the need is so great - who's responsible?

For some reason, we really like to use the holidays as a time to do something nice for other people... maybe we feel better about splurging on gifts for ourselves when we add a little something to our lists for someone in need. So we have Angel Trees and Santa's to Seniors, toy filled shoe boxes, coat collections and caroling in nursing homes. Why? Because we like to see the old peoples' faces light up when we hand them a homemade card or sing them a song, we like the idea of one more child in our community having a coat to wear this winter. But what I wonder is who is really responsible for these needs?  Would there be as great  a need to cheer up the elderly if their children and grandchildren visited them on a regular basis and loved on them? What if all parents took parenthood seriously and carefully guarded their marriages and worked to the best of their ability to provide for their children?  I am not trying to sound like a judgmental Grinch but seriously, what if?

Alright, so I understand that if we were to all live according to the guidelines that God set out for us, we'd be a lot better off... but we know we live in a selfish, fallen world.  So the next thing I wonder is what is the Church's duty when it comes to lonely seniors and hungry children?  The Church is the body of Christ, right?  His hands and feet.  But the need is so great and what happens when those who are really responsible for a need don't step up to the plate?  I look at the children on just one street in Lynchburg.  They aren't being fed three meals a day, nor do they have all the winter clothes they need, or well heated homes to live in-and I wonder the last time they were hugged.  I can't even take care of all of them, let alone the next block over.  I am going to ask around and start doing a little research, but I am just feeling overwhelmed right now.  I know the most important thing for me to do is to love them and show them Jesus.  Maybe I'll be able to follow this up with another post with a few answers I've received on this topic.

why not?

Over the years, I've had plenty of people laugh in my face when I suggest running a race."Why in the world would anyone PAY money to run a race", they often ask me. I usually see them as a lost cause and get over it but the other day I decided that will no longer pass as a valid excuse in my book. From now on I will reply to that with an argument of my own, "why in the world are we paying so much money to kill ourselves?" We spend countless dollars to eat in grease pits only to clog our heart. Why not put some of that money to a more worthy cause and reap the benefits? Self-satisfaction, motivation, pride, purpose, free t-shirt, free snacks, sense of accomplishment... I'll let you chose.

playing catch up

I haven't been doing a very good job at updating my posts. I guess because I often wonder what in my life is worth posting?? I have a lot on my mind this week so I guess I will just write and try to complete my thoughts! It looks like I may be on the hunt for a new car... like this week. For as long as I've owned my car, I've had this excitement of driving her beyond 200,000 miles. Well that is just not looking to be the case any longer, she's at 199,000+ and the electrical system is acting up. The thing I'm learning about darned electrical problems is that (unlike almost any other mechanical issue) they have no way of hooking it up to a machine and that machine telling them, 'here is the problem, here's how you fix it, and here's how much it will cost.' It could take them hours and hours to find the problem and (worse case scenario) that isn't even the solution - hours and hours in the maintenance shop looks like $$$$$$$$$$$$$$... something I am not a big fan on spending.

 This past weekend, we took the UMA girls camping on the AT (Appalachian Trail). I had no idea what to expect leading up to this trip. Will girls even want to go? Will the ones who tell us they are coming, actually end up coming? Will they hate sleeping in tents, cooking food over the fire, setting up/packing up, going to the bathroom in the woods, survive without cell phones and computers for a night??? So many questions but I learned that giving those all up to God was absolutely the best. HE organized that trip and HE brought each of those girls along with a willing heart and attitude. They were amazing! I loved every moment of that trip and even though we were freezing cold at night and didn't love peeing in the woods, the trip wasn't ruined and there were no big complaints! As much as I hope that the trip was a great outdoor learning experience and a nice break from home life, I also hope and pray that there were some spiritual lessons learned. That the girls would remember that God is always there for them to speak to when they are afraid. I pray that the Spirit would continue working in each of their precious hearts to bring them to complete repentance of their sinful state and give their lives completely to Him.

 My sister texted me this week telling me that a friend of hers in her running class at Liberty suggested they run an ultramarathon and Annetta asked if I wanted to join them. I've never put the idea completely out of my crazy little head so I kind of jumped on the opportunity to be able to have someone crazy to train with. The race we are considering is a 50k+ and it takes place February 11th, 2012, not very far from today! I was just telling my friend that in my mind I can do this... but I wonder if when the first cold day hits, if I'll be running for my bed rather than eager to do that 15 mile run on my training plan! I think the thing that helps boost my confidence most of all is the fact that I will be cross training for my triathlon this whole winter (which has proven to be great for my running as well!).

