A Long Expected Journey

 

      To overcome adversity, to stand and face the challenge, to look boredom in the eye and make a change, to step outside of our comfort zone and walk into a calling can be easier said than done. For Annabelle, it was something she longed for but never felt achievable. She dreamed and longed for adventure but to have an adventure meant she would have to leave behind what she was used to and take steps of faith towards something new. But what if she failed? What if she couldn’t do it? What if all she had dreamed wasn’t all it cracked up to be?

       But what if it did turn out? What if it was exactly like her dream? At the age of 24, Annabelle had spent most of her life dreaming. Each season had a different dream, sometimes a Princess, sometimes a Warrior, sometimes an Elf, but something. Something not mundane and boring.  Then one morning, something changed. It called beyond the Hobbit Hole she was used to and whispered, “Come with me.”  

      It didn’t come from the man with the long grey robes and pointed hat. It didn’t come from an uncle who had traveled the earth and returned with a whole new perspective, it came from a little voice inside of her that said, “Step beyond the Shire”.

        So she did. It wasn’t a shortcut to the mushrooms. It wasn’t just a trip to the Brandywine Bridge, but it wasn’t a trip to Mount Doom either. Instead, it was a leap of faith towards Rivendell.

     The elves were different from her. They spoke a different language, they moved differently than her little hobbit legs. They ate similar foods but not really. But there she found freedom. She saw beyond what she was and saw what she could be. She may never unite the whole of the world but she could make a difference. She couldn’t be an elf but she had a different perspective and not just physically. It was once she gained her courage to speak out truth something changed in the atmosphere.

     A family took her in. They taught her how to move within her new society. They encouraged her. They didn’t find her strange. They saw her dreams and stood behind her. They let her try new things. When she broke down into tears, they put their arms around her and walked with her.  

     Annabelle had moved beyond boredom, moved beyond what was expected of her, and stepped out in faith. She made a new home. Sure, she went back to the Shire for visits but it no longer felt like home. Despite all the challenges growing up, she realized that without growing up in the Shire, she never would have made it to Rivendell. If she had found a nice hobbit to settle down with, she wouldn’t be staring at the Elves in all their magnificence today. Ever step had brought her to this moment. Any earlier and she wouldn’t have been prepared or been in a state of mind that could have handled it. But now, she was ready to step into her calling to the Elves. Was she frightened? Without a doubt. Did she think she was good enough to be with them and learn Elvish? Of course not. The language was foreign but so beautiful. So she pressed on, enjoying every moment, knowing this was where she needed to be. Anything less, would leave her with a sense of disappointment.

     Step into a calling. Step into a destiny. Step outside of the box. Annabelle did. What’s your next move?  

God's light in Middle Earth

My heart breaks inside of me

Knowing all that they see

People have exalted them

Far above mortal men

They’re asked only to give

But all they want is to live

I see in their faces

They want to be in other places

But they must smile

And go the extra mile

Give all they are

Because people raise the bar

They must be kind

They must not mind

People yelling and telling

And people selling

It seems they put their minds to sleep

So the demands won’t touch as deep

As we stand, we pray

That God can touch them in some way

Heal the pain

Get rid of the shame

We pray God will be so real

And they will know how to deal

That the industry will begin to transform

That they will be reborn

To go forth in light

And in the strength of his might

I’ll never forget that night

When we decided to stand up and fight

For those who need to see

All that God has called them to be

Let Middle Earth know

That God’s hope he will show

As we stand and pray

God will come and make a way

 

 

 

To Bristol with Love

     Bristol; a city once a gateway for slavery to the world but today a haven for artists. It’s an open and inviting city housing a university, John Wesley’s chapel, Christmas markets and amazing art with people who are passionate about what they are doing. As our team has a calling to the arts and ministry, Bristol was a perfect place to step into for a week.

      Amongst the worshiping, praying over the city and performing covers in the street, we wanted to get to know the people of Bristol and share God’s love and truth with them. The amazing thing about stepping out in faith is sometimes God can surprise you when you let him lead. One of the days as our team went out, we found God brought people to us rather than us approaching them. In the course of twenty minutes, we had three different people ask us for directions, one of which was older gentleman who needed help to walk up the road which we did. God was teaching us the truth of 1 John 3:18: “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

     In that week, we saw how truth and deed can transform a place. Food and coffee was given to people on the streets, churches were cleaned, places we walked were transformed as we brought God’s presence with us.  God gave us his truth to speak into the lives of musicians, dancers, and visual artists we met. I don’t deny there are strongholds of rejection, inferiority, and depression residing over the city but we felt the atmosphere change and people come alive with God’s truth in practical ways. Sometimes, simply smiling seemed to change their demeanor. Only with God and by his grace can these things happen.  When we fix our eyes on him, he will direct us to those people who need to hear his words of love.

