is the song and video.

Ashes from the Sky

The tree fort is enclosed from all sides, though by way of a small path you could walk to my back yard in under 60 seconds. It's only 5 feet off the ground, but it gives me a sense of being away. My thoughts are clear here.
So, how do I find freedom to walk with God and not pursue the things that harm me and those I love? One day I feel a closeness and and seem to believe I will enjoy this closeness without interuption. Then the next day, my thoughts are far away and I doubt, I judge, I justify, I desire that which would harm me or others. Yes, choosing those things that alienate me from God. It is Romans 7 . . . so how do I live in Romans 8? Then I see the flakes, just one or two white flakes floating down through the pine trees, close enough for me to reach and catch them. And I do. The pungent smell of smoke has been in the air for days and I've grown used to it. The fire is from the Great Dismal Swamp seen in the photo above, blowing south across the North Carolina border. Now as the wind blows north, not only is the smoke visible in the air, it fills every breath and more . . . the ashes from the sky.
I think of ashes and their significance in the Scriptures. Repentance. Turning from sin. The ashes from the sky . . . Does God desire to meet with me here? Here in the tree fort pursuing me with such love? The tears come slowly and I press the caught ashes into my forehead in the sign of the cross. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive me. I want to be free. My life is not my own, I am bought at a price. The rest of the day I gratefully look for more ashes from the sky. I catch them and press them into my skin, drawing near.

fun with the children

The school is next to La Chureca, the trash dump. Some of the children live in the dump. The songs were playful and brought joy in watching.

La Chureca -

la chureca - casa in the center of the dump
Hosanna school near la chureca

school is out

communion + 8 nicaraguan children

Friends,

I was deeply moved on Sunday. When we came together to receive the bread and juice / the body and the blood of Christ, 8 Nicaraguan children also received hope through a new relationship with 8 families. We only had 8 child sponsorship packets from Compassion International available so, my brother sent a dozen more yesterday! Hopefully those will be on the altar table this Sunday for anyone to pick up. If anyone would like more information on Compassion you can check out their website: http://www.compassion.com/default.htm
All of the children we’re sponsoring thus far are from Managua, Nicaragua. We have a team of 6 people going to Managua in late October and we will meet these children. Our plan is to have another trip or two (God willing) in 2009. You can start saving now!

At the center of the good news of Jesus, is this call to self-denial, to surrender and to lay down our lives . . . the Apostles spoke what they heard from the Master. If our following Jesus skips this point, I believe we’ve missed it all.

Jesus . . . Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Luke 9:23-25

Peter . . . As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2

John . . . This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16

Paul . . . Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

I was asked to share the letter that my brother wrote about his experience in Managua, it is below.

