Chris's Musings

Then... 1.) Go and see it, and then 2.) Come back and read this blog post. I went out to see Inception last night - and it was by far the best movie I have seen all year.  Definitely the most original.  Now, if you really haven't seen it and you've ignored my warnings here, then I won't spoil anything.  But... It got me thinking about Satan.  And his greatest strategy for destroying our lives. I'll explain. If you have a thought or a belief that keeps running through your mind.  A thought that is ingrained in you.  Something that is honestly, not beneficial and may I dare to say destructive?  A thought like... I'll never be worthy of love I can never overcome {fill in the blank} I'm stupid I'll never amount to anything I have to have {fill in the blank - something other than God} to be fulfilled and happy I'm a failure I'm not good enough. I'm a mistake I can probably name a few more, but you get the gist.  Think about it, wou...

During my recent mission trip to Kenya, we conducted our devotional studies over the book of Nehemiah. Finishing up, I presented our thoughts on the final three chapters as we left the Ngaamba community for the last time. What was interesting about studying Nehemiah in Kenya was the parallels that the story of Israel rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem had with the story that was being written during our mission trip (not to mention, we were helping our friends in Ngaamba build a wall).  A community of people galvanized by a godly leader, hardship, resolve... the whole deal.  It's a very inspirational story... at least until you get to chapter 13. In this finale to the Nehemiah story, Nehemiah has to eventually leave Jerusalem to go back to the service of the King.  He serves there for a while and later asks permission to return to Jerusalem, and he does not find the people in a great spiritual position... the priests and temple are not being supported, Jews a...

I am 15 days away from hopping on a plane to serve in Kenya.  I am both excited, nervous, and expectant all at the same time. Excited:  I have never been to Africa before.  It's an entirely new culture, an entirely new environment, and as my shot record will show an entirely new set of germs.  I love newness. Nervous:  One of my biggest prayer requests I shared during my support/dinner party a few weeks ago was that God would "prepare me to be unprepared" for what I would experience.  It's been a long time since I will have "tasted" poverty like I'm expecting to see in Ngaamba.  And honestly, I don't even think the trips I've had to Piedras Negras with the Aggie BSM in college (Piedras is on the Texas border) will even prepare me emotionally for the conditions I'll see there.  I pray that God will break my heart, that He will stir me, and that I'll never be the same after this trip. Expectant:  Maybe this has something to do with ...

There are two aspects of this mission trip that I don't look forward to.  I mentioned the first one in my last post :).  However, since I'm going to a country that has strange (to us Americans) diseases, I went out for the second less desirable "trip prep" deal last week... the immunizations :) You're probably either thinking: He's crazy.... or, He really loves God. Because I really hate needles. It's mostly the second, but voluntarily taking needles would probably require a little bit of insanity too :) this would be me before shots (happy) This would be during shots (freaked out)

Today, for the most part, has been all about Kenya.  My team met for the third time today and I'm excited that we are really gelling as a group as we start to enter the "home stretch" in our trip preparation.  We are having our team retreat two weekends from now and I'm looking forward to hearing everyones' stories. It was also a day where I filled a number of envelopes and mailed out letters.   Today was a 410 Bridge support deadline... which I hadn't met at the time I'm writing this blog (no fun).  Ah, yes.  All of us that have gone on mission trips know the feeling of the support raising exercise.  I am one of those that don't like fundraising, I'll admit.  However, during every trip the group that sponsors us both strongly encourages us and requires us to do this, so here I go again :-).  Honestly, I do get why I do this... meaning the painstaking work of raising funds and prayer support for being sent out on these missions.  And I want...

I'm about to turn 29 again in a week.  I can't tell you how many times I've turned 29, but I can tell you that I'm turning 29 again in a week ;-) It seems to me that birthdays and New Years are good times to reflect on your life over the past year and assess where I am, where I want to be, and what I would like to change.  It also marks another year of growing into maturity and wisdom, which I hope that I can look back at the last 29 and say that I grew wiser and closer to Christ in the process. But I never want to "grow old."  I think that there's a difference there.  Growing up is maturing, learning how to make wiser choices, reflecting more of who God designed me to be.  Growing old is settling, thinking that I've learned it all, experienced it all, and have no more need to grow.  This is pretty undesirable for me... and honestly I can't imagine that it'd be very desirable for anyone. For starters, we are living in a world created by a...

Last Thursday, I was out at Taco Mac with a buddy of mine watching a little hoops action  It's the opening weekend of "the dance" as you know, and Thursday was a great day to see a slew of upsets.  Because it was a "school night," we didn't watch any of the late games, but made sure to see the end of Washington vs. Marquette. At the end of the game, the entire place erupted when the Huskies put in the game winning basket with less than 3 seconds left to play.  We were pumped.... and for most of us it wasn't likely even OUR team (I'm watching MY team play in a few hours). After getting my juices going from some great basketball action, this thought popped in my head... You know, this is what worship looks like. A few weeks ago, the kids in UpStreet learned about the story where David danced before the LORD when they brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.  King David made a fool of himself, not a kingly thing, because in his heart h...