     Bristol was an amazing time of evangelism and worship. Meeting people in the city and seeing the heritage in Christ they have been graced with was incredible. God has big plans for Bristol and I’m very thankful our team got to join God in what he’s doing, planting seeds and pursuing the people of the city to draw closer to him.  

The day I thought I had Ebola

  Yep. It was true. I had the Ebola virus and I was going to die. However, if it wasn't Ebola, it was meningitis. If not meningitis, then it was appendicitis. If it wasn't appendicitis, it was another foreign illness I was going to die from. Okay, an exaggeration perhaps but sometimes when I get sick and no one I know has been, I forget the fact I take the bus almost daily and my mind goes crazy places. But alas, about a week and a half ago, I was sick. I mean, sick! I'll spare you the gory details but let's just say food was a no-no and a bucket was next to my bed for the whole day.
     The worst part was that it wasn't a free day. In fact, it was a day of teaching, of preparing for outreach, and a love fest with amazing food, dressing up, and teaching! If I was to get sick, I would not have picked that particular day. Ever. Although, I had amazing roommates and housemates who prayed for me, made me toast, offered to make me other food, went to the corner shop and got me 7-Up, got me water and just checked on me in general. But still, being sick sucks.
    In truth, I spent most of the morning frustrated with myself. I don't like being sick, I thought I was dying. I kept on looking up symptoms of the worst diseases. I feared my family would never see me again in this life. I hate not being able to do things for myself. I hate feeling weak. And I. Hate. To. Rest.
     When one of my roommates asked me how long it had been since I really took a day to rest, I think I gave her a blank stare. Weekends are for doing what I want and keeping busy, right? But I had forgotten something important. God wants us to rest. I mean, yes, we can rest in him and enjoy his presence while we are busy but he's also pretty firm with the Sabbath rest thing as well. In other words, taking time and just being and really resting in God. I'm rubbish at it to be honest and I think God sometimes forces us to do just that. He forces us to rest. It's not that he wished me sick but rather he allowed the sickness to overtake me for a bit so that I would be forced to rest and not do a whole lot. In fact, I did nothing but pray for the entire afternoon and sleep.
     One of the verses I had read a few mornings before my Ebola scare was Psalm 116:7 which says "Return, on my soul, to your rest for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you". But instead of resting, I said "Thank you, God", felt a peaceful feeling, and continued to be busy. The peace is great but I've learned that God is actually serious when he says rest. Sometimes that rest can be just resting in him but other times it means to physically rest. Not just at nighttime when you go to bed but actually take time to chill out. God has dealt bountifully with us so as a thank you back to him, why not take time just to rest in that and chill?
     I admit I'm a bit thick to be honest, because God has allowed sickness to happen to me three times when it was absolutely inconvenient for me to be sick. But all three times, there's been a reminder; slow down. So I encourage you to slow down, chill, spend a whole day watching movies, reading a book or just being. God wants us to rest in him and take time to recharge. Often times we live in a society that is so Go-Go-Go, that we forget that sometimes God is only asking us to Rest-Rest-Rest. And as I've learned, if we don't do it on our own, sometimes we're forced to. So I'm slowly learning thanks to my Ebola-Meningitis-Appendix day, take time. Rest. Be with God and he will direct your path. He has blessed us so let us bless him in return with resting in that truth.

