Chris's Musings

I read ahead a little in my quiet time this morning, and the verse I read ahead to caught my attention... "When he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour" - Revelation 8:1 Don't ask me why I'm doing my devotions in Revelation... I'm loving it.  This book is one that adds context to the world we live in, because it shows that God's plan triumphs admist all of the life we face. It also gives us a glimpse into the reality that we don't see.  The reality that in light of eternity, is more important than the one that we can. And in Heaven, there is... Singing Awe Loud shouting Worship Unbridled adoration of our God and Savior The first set of revelations are of seven seals, each being opened reveals something new about the ushering in of God's ultimate close to history.  Each of these seals is increasingly more awesomely broken than the other.  And in fact, the saints had to be sealed before the final...

I have recently seen a couple of posts, comments, etc. from some friends of mine concerning our new march toward socialized medicine in the U.S. (known as:  "Health Care Reform," "the Health Care bill," "Obamacare," etc.), and feel a need to reply, but simply putting a 160 character sound bite on someone's Facebook wall really doesn't do what I'm thinking any justice.  So, to anyone who cares what I think about the state of healthcare, "the bill," or whether the government should tax (more) to provide universal coverage, I give you my musings. First, the bill is done and signed.  It is law and for now the process has started down the path, so there's really no more debating at a national level as to whether we will have a law in place, now it's a matter of figuring out what to do with the law we now have.  By all means is this not over... I do believe that the mandates it places on the States and the expansion of Federal pow...

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...