Heroes of the Faith

In the book Crazy Love, the author Francis Chan moves one step beyond the surreal inspirational figures of faith commonly referred to in Hebrews 11 by describing current day Christian celebrities and some yet-unknown amazing servants of Christ. Assuming that it may be hard to relate to and be motivated to take risks by characters from thousands of years ago, he details stories of everyday people from this generation. People like Shane Claiborne of Irresistible Revolution, and Rachel Saint of End of the Spear definitely inspire me to dream big, but they're still so far away that it's easy to distance myself from their radical lifestyles.

Last week, however, I traveled to Kansas City, for a Christian Veterinary Mission conference. I was so blessed to be surrounded by my own 'heroes of the faith', missionaries to Thailand, Haiti, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, with up to 27 years of service on the field in long-term veterinary missions. It's hard not to be moved into action by these undeniably real and huggable superstars. Not only did I get to practice working on pigs, goats, calves, horses and chickens, I also got to relish in the first hand experiences of my heroes. My faith was encouraged by the lives of worship and service these men and women have enjoyed and my dedication was challenged by the pungent (and lingering) aroma of goats and the deafening squeals of the pigs. I think I'll be investing in some earplugs soon.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1-2

Predicting Forgiveness

I've arbitrarily assigned significance to the number three. If something happens once it's random, twice probably a coincidence, but three times and it grabs my attention. So, Sunday morning when the pastor started his sermon on the book of Philemon I sat up a little straighter in my chair, as this was the third in a string of forgiveness themed messages I'd been hit with in two days.

Friday night I watched As We Forgive a documentary on the post-genocide reconciliation of Rwanda. A remarkable story of the unthinkable forgiveness being asked of the Tutsis as over 40,000 Hutu murderers are released from prison back into their communities.

That same day I had finished the wildly popular, yet mildly controversial new book "The Shack" by William P. Young. A compelling novel that invites you to re-evaluate your intimacy with the Father, and reconsider your understanding of His expectancy, not for performance, but for a relationship. In the book, the main character is faced with the opportunity to forgive wrongs done to him the likes of which I cannot imagine.

In both of these stories forgiveness is counter-intuitive, counter-cultural, and seemingly impossible. But in the non-fiction as in the fiction forgiveness once granted, brings reward not only to the recipient, but also peace and healing to the giver. What less would you expect from an act so closely resembling the love portrayed in the ultimate act of forgiveness God lavished upon us through Jesus' sacrifice?

So, Sunday as the lesson in church unfolded I began to put 1 and 1 and 1 together and wonder, "hmmm, am I supposed to be learning something about forgiveness?" After some consideration, I realized I don't have any torn relationships in need of this new found radical grace. And then it struck me that maybe I'm being prepared to forgive in the future. An alarming thought, but as much as I've been forgiven by my Papa, it shouldn't be asking too much of me to imitate His mercy on such a minor scale.

A Tribute to Mosaic's Mission Teams

Summer Volunteer Accomplishments:
2,800 pounds of food collected for the very grateful Maryland Foodbank
~3,000 Packs of gum distributed in our community
~4000 Mosaic-labeled water bottles handed out to thirsty locals
~50 "Mosaic is Coming" signs posted around the neighborhood
~35 hours put in serving at the Samaritan Women's House

This list is not meant to focus on the numbers, but to emphasize the enormity of the blessing that the financial and time sacrifices from each of our guests has been to us. And there's no way to quantify the prayers, the hugs, and the laughs they have also brought to our ministry this summer. In an area where we sometimes become disheartened by the reaction people have when we tell them why we moved here, it's been such an encouragement to know that so many people are supporting us. Ultimately, each of Mosaic's core members knows that God is the only one with any power over our impact on this community, but He seems to be using His servants to remind us of His involvement in this work. It sure doesn't feel like work with servants as humble as these:




Connection Point
(our guinea pigs)
Thank you for your flexibility!

The Post
(our firecrackers)
Thank you for your enthusiasm!

Okolona Christian Church
(our whippersnappers)
Thank you for your energy!

Not yet pictured... Cornerstone Class (our sages) Thank you for your wisdom!

Forefront Church
(our ladies)
Thank you for your compassion!

Side Hugs-the real reason I love mission teams!

P.S. Our first preview service, Sunday the 10th, was amazing. Seconds before we were supposed to start, as the chaos of preparation was winding down, I looked around the theater and saw many faces I didn't recognize. My heart jumped at the realization that it's all really happening... and I'm not the only one excited about what God's doing here!

Retraction/Reprieve

"Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." -Philippians 4:11-13 The Message

Whether in Bolivia, Florida, Oregon, or Baltimore this summer God has given me a great peace and almost a supernatural lack of homesickness. Whether Mosaic's interim Children's Minister, a veterinarian, or a weekend Bed and Breakfast host, the Lord has been teaching me to be content in all circumstances.

After an emotional roller-coaster of a week since my last post, Mosaic has hired a permanent, qualified children's minister, Lisa Molite. My tenure was short and sweet. I didn't have time to do any harm, and just barely had time to grow a little fond of the position. Thank you for your encouragement, thoughts, and prayers this week, they meant so much to me.

One may wonder what God's purposes were for the events of this past few days, and I could never be sure. But would venture to guess He was asking me just how flexible and use-able I was really planning to be when I joined Mosaic and said 'use me in whatever way you can.'

I may not have mastered the secret of being content in every situation, but I appreciate the lessons God has had for me in this area and the serenity that feels as if it only could have come from Him.

For those of you wondering where this leaves me as a volunteer with Mosaic, I'm heading back to my comfort zone, behind the scenes. It looks like I'll get to work with tech during the service, and then mingle with our guests in the First Steps area afterward. But I hope not to get too attached to any one position, so I can hold true to my purpose for being here and serve wherever most needed.