First Star Disappearing

     It's not every day a fairy tale comes to life. In all honesty, the happy endings and princess stories always felt a little far fetched. But I still fully believe in them and that's where my story really begins. Let me back up. My name is Keira Calhart and I am in love with a Lost Boy from the land of Forgeame. Confused yet? Don't worry. I'll explain a bit more. When I graduated from high school, I headed off to University in the town I grew up in. However, university seemed to be the beginning of the end for me. All my friends had fled the town to go to their respected schools in the far off reaches of the world and I was stuck in the role of home town girl. It didn't matter how many times my parents told me God had a plan and he knew what he was doing, I was still determined to be miserable. How was I supposed to have fun when none of my friends were there? I was shy and quiet. What if I failed? What if I couldn't find any of my classes?  What if I couldn't make friends? What if I found out that I actually just sucked at life in general? 
    But God did in fact have a plan. When I got to University, something amazing happened. There was a guy there who basically changed my world. Now before you judge me entirely, I was never one of those girls who defined herself by guys. I never dated in high school. I could hardly even speak around the ones who I thought were cute and I was interested in. It was all white noise in my head when I was in front of them and nothing would get through. Yet Peter Augustus Pan managed to make it through. But Peter wasn't normal. He lived First Star to the Left and Straight onto Dusk in the land of Forgeame. Think Neverland but different, much different. It's a land filled with Pirates and Mermaids but it's also filled with Trivilics, Zonkas, Elephbests, Elves, Unicorns and Centaurs.
      When I had met Peter and his best friend, Arthur Dodger, they were so secretive about their past until I was ready. After all, if he had come up to me the first day I saw him in Math class with his disheveled blonde hair and bright blue eyes and told me he was from a magical land in the stars and that he could fly, I think I probably would have found him insane because it does sound insane. But he pursued me carefully and patiently. Yet I was waiting for adventure. I craved adventure so the idea of flying off into the stars with a Lost Boy was incredible. He took me to Forgeame where he grew up with other Lost Children in which we had an otherworldly battle against the Trivilics and the evil elves, Aragun and Havelen for the good of Forgeame. I also got to ride a dragon named Firenze. I was officially a rock star.
     But today all the adventures of Forgeame seem a lifetime ago. It's been six years since I met Peter and his best friend, Dodger. Both guys turned my world upside down in different ways. Dodger became my protector and Peter, my best friend. As a surprise to no one, after we graduated University, Peter asked me to marry him with my parents' blessing, of course. I'll admit my parents don't know everything about Peter's past. There were some small things invented about him. How would they have felt about knowing that their daughter was marrying someone from another world? But being from Seattle sounded legit and they've always accepted that as truth.
      It's been a full year since we were married. We decided to move down to Seattle just to see how things would go. Peter got an internship with a Marketing Company and has done really well. Me? Well, I got a job working with a Theatre company just working in the box office. Now, I realize that it doesn't sound amazingly exciting but I'm hoping to help with their advertising department soon. Besides, Peter and I get to see all the free shows that we want.
     But enough of the past. Friday had come, finally. I walked into the house after a long week of work, ready to crash into my comfy clothes and chill out for the evening. I found Peter already home, lounging on the couch dressed in black dress pants, blue dress shirt and tie. Seeing me, he bounced out of his seat and grabbed a package off the table and tossed it over to me.
     "What's this?" I asked.
      "Just open it," he said with a grin.
       I was wary. I mean, I'm all for free gifts but why he was all dressed up when I was ready for a night in was at the least confusing. Opening the package, I found a super refined and pretty black dress. I glanced up at him confused as he sauntered over to me, light shining in his eyes.
      "I know we said a quiet night in but I was thinking we could try out the new restaurant on Fifth Avenue."
     I looked up at him skeptically.
     "No strings attached, just a nice night. We have reservations at eight," he said before he gave me a kiss and plopped himself back onto the couch.
     I gave him a look before I looked over the dress again.
     "It's beautiful. Thanks, Peter. I'll go try it on," I said as I walked into our room.
     Naturally, it fit perfectly. One thing I appreciated about the Lost Boys is that they had been trained in many wonderful ways of being a gentleman that Earth boys should probably learn.
     When I came back out of the room, Peter was quite pleased as he grabbed my hand and we headed out the door. So much for the relaxing night at home I had been hoping for. But I knew the night wouldn't be boring. Life with Peter was never boring. He always had something up his sleeve. But as we got in the car, Peter's phone went off. It was a text from his best friend and fellow Lost Boy, Dodger. We hadn't heard from him in ages. He and his fiancé, Lana, had graduated the same time as Peter and I but instead of getting married right away, Dodger decided to move to California with Lana where she grew up to get to know her family better. It was admirable and like everything Dodger did, he did it intensely and with loads of purpose.
     "What is it, Peter?" I asked.
      Peter shook his head and shrugged.
      "It's a bit cryptic. It's just the password to the fortress followed by the name Sawyer."
    I was confused as well. Sawyer had been the leader of the Lost Boys before he headed off to Earth to pursue an Australian girl and Dodger took over as the leader.
      "It's probably just an idea of a Dodger joke. He's probably just bored."
      I nodded and let it slide. Peter was probably right. It would be like Dodger just to send something random over text to say hi. He was the least sentimental of our lot.
     That night, Peter and I had a fabulous dinner at the new Italian restaurant in downtown and enjoyed the cool autumn night as we walked down to Pike's Place. But something was stirring. Both of us could feel it in the air. As we looked up at the night sky, Peter's face clouded with concern. I prodded him a bit.
     "I can't see it," he said.
      "See what?"
      "The star."
      "It's probably just because of the city air."
      "Maybe," he said putting his arm around me.
      Nothing more was said that night but I could tell that Peter still felt uneasy. It was a rarity that he mentioned anything about Forgeame and the ability to travel to his childhood home. But after the text from Dodger, I kind of understood.
      Getting ready for bed that night, I came out of the bathroom only to see Peter flying around the room. Something he hadn't done for a few months now.
      "What the heck are you doing?"
      He looked at me with concern in his eyes.
      "Can you still do it as well?"
     Silly question. Of course I could. To prove it, I lifted off the ground just a few inches which seemed to calm him just a bit.
     "Okay, just checking."
      I smiled as we both got into bed. I could feel Peter still tense next to me.
      "Peter, seriously, stop the freaking out. I'm sure everything's fine. Just a Dodger joke. Flying still works. You are fine."
     Peter nodded, still deep in thought. I gave him a kiss before I turned over and went to sleep rather quickly. When I opened my eyes much later and very sleepily, something was wrong. Something was definitely different. Our bed felt different. Looking at the night stand, my clock and lamp had changed. The wall wasn't right. In fact, the room wasn't right. I turned over to wake up Peter. But turning over, I gasped and nearly screamed. My gasp woke him up. Followed by absolute terror on his face. Next to me was not my husband. It was one of his best friends, Oliver. We both stared at each other for a moment.
     "Keira?"
      "Hi, Oliver. Any idea how I got here?"
      "No idea. Any idea where my wife is?"
      I shook my head. I think Peter was right. Something was going on in the realm of Forgeame and somehow it had transported me across the Atlantic to London and into the house of Oliver and his wife Lucy. What the heck?!!!