In Jesus’ great love,

Pastor Greg

From: "Doug West (US - MktDev)" Date: June 24, 2008 11:31:57 AM EDTTo: "Doug West (US - MktDev)" Subject: Urgent Call to Prayer!Last week a small group of us stood in Juan’s yard in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua, to learn more about his and his family’s life. The air was hot and still, with some pesky flies and mosquitoes buzzing around. His wife, Brenda, did most of the talking. They had 3 children and all of them were sponsored in the local Compassion projects. 3 is the maximum number of children from one family that can be enrolled, so that alone told me they were in a desperate situation. A few from the group sat in some plastic chairs in front of their 12x12 single-room house made of scrap boards, some cinderblocks and a rusting tin roof, as we asked questions about their kids, their jobs, their hopes and dreams, etc. One of their sons and 2 other local boys were high above us in the branches of the mamon tree, gathering the small fruit to eat or sell. At most homes we visit on these trips, we are welcomed inside. It was different here. Brenda was embarrassed about how little they had; ashamed of their poverty. We all knew that Juan and his family were not less than us; they just had less than us. Despite that, their poverty had begun to work in their minds and hearts to cause feelings of shame and embarrassment over their situation. When we realized this, it was uncomfortable and we quickly tried to lighten the conversation. We asked how we could pray for them and specifically for Juan – and even then it was Brenda who answered for him. Not wanting to make the meeting so one-sided, we encouraged them to ask questions of us. Most times, the questions we get are pretty light: does it snow where we live, what church do we attend, etc. I wasn’t prepared for the weight of the question Juan asked:“For you, when you help take care of our children,is it easy for you, or is it a sacrifice?” We get caught up in life in America, the richest country and culture in the history of the world. And by American standards, perhaps I am sacrificing to help children like Juan’s. We don’t have cable, we own and share one car, and we try to curb our desire for new clothes or other things, buying stuff second hand when we can. But looking at Juan and Brenda and all they have to do to care for their children, because they have no other choice, the truth, the absolute truth, is that I no nothing of sacrifice. I have never faced the choices they face daily, and I probably never will. I brush up against poverty on these trips, we sponsor several children and donate in other areas, but looking at their lives it is clear that what we do is pathetically easy and requires no true sacrifice on our part. It is I who should be embarrassed and ashamed, not Juan and Brenda. Lord Jesus, show me more and more how I can serve you with all I am, how to truly sacrifice, how to truly lay down my life for others, for You. Tomorrow is a day of Prayer and Fasting for the Global Food Crisis. Please join in! Go to www.compassion.com/pray to learn how this crisis is affecting those in poverty and to add your name to the list of those who will be in prayer for Compassion children and their families during this time. Praying with and for you-

doug west
advocate relations - southeastcompassion international
ph. 877.432.0003 mobile 336.662.2819

Skyline drive fall 2007

josiah 7

evie 5

luke 5

Answering God's prayers

Maybe all of us have wrestled with the question, 'Does God answer prayer?' or 'Why doesn't God answer prayer?' The later question fails to consider that maybe God answers by saying, 'No'. But the new thought that's running through my mind is 'Do we answer God's prayers?' Follow me. If indeed, Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God; God clothed with humanity, then what about the prayers of Jesus? Are they not the prayers of God? He prayed, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. . ." (John 17:20-21) So whenever we fail to draw near to God, to walk in the ways of Christ, we fail to answer God's prayer or our answer is 'No'.

I think it's fair to say that Jesus is the only one who can define what a disciple is. What if each denomination, or church, pastor or person who had an interest in Jesus defined disciple as they wanted? Yikes, but I think this isn't far from where we are. So how does Jesus define a disciple? I found a passage that includes one of the most misquoted verses in all of the New Testament. People readily say, 'the truth will set you free'. It's not wise though to cut a passage in half; this 1/2 quote misses the conditions for being set free.

John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

So holding to Jesus' teaching is the requirement to be a disciple, then a knowledge of truth happens and freedom! How can you hold to some teachings if you do not know them. We are a biblically illiterate culture, even within the church. So what are the chances of us holding to teachings we're unaware of? There has been a renewal of interest in Wesleyan theology in the last few years due to the 400 year anniversarys of the Wesley brothers. We have to learn about and implement the methodology that carried the theology to so many lands. I'm convinced that this methodology was that of Jesus, as Wesley and others studied the Gospels and the life of the early church in order to follow closely to the pattern given.

After a friend read Wesley's definition of 'a Methodist' he said well if that's a Methodist I think I've only met just a few in my life. This friend had grown up largely in 'Methodist circles'. Wesley's definition follows:

"What then is the mark? Who is a Methodist, according to your own account?" I answer: A Methodist is one who has "the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him;" one who "loves the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind, and with all his strength." God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul; which is constantly crying out, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee! My God and my all! Thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion forever!" He is therefore happy in God, yea, always happy, as having in him "a well of water springing up into everlasting life," and overflowing his soul with peace and joy. "Perfect love" having now "cast out fear," he "rejoices evermore." He "rejoices in the Lord always," even "in God his Saviour;" and in the Father, "through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom he hath now received the atonement." "Having" found "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of his sins," he cannot but rejoice, whenever he looks back on the horrible pit out of which he is delivered; when he sees "all his transgressions blotted out as a cloud, and his iniquities as a thick cloud." He cannot but rejoice, whenever he looks on the state wherein he now is; "being justified freely, and having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." For "he that believeth, hath the witness" of this "in himself;" being now the son of God by faith. "Because he is a son, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying, Abba, Father!" And "the Spirit itself beareth witness with his spirit, that he is a child of God." He rejoiceth also, whenever he looks forward, "in hope of the glory that shall be revealed;" yea, this his joy is full, and all his bones cry out, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten me again to a living hope--of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for me!"