 Work has been going very OKAY lately. It seems I have been having more and more days where I am eager to pursue something else. But what else will offer me the flexibility of this job (my favorite part, not sitting behind a desk all day)? Two of my close friends, who work at Liberty University, have suggested a program that LU offers, AA in Early Childhood Education. Without even mentioning it, I've had multiple people tell me they think I would be a great teacher and I love working with little kids so I think that getting a job as a preschool teacher would be right up my ally. I am still looking into it a little bit but I like it so far!

 My family is making the 12 hour drive down to Virginia from Michigan in 2 weeks! They are coming for Thanksgiving and I am so excited to see them! Something I am excited about is that I will be house sitting that week and the owners of the house offered for my family to stay there and for us to all eat Thanksgiving dinner there! It works out great because then my family will not need a hotel and we can all stay together! Not to mention, have two ovens, two dishwashers, lot's of room, and cable TV for the Lions game! I am a little bummed that I don't get to go to Michigan, but I will get to do that for Christmas which will be great!

lacking awe

I can't decide if it's more beneficial or 'harmful' to be taught all of the Bible stories from the time you can listen. I've realized how de-sensitized I am to so many of them. I mean, God commanded a man to go use his only son as a burnt sacrifice?? Are you serious!? If I had heard that for the first time as an adult, I'm not quite sure how I would take it but I do know it would take a lot of intentional thinking and processing. That, as opposed to skimming right over it with a "yeah, I've heard this a hundred times already" mentality. Or what about the story of Jonah? A fish swallowed the dude whole! And there was enough room in his belly for him to survive and he wasn't digested or anything but he was spit back up through the throat... that's some pretty crazy stuff! That doesn't even come close to mentioning all of the miracles that Jesus performed while on earth. I feel almost guilty for not having as much a sense of awe as all of these events deserve! Maybe this is just me who feels this way, and I'm not saying that I am not going to teach Bible stories to my kids... the Bible is full of advice to pass these stories and advice to your children, I simply wonder how I can change my current mindset and and 'train' myself to be in awe??

adorn yourself with modesty and self-control

I had a great conversation with a friend last night regarding modesty.  She had the opportunity to be a part of a panel of ladies who sat before the guys on our local university's track team and answer any questions the guys may have.  She said they had SO many questions about girls and relationships but mostly she was impressed with their concerns over modesty.  They asked what their role is when it comes to their female peers dressing immodestly.  There are still guys concerned with this, concerned with keeping their thoughts pure before the Lord... but how many young ladies (and women) have slacked off on keeping up their end of the deal?  I know I have.  There have been points in my life where I've been extremely convicted of my dress and how it affected my guy friends; but I can see, as time has passed, I have made excuses and justified certain things that I shouldn't.  Why would I want to throw on a baggy sweater when I can chose this outfit that is a guaranteed compliment snatcher?  I know... I know... modesty doesn't have to be ugly, but my point is, there are many outfits in style that I am really tempted to buy.  I throw out excuses like, "well, if all the other girls are wearing it, the boys must be used to it and therefore have 'turned off' their lusting switch when they see us it."  That's when the Holy Spirit needs to throw up a big, "WHATEVER" sign in front of my face (and I need to heed it!).  So I need to keep my priorities straight, do I want men (Christians or not) to be lusting over my body that is supposed to be a temple to the Holy Spirit?  Not a chance.  I hope that honoring my Savior as well as honoring my brother in Christ will be way more important to me than any vain compliment I may otherwise receive.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

On a slightly unrelated note, I read this story this morning:

A neighbor was watching (my dad) as he planted dwarf fruit trees in our yard. "How long will it take for them to bear fruit?" he asked. "Oh, five, maybe six years," Dad replied. "Oh, I wouldn't bother planting fruit trees. I wouldn't want to wait that long," the neighbor said.

Dad was quiet for a moment. "You're already waiting. Might as well have some fruit to look forward to." 

I like that story, it's true about a lot of things.