The lessons I learned from the Doctor

The Doctor: I wanted to be ginger! I've never been ginger. And you, Rose Tyler! Fat lot of good you were. You gave up on me! Oo! That's rude. Is that the sort of man I am now? Am I rude? Rude and not ginger.
Sycorax Leader: Who exactly are you?
The Doctor: Well, that's the question. I don't know! See that's the thing. I'm the Doctor. But beyond that I just don't know. I literally do not know who I am. It's all untested. Am I funny? Am I sarcastic? Sexy? Right old misery? Life and soul? Right-handed, left-handed? A gambler, a fighter, a coward, a traitor, a liar, a nervous wreck? I mean judging by the evidence I've certainly got a gob.

     What I love most about television, books, and movies is how often God uses those things to teach me about him, about myself, about my faith, and other important life lessons. I've been known quite often to use Lord of the Rings in all sorts of ways from classroom presentations to faith lessons. But Lord of the Rings isn't the only thing he has used. As cheesy as perhaps it may sound, God has shown up in Doctor Who quite a few times. Here are the five lessons I've learned about the regeneration of the Spirit from one of the most iconic British Shows of the last fifty years. For those who aren't familiar with Doctor Who, he's a time traveler who travels around in a blue police box called a Tardis. When he gets wounded or close to death, he can regenerate and essentially becomes a brand new person.

Lesson Number One: Regeneration is painful but brings so much freedom
     In the show, as the picture shows, the Doctor regenerates. He leaves behind his old face, his old mannerisms, and sometimes his old friends as well. When we become Christians, God also works a process of regeneration in our lives. The thing of it is the Doctor never really wants to go. He knows what is going to happen; that he will become a new man. Even though he knows he must go, it's still a fight. In much the same way, we know we must let God perform that regeneration in our lives. It may been a painful process. It may mean giving up things we don't really want to give up, it could mean all sorts of things but the thing is, once we've given those things over, there is so much more freedom that comes. We become a new person, a freer person, and a person who is able to see the world in a new God centered way.

Lesson Number Two: Regeneration must be complete
     We must let God do a full work on our hearts. If we only regenerate a hand or a foot, what good would that do? If the Doctor only regenerated part way, then he would be carrying those bits of him that are still unclean, that are still wretched, and that are still sick. We need to let God work fully in our lives. If we want to change and become the person we need to be in Christ, we must let the regeneration work all the way through to every part of us.

Lesson Number Three: Regeneration is a choice
      There was an episode during the David Tennant years that he has a choice whether to go through the whole regeneration process or not. If he is not near his time machine (the Tardis), then if he did come to the point of death, he would die. He has a choice in that moment whether to regenerate or just die. In the same way, we also have a choice. We can chose whether we let God work in our hearts or we harden our hearts and choose not to. But again, if we choose to let God do what he needs to, then the results will be beautiful. We will be healed and given a greater sense of freedom in the process.

Lesson Number Four: We must be plugged in to the source for any work to be done.
     As mentioned in Lesson Number Three, the Doctor without the Tardis, means nada on the regeneration and transformation. But with the Tardis, he can survive. In the same way, we must be plugged into our source. We cannot do it in our own strength. If we try, we will absolutely fail. Nothing in our power allows us to do anything. We can try to change but our change may last for an hour or until the next hardship or the next person annoys us or does something we don't like. But if we are plugged into the power source, then that source can change, mold, and reshape us into who we need to be.

Lesson Number Five: We will receive a new identity.
    Referring to the quote, the Doctor having newly regenerated, isn't sure who he is. His identity is called into question. But the thing is when God regenerates us, our identity is not ours. God gives us his identity. We are his children, his workmanship, and his heirs. So therefore, he shows us who we are. He gives us a new identity, a Christ centered identity. Our reputation is his. It's amazing! He shows us who we are in Christ. We no longer have to question our identity and who we are but the more we walk with him, the more he will show up and show us exactly who he has made us to be.

    Alas, I admit that pulling deep lessons of faith from Doctor Who may seem a little silly to some people but the truth of the matter is God has given us a new identity when he regenerates us. We must choose to accept and walk in the newness of what God has given us. If we shun that moment, in all honesty, we are quite silly. Regeneration, brokenness and renewal brings freedom. God calls us to walk in it and find out exactly who we are. So let us as the Doctor regenerates, let us also allow the source to regenerate our souls and truly make a difference in our lives.

From the Depression to the Depression

   My grandmother lived through the Depression, World War II, the 1950's and every other world event since then. The Depression and the War defined her young adult life. She traveled from Canada to England when she was nineteen years old, a trip that took her five days by boat. Soon after, World War II began. When Grandma was growing up, televisions were not in every room, the internet didn't exist, snail mail was normal and air travel was still in its very early stages.
    Flash forward to my mother who lived through the Kennedy Assassination, MLK Jr, Assassination, The First Moon Walk, and the Vietnam War, and every other world event since. Telephones and televisions were slowly making their way into homes. Women's fashion was advancing from dresses and skirts to trousers. The Beatles were a very popular thing and the Hippie Movement was sweeping the States.
     Then I came along. I've lived through the death of Princess Diana, three very different presidents in Clinton, Bush, and Obama, 9/11 and all the subsequent wars. We now have mobile phones instead of landlines, email and internet are our main ways of communication  and social media is a way of life, and we're still in so many wars.
      What my grandmother, my mother, and I have all experienced in our lifetimes is vastly different. We've also experienced different collective world events as well which have shaped our lives and the way we see the world. My grandmother has seen communication and travel change vastly. My mother has seen so many wars in her time. I have watched as the art of conversation has slowly declined to simply Facebook statuses.
     It's an amazing thing to talk with my grandmother and my mother about how they see the world. My grandmother never finished high school but was successful and driven. She worked in many different industries but she succeeded in what she did. My mother went to university and has had one real career since she graduated. I went to university, eventually found a big girl job that really wasn't in what I majored in, but decided to leave that job for a time to do missions. I've traveled Europe, Australia, and most of North America. My mother has seen a lot of North America and my grandmother the same.
     We've also experienced different waves of Christianity as well. My grandmother grew up in a time of strict religiosity. There was no dancing and there was no card playing. You dressed up for church and it was a priority.  My mother went through the no dancing thing but also there was no drinking at all either. The Jesus movement was a very real thing for her. My generation has floundered around a bit, questioning the idea of religion and we've moved toward the belief that being in the world and not of the world is better so we dance and we may have a glass of wine as long as we don't get too crazy.
     But the thing is each of our experiences and the world events that we have witnessed and lived through have shaped the values we live by. My grandmother is 98. The way she was raised through the Depression and WWII has brought her to a point of intense generosity but also a place where appearance is important as well. My mother is a product of the baby boom so they've been taught that security is in their retirement and they must retire at the proper age and then move to a warmer climate. To be honest, my generation? We are the questioning generation and the most impatient generation. We question the media, we question authority, and we question religion. We want things immediately and are not willing to wait for much.
     So what of it? Well, there are lessons to be learned. I love my grandmother and my mother so much. They provide me with much wisdom and they bring a different perspective to my life. I seek advice from them because they have lived so much life before me. But at the same time, I must realize where they've come from and what God has brought them through. There have been many changes in my life and in the life of my parents and grandparents. What my brother and I have done and decided is vastly different from the ideals and expectations that my parents were told to live up to. We've broken structures whereas they were forced into them. My grandparents fought to have a good life, my parents kept the good life, and we move beyond it. It's incredible and it's amazing what a generation can do but it's also beautiful. Each of us have lived through such profound and unique things and they have defined us and how we live our lives. We may see the world and the plans that we want to accomplish differently but the things we can learn from each other are awesome. So take the time to talk. Do not let the art of conversation and the curiosity die.
     Ask the questions, find out the stories, and see what the generations before us have lived through. Stories are worth telling. Some mistakes should not be repeated. But we can only learn if we ask. Put on a pot of coffee, grab your parents and your grandparents and start a dialogue. What you will learn could be astounding.   

In and Not Of

    Have an eternal perspective . . . .we hear it all the time as Christians. We need to keep our eyes off of the world and off of the things that are of the world. In other words, we must be in the world and not of the world. The first time I heard this phrase was on the Avalon album "Testify to Love". The song literally was called "In and not of". As an eleven year old, I understood I was called to be different. I knew that when my friends lied to their parents or used "bad words", I was supposed to stand up against that and say it was wrong. Not only that, I was not supposed to participate in that at all.
     But it's not always an easy thing to do. You face rejection, you face being made fun of, you face being excluded. No one wants that. No one wants to be on the outside looking in. So how do we do what we are called to do while not feeling like we must live in Siberia?
     I could give the "church" answer. I could say all the things like we just need to pray and God will help. That God is all you need so who needs friends? But reality is we do need friends. We do need fellowship. So how do we live in the world, not participating in those things that break God's heart but not staying in our Christian bubbles? It can be so dangerous just to live amongst Christians and only interact with Christians. When we do this, we forget there are people who are lost and do need us to speak truth to them. There are people who do not know Christ and who need us to be the light of the world. Jesus calls us to be the light of the world and salt of the earth. It may sound a little funny but to be the salt of the earth means that we add taste to the world. We add the seasoning to the bland darkness overshadowing the world. So we must be in the world. We must live in it but we must not be of it. We must rise above the corruption and against the strongholds holding the world back.
     But how? How do we keep that perspective and not alienate people? How do we do that and not just stay in our Christian bubbles? We become real people. We become real people with real faults, real problems, and real trials. We reach out to those who are lost and we let them know that we too struggle. We don't stay in our Christian bubbles pretending everything is awesome but instead we step out into the world as God has called us to do. We pour into Christ and he will give us the strength to walk in the world and not fall. We can never do it on our own strength but only with the help of Jesus. For as it says in Jude 1:24: "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory majesty dominion and authority before all time and now and forever."
     Indeed we must live with an eternal perspective but that eternal perspective must keep us in the world. We must walk in such a way that's real and that draws people to Christ. If we do not do that, then we have failed in what we are called to do. Yes, I am excited to one day step into eternity and see Jesus face to face but while I'm here, I want to glorify him in everything I do and live in a way that makes him proud. I want to be in and not of.

I hide me far away from trouble
The world outside me grows darker by the day
So I promise to stay here close beside You
Surely God would want His children safe

Then in reading, how my eyes were opened
I find that He is leading us out into the world
Into the middle of fallen saints and sinners
Where a little grace is needed most

Come take the light to darker parts
Share His truth with hardened hearts
We are not like the world, but we can love it
Come bring the hope to hopeless men
Until the lost are found in Him

"In and not Of" Avalon -- Songwriters Grant Cunningham, Nickolas Gonzales

It's all about appearance

We can put on the Makeup
We can wear the right Clothes
We can say all the right Things
We can have all the right Friends
We can have the perfect Job
We can have the House
We can have the Car
But at the end of the day, what's it all Worth
Does it mean anything at All
Isn't it all just Appearance
When we lay awake at night, will all that we have really Matter
If we end up all alone, will any of our stuff Count
Shouldn't we try to be Real
Shouldn't we try to live Truthfully
Sometimes it's easier to Pretend
But how is that helping You
Why wear a mask when you can be Free
Take a look Inside
See what you Find
Don't be scared to ask the Questions
Don't be afraid to look at Truth
Because at the end of the Day
When you look at it Truthfully
You will find a greater amount of Freedom
It's a Process
It can be Terrifying
But once we do, we won't be held down by those Things
We can be real with People
Besides, if we put away our Masks
It means we won't be Hypocrites
Instead, we will be real People
Yes, it won't happen Overnight
We will always find something we're holding onto that we need to let Go
But when we do let those things Go
We can walk in Truth
We can walk in Freedom
Just be honest with Yourself
It's a process but it's an awesome Process
It's a process of Truth
And it's a process God will honor and take you through with absolute Truth
There's no Shame
There's only Freedom
Step into it and all it's Awesomeness!

The Happiest Place on Earth

    You hear it long before you ever see it. You hear the music and you know you're coming closer. You see the booths advertising the tickets, you clutch yours tighter in your hand, proud of that piece of paper. You walk through the security bag checks, you're closer yet. You're just on the outskirts. You look down to your right and you see all the shops and restaurants to make you feel like you're in a real town but you haven't come for the downtown experience, you've come for what lies straight ahead. No need to get distracted by the bright colors on your left, that's for tomorrow's experience. The monorail that's overhead rolls right on by, the music crescendos. You leap into line.  It's a bit long but that's okay, you'll wait for hours if you had to. Finally, your time comes, you stick your ticket into the slot and you're through!
     The big Mickey Mouse head made of flowers in front of the Main Street Train Station makes you unconsciously break into the biggest grin. You can hear "When You Wish Upon a Star" playing. But you know, you're not quite there yet. Goofy may be off to the side posing for pictures already but that's not why you've come. You've come for more than just Goofy.
     So you continue to walk under the sign that says "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy." Your heart beats faster because through that arch is Main Street USA! You've arrived in the land of Disney. You've been transported back to the world of yesterday like only Disney can. Old school candy shops, old school theatres, you can almost imagine Walt Disney wandering down the streets. You see Alice and The Mad Hatter off to the side. You're really tempted to stop and take a picture but they aren't what you've come for either and you must not be distracted.
     So you continue on. You look to the right and wonder if Tomorrowland should be the first stop or maybe Frontierland. But you choose neither because right in front of you lies Sleepy Beauty's Castle and you know that through the bridge of the castle lies your true mission. So you wave to Walt Disney and Mickey as you pass. You look up at the castle and stare in wonder at it. It's more beautiful then you imagined. You'd love to get a single picture of you with the castle but find that there are too many other guests in your way. But it's okay because the castle really isn't what you've come for either.
    You walk through the castle and you're in Fantasyland. Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, King Arthur's Carousel, Snow White's Scary Adventure, and the Teacups await you. But there's one more. The real reason you've come to Fantasyland. It's time to fly. You've been anticipating this moment since you entered the park. It's time to go to on Peter Pan's Flight. Some people head to Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. Those are completely legit rides. They'll get busy fast. Best to be in line first. Those wonderful rides? They are big, they are flashy, they are awesome. But after you're done, your hair has been messed up, you may be a little wet, and you've simply had a thrill. Yes, it's been Disney-fied so they're amazing but they are loud, flashy, and get the attention as you hear people screaming all over the park.
    But sit in the pirate ship of Peter Pan's Flight and you get an experience that will take you through the rest of the day. It may be quieter than that of Splash Mountain, it's not as fast as Space Mountain, and it won't leave you breathless in the same way that Big Thunder will but you get a story. You fly over London, you join the Darling children as Peter takes them off to Neverland. You see what they must have seen and felt what they must have as they approached Neverland. You fight Captain Hook with Peter and as you return the children to their beds at the end of the ride; you've lived the story. You step off of the ride having thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. You look at the park with a sense of accomplishment and contentment. You conquered what you came for. You want to hop in line again but you realize that others are seeing that Peter Pan is where it's at. So you smile softly to yourself and with a bounce in your step, you begin to walk toward Big Thunder Mountain. You've gotten your quiet time, now it's time for the harder stuff. You take one more glance back to Peter and lift your hand in a wave. You know it's silly but you can't help it. Peter has prepared you for the rest of your day. It's a magical moment where dreams come true. He spoke quietly. He wasn't flashy but he was amazing. You didn't look for the thing with the quickest thrill but rather the endearing sense of peace and you found it. Amongst the busy, the chaotic, the screaming children, and the Disney music, you found what you were looking for. Sometimes you just have to search and sometimes you just have to take the time to listen where the voice is leading you.

    "And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a still small voice" 1 Kings 19:11-12
       
    

Just another cup of coffee

     Did you ever realize how a good cup of coffee can change someone's day? I'll admit there are mornings that a cup of tea just will not suffice. Sometimes the sleep is slow in wearing off. Sometimes it's been a late night and an early morning and a cup of java is needed. Most of the time, coffee just taste ridiculously good.
   This morning, instead of staying in the house for my cup of coffee, I meandered down to a coffee shop I hadn't tried before. It's a hard thing to try out a new place. It can be a bit scary. We like to stay in routine and with the familiar coffee and baristas. What if I got to a new place and their coffee isn't as good? What if it is just a bad experience with rude baristas and no seats available when you don't want take away? What if they are so pretentious I don't understand what's on their menu? All of these are perfectly normal fears but when we take a chance, sometimes you find lovely baristas, wonderful coffee, and latte art.
    In some ways, this experience with coffee can be very similar to our quiet times. I am a master at the routine. For me, there is a lot of comfort in keeping with a similar routine in the morning. I know I'm going to make my coffee or tea with two sugars and a dash of milk, make toast or grab cereal for breakfast, grab a seat on the couch and begin to read my Bible. I really look forward to that time. My mornings spent with God like that are great! They are awesome! But how often do those things just become routine? We read the same amount of chapters, we sit in the same spot, we pray for the same things, and we spend the same amount of time with him every morning. Now, none of these things are bad. God shows up in those moments, he speaks, he rebukes, he loves, and he brings his presence. But at the same time, doesn't that sometimes limit God? We aren't creative enough to listen to find out where he wants to meet with us. We aren't brave enough to ask him what he would want us to do differently.
     At times, he simply wants to change up the order of our quiet time. Maybe we aren't supposed to read all the chapters we were intending to or maybe we are just supposed to have a prayer time. If that's what he's saying, then do it! But God has been challenging me to not make that time stagnant. Yes, he can speak to me if I do the same thing every day but he also challenges me to step out in faith and let him speak in different ways. This way, I give him room to move. God is a God of creativity and he speaks to us each individually in a myriad of ways and I love that! I'm so thankful that how he speaks to me is vastly different then how he speaks to my best friend or my roommate or my mother. He knows what we need, when we need it.
     But just like a good cup of coffee, sometimes we need change. Sometimes we need to try out something new, take a leap of faith. I took a leap of faith with a new coffee shop and I found lovely coffee and wonderful baristas. My Bible and notebook had come with me and as I sat there people watching, God showed up with words of truth, discipline, and hope. Could I have found that on the couch in the morning? Possibly. But I didn't. I found it in the early afternoon in a busy café, surrounded by people minding their own business taking a break from their days with a cup of coffee. But God's presence filled that place. He changed the atmosphere because he was there with me. How amazingly cool is that?! Thank the Lord that he is everywhere. Thank the Lord that he moves and he meets us wherever. He meets us in the rain, in the sun. He meets us on the street, in a park, in our house, in our rooms. He speaks through nature and through people. We just have to take the time to listen and perhaps change our structures a bit as well.
     So . . . feel like trying a new cup of coffee tomorrow? Perhaps you'll learn something you never thought you would.