Yusuf Herman a friend from seminary sharing Christ with a leper in Indonesia.

How about these to stretch your mind and give us a different perspective on reality. G. K. Chesterton

"A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, Do it again; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough... It is possible that God says every morning, Do it again, to the sun; and every evening, Do it again, to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

“In the upper world, hell once rebelled against heaven. But in this world heaven is rebelling against hell. For the orthodox there can always be a revolution; for a revolution is a restoration” (Orthodoxy, 117).

GRACE HARBOR

Photo taken after worship fall 2006. We are in the old Bennett's Creek Rescue Squad building in Suffolk, Virginia. God has brought together some amazing people; there is brokeness as well, but we're in the process of becoming who we are.

I'm reading Cahill's book: The Desire of the Everlasting Hills ~ The World Before and After Jesus

Cahill writes . . . ‘the radical society of friends, of free and equal men and women, that came forth from the side of the crucified (an earlier reference to the blood and water that poured out of Jesus as the spear went into his side - the blood and water, the Lord's supper and baptism) was quickly overwhelmed by ancient patriarchy and has been overwhelmed in every era since by the social and political forms of the age’ (pg. 303).

I remember Bishop Peter Storey from South Africa speaking to a group about injustice and systemic sin - I believe 'Prophetic Evangelism' was the topic and a pastor questioned how we can take a swing at this injustice and root it out. Bishop Storey said that if there ever was a denomination modeled after coorportate America it is the United Methodist Church, he then motioned to a number of District Superintendents in the room and said, 'My students are afraid of you.' (Bishop Story was a visiting professor at Duke Seminary). He then suggested that we start with our own house.

So much of Jesus' teachings had to do with the use of power: "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod" (Mark 8:15). Caution against religious and political power. Good grief we need to hear this today.

Chiapas, Mexico ~ The colors of Mexico are brilliant. La Mama and daughter caught my attention. I don't know if I have seen such beautiful clothing elsewhere.

Seeking the Kingdom

Listening to Into Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall on the Passion Website this morning ~ http://www.268generation.com/2.0/splash5.htm

How phenomenal is this!
Tears of joy, tears of gratitude, tears of longing, tears of repentance and a stirring feeling and hope that God is indeed raising up an army of worshippers with the Romans 12:1 definition of worship.

I once was fatherless, a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me. Awakened me, from my sleep
Your love it beckons deeply, a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come. And take this life, take your life.

Sin has lost it's power, death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen . . . . VICTORIOUSLY!

Into marvelous light I'm running, Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth, You are the life, you are the way

My dead heart now is beating, My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs. Now I'm free. now I'm free!

Lift my hands and spin around, See the light that I have found.
Oh the marvelous light, marvelous light

The West Family

Here we are! Wow am I blessed with an incredible wife, Eileen, who is beautiful, a gifted partner in life and ministry and a wonderful Mom. We're 12 years into this adventure called marriage!

Josiah is 5 and is serious about 'getting the bad guys', Evie is 3, she loves to be the princess and Luke at 2, is convinced he's Batman.

Kingdom Thoughts

The Life Jesus wants for us . . . Drinking of the Spirit and allowing Streams of the Spirit to flow out of us to refresh others. Connecting the words of Jesus with Paul's appeal:

John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

We cannot live without water and this life source can flow out of us, though we are not the Source. Amazing. The drinking is also fascinating - the English translations agree on 'drink', there is also the concept of irrigation and saturation in the Greek. This theme runs all through the Scriptures! Abram blessed to be a blessing to all the nations in Genesis 12. Jesus sanctifying himself, so that they too will be sanctified. And thus the Kingdom comes.