Our first Easter!

Although I wholeheartedly agree with the statement on the inside of this adorable card from my parents, "It's all about Jesus." I still feel a little sad for the Easter bunny. He just looks so pitiful... But I guess it probably relieves some of the pressure.

Sunday may have been Mosaic's best day ever! Christmas is still my favorite holiday, and the virgin birth is nothing to take for granted, but as Christians, the resurrection is our true cause for celebration. As Carl shared in our pre-service huddle, "This is why we're here, Easter is why we started Mosaic!" He obviously meant sharing grace and forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice is why we're here, but the Easter service itself was a pretty encouraging reminder of what God has in store through this growing church plant. Our largest crowd of locals thus far, 160 people, gathered to worship together at our most exciting, upbeat, and dynamic morning service yet.

Before we settled down too much from that rush, some of us joined two other local churches in hosting an Easter block party for Southwest Baltimore through the HOPE Ministry. Mosaic volunteers prepared more than 200 almost-too-lovely-to-eat treats to follow the dinner served by the Vineyard and gospel message shared by Bethel Church. Besides the yummy desserts Mosaic also contributed our corn hole game and the biggest hit of the party, our moonbounce! I wanted to include a picture of me being pummeled by blood-thirsty 5 year olds, but the pile of kids made it impossible to prove I was the one wrestling for breath underneath. Playing monster in the moonbounce was probably the most fun half hour of my week! I think the rest of the Mosaic volunteers would agree that serving at that party was the best way we could have celebrated Christ's ultimate act of service 2000 Easter's ago...

"...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many."
-Matthew 20:28

Aging Reluctantly

A couple weeks ago I turned 29. Which doesn't feel a lot different from 28 but it sure sounds worse, mostly because I don't really like prime numbers. A few things have happened since the year flipped over in my internal calendar...

Friday, I went to a an awesome concert. Two of the guys on Mosaic's worship team are in another band called One Minute. About 10 people from Mosaic, and a lot of people from elsewhere, went to cheer them on at a really popular venue in Baltimore, Rams Head Live. Having been out of the club scene for so long, and knowing it was an all ages show, I left my ID in the car. The ticket guy's insistence that I had to prove I was over 21 to be stamped, and the aroma of the large black X's marked on my hands was enough to whisk me back nearly a decade to the days when I was labeled thus regularly at shows.

The next morning a group of us went to RICA to love on the teenagers who live there, via high intensity childish sports. I literally, cannot remember the last time I played tag. It had also been too long since I did a somersault, played kickball, or jumped rope. As we were leaving the director thanked us mentioning that they love anyone under 30. A few of us groaned a bit as that number is just around the corner, but I'm pretty sure if all it takes to entertain those otherwise surly teens is to run around a gym like a foolish 20-something I should be able to pull that off for many years to come.

And finally, as the landmark of 30 knocks at the door, I've set a personal goal to like, or at least be more tolerant of, all foods by that milestone birthday. In pursuit of this dream I've recently eaten raw celery, ingested raw onions, and even purchased raw peppers. Knowing that Bolivia will be filled with scary foods and the expected courtesy that I will swallow them all with a gracious smile. I'm pretty sure that for the sake of the gospel, Paul endured hardships even worse than cilantro.

"And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 18:4,5

Life is Beautiful

SPOILER ALERT!!

I think reading the back of a movie case is cheating and watching trailers is borderline, so writing a review myself would be hypocritical if the movie weren't 12 years old.  

Reading through Philippians and journaling our thoughts was a recent assignment of our small group that met with some resistance, but one I enjoyed so much that I continued to study the book in Spanish the following week.  

Philippians is overflowing with thoughts that are applicable nearly every day.  After reading 4:8 -- "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."  I texted my Netflix friend and said "maybe we should start using Phil 4:8 as our standard."  Since the Changeling gave me nightmares, and Step Brothers wasn't particularly edifying, we started ordering on this new set of guidelines, with our first arrival being Life is Beautiful.

Years ago, I stumbled across Life is Beautiful randomly on TV and was convinced it was an adorable romantic comedy for the first hour.   By the time I realized there was sadness to be felt, I was engrossed beyond the point of return.  The beauty of a father's incomparable love for his little boy was worth the bitter-sweetness of the ending.  But Guido's single-minded devotion to providing an abundant life for his child, to the extent of sacrificing his own life is only incomparable if we fail to compare it to our own Father who made the exact same choice for each of us.  

I hope our next pick, Fireproof, has a lighter ending...

Also check out WALL-E and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, these reviews highlight Christian meanings in other popular movies.

Savoring the Snowflakes

I'm sitting in Seattle, watching it snow flakes the size of half dollars, reading Philippians in Spanish. Waiting to take a ferry to an island for a week with veterinary missionaries from around the world. Looking forward to soaking up their advice on resettlement, training on participatory teaching methodology, and any tidbits about Bolivia I can absorb.

Yesterday, I spent a fascinating day in Pike Place Market, enjoying the company of a CVM staff tour guide, and a veterinarian from Brazil. We slipped into one of my favorite subjects--the class Perspectives on World Missions--and started talking about Hudson Taylor. Knowing he was striving to head to the mission field eventually, he started sleeping on a wooden bed without a mattress, and whittled his food intake down to a piece of bread and an apple a day, to prepare for the hardships of other cultures. The woman who was sharing this story said her response would probably be the opposite; to relish in the comforts of home with even greater appreciation knowing they're soon to be stripped from you.