And let Thankfulness reign

I wake up each morning still in awe of what I see

Outside my window is loads of houses all smushed together

I walk down the street and see cars on the left side of the road

A little further and I see the Tube Station

A red bus goes by

A little girl skips by in a school uniform

I see a Caffé Nero

I see a corner shop

I stop in amazement and realize I am not in Washington anymore

A car drives by; perhaps it’s Ian McKellan again

A moment passes

A posh British person rides by on a bike.

I really am not in Washington anymore

A thought that still stops me in my tracks

God has blessed me with amazing friends

God has blessed me with an amazing family

God has blessed me an amazing opportunity

I get to be in London

I get to live in London

I get to experience art in London

God shows up in London

God shows up in my quiet time

God shows up in every moment

He says come and hang out

He says be with me

He says enjoy

I am so thankful

I am so blessed

I am in amazement

Let not a moment go by

Let me not forget

Let me always remember

God promises to take care of me

God promises good gifts

God promises to always be near

I claim those promises

I claim those words that won’t return void

I claim that God is more than enough

He loves me

He calls me

He woos me

God invites us in

God asks us to approach

God surrounds us with his love

Let him.

Let him be enough

Let thankfulness pour forth

Above all else, let joy be over everything

Above all else, seek God

Above all else, praise him for he is good

Even in moments that seem too hard.

Even in moments when the rain is falling

Even in moments when the good seems so far away

For God is good

For God is real

For God is God

He knows what’s best

He knows the plans

He knows our desires

Let him walk with you

Let him lead you

Let him bless you in ways that only he knows how

Always be amazed

Always walk expectantly

Always have the faith of a child

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty!

Psalm 84:11-12; For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Along the Path

 

Charlotte, 12, is standing on the stage alone. The spotlight hits her as she begins.

 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

Alice fell down the rabbit hole and ended up in Wonderland. Dorothy got swept away in a tornado and ended up in Oz. Wendy learned how to fly and headed second star to the right and straight on to morning. Belle ended up in a castle of live inanimate objects, and Lucy found Narnia. And me? Well, I’ve remained stupidly stuck in this world. I’ve always dreamed of finding a new world, exploring new places, and seeing the unreal and the unexplored much like the stories I’ve read. It would be silly, I know, to assume that these things do happen in real life. After all, they were stories made up, authors with big imaginations who came up with all these things. But for oh so long, there has been something stirring in me. I just want an adventure. I want to happen along a path and suddenly that brings me to a brand new world. I mean, why not really? Why not unleash what’s in my head upon the world. No, I don’t mean I’m going to go outside in my garden and pretend there are gnomes, elves, and fairies. I mean, really, properly finding a new place to explore and finding a new world that’s all mine. So that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to wear my cutest blue and white striped dress, pack my bag with all the essentials, and find a new world.   

 

Her brother, James, 15, steps out onto the stage. Spotlight on him as Charlotte begins to gather her things.

                                                                                JAMES

My sister is loads of crazy. Dreaming about other worlds, wishing she could fly, never really living in the moment. In fact, she’s packing her bag in search of a new world. No, literally a new world. She thinks if she steps outside the walls of our home, she will discover what no person on earth really has; a new place to adventure. I say she is all kinds of crazy. She says I’m Edmund from the Narnia books. And maybe I am. But as her older brother, I must keep her feet firmly planted. Otherwise, what is she going to do? She’s going to end up a crazy cat woman for the rest of her life doing nothing but thinking she really is in Narnia. I have to somehow figure out how to stop her, how to convince her that her trek outside the house to find a new world is preposterous. But in order to do that, I’m going to have to go with her. I hate my life.

James grabs his bag off the floor as the two meet in the center stage.

 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

What are you doing?

 

                                                                                JAMES

Coming with you.

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

Not a chance. There’s no way I’m finding anything cool if you’re with me.

 

                                                                                JAMES

Never know. Maybe I’ll be the key to you finding the portal to Middle Earth.

 

James and Charlotte stare at each other. Charlotte pondering.

                          Pause.
                          Charlotte lets out a long exasperated sigh.

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

Fine. Let’s get on with it then.

 

They both begin to walk. James freezes. Charlotte turns to the audience.

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

My brother is the most unbelieving unbeliever there ever was. He doesn’t read fantasy books, he reads biographies and historical accounts. The boring stuff. But I knew why he was going to try to help me. He was determined to prove me