I've landed somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. As, I try to cut back on my purchases, and downsize my material goods, I also linger a little longer over each luxury of home, including snow, realizing it could be my last for a very long time. The vet I'll be working with in Bolivia is here for the Training Of Trainers conference and this morning he said this was the first time he'd seen snow in eight years. If these gorgeous flakes turnout to be my farewell snowfall, I'll try not to let them melt unnoticed.

Trash Bags

"America spends more annually on trash bags than nearly half of the world does on all goods.

One billion people in the world do not have access to clean water, while the average American uses 4-600 liters of water a day.

More than half of the world lives on less than 2 American dollars a day.

40% of people in the world lack basic sanitation...

Church is not ultimately about attending large gatherings.
Church is people.
People who live a certain way in the world.
People who have authority in the world, but authority that comes from breaking themselves open and pouring themelves out so that the world will be healed...

In a world in which there are 27 million slaves, 4,500 people in Africa will die of AIDS today, and 840 million people will go to bed hungry tonight because they cannot afford a meal, Jesus wants to save our church from the exile of irrelevance. If we have resources, any power, any voice, any influence, any energy, we must convert them into blessing for those who have no power, no voice, no influence."
-Jesus Wants to Save Christians, A Manifesto for the Church in Exile,
-Rob Bell and Don Golden

From two different sources today, I've heard the phrase, "be a part of the solution not the problem." I pray that Mosaic is a part of that solution here in Baltimore. 3 weeks ago we gave away our entire benevolence fund to the congregation during Sunday morning service to share with our neighbors. Tomorrow morning we're kicking off a 2 week long serving frenzy. These acts are not solutions unto themselves, but we hope will be tools to help us build a community of believers who will convert our power, influence and voice into blessings for those without.

Feel the Love

This week has been full of friends. Ranging from 8 weeks old to over 90 years. Ones I've known from high school, college, this year in Baltimore, or have only met this week.

Last night a group from Mosaic delivered over 100 handmade Valentine cards and some flowers to the residents of a local nursing home. After sharing God's love with these very appreciative new friends at St. Elizabeth's, our Mosaic group went to dinner and became better acquainted ourselves.

Earlier in the week I took a trip to West Virginia to bond with my beloved snowboard for possibly the last time in many years. Our assorted crew consisted of a couple from Mosaic, friends and family of theirs, and a co-worker of mine. After four solid days on the slopes, many tasty meals, a few minor and major ailments, and some hysterical laughter over Brian Regan, Jim Gaffigan and Anchorman we were bonded.

Probably my favorite reunion of the week was a 36 hour trip to Greenville, SC via Raleigh Durham. I got to catch up with two of my best guy friends from the past 10+ years. Through jogging, car games, exploring, not-dancing, and eating many scrumptious treats I reminisced with Brian. And then, for a short but sweet moment, I had the pleasure of meeting Rusty's new wife.

All of these relationships, both lasting and fleeting, make me more appreciative of my very best friend, who will outlast them all and never be out of earshot; "Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends." -John 15:13

Living Hope

This is a story from some missionaries I know in Ethiopia. I love the way it sums up our call to serve the less fortunate in the words of a little girl.

Twas the night before Christmas in Gesses this year,
the stars were all out and the sky was real clear.
We couldn’t have a shower our water was low,
just a quick sponge bath of places that show.
Nicole put out the diapers and hung them up tight,
we rarely get cows visiting at night.
The children were sweating, curled up in their beds,
visions of ice cubes danced in their heads.
The lights went out at quarter to nine,
our batteries were finished like most of the time.
We just settled in for a long hot night,
when the rats on our ceiling began to fight.
I just stared up above then heard more clatter,
it came from outside but what did it matter?
Too many hyenas, scorpions and snakes,
"I’m staying inside for goodness sakes!"
First it was drums and then came the flutes,
wild and loud came the bangs and toots.
The singing grew and feet pounded the earth,
as our neighbors were filled with joy and mirth.
We lay there together as the noise droned on,
it was only nine but soon it was one.
The silence came in the dead of the night,
It wasn’t overwhelming but felt just right.
Then over the mountain came the glorious sun,
morning was upon us, the night was done.
We sat with our coffee this Christmas morn,
watching the sun come like a Savior born.
Our kids soon awoke and we all sat on the floor,
then we realized there was a long line at our door.
Sick people, sick goats, wounds and more,
Who wants on Christmas morning such a big chore?
No time for presents, carols or coco,
days like this can drive us loco.
No time for us what can we do,
then Emily said something innocent yet true. Remember when sick people came to Jesus,
He said He’d heal them and never leave us.
So here in the heat of our Christmas morn,
our daughter reminded us why He was born.
To be inconvenienced and pulled from all places,
to look with love on those needy faces.
It may not be perfect or what we desire,
but Christmas in Gesses has lit a strong fire.
To give to those who can’t even ask,
is more for us than an overwhelming task.
It is the way He has called us each to live,
and for this end His Son He did give.
So together we stand to fight the good fight,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a flute filled night.

For more about their ministry here's the Schwenks' website: http://www.cvmusa.org/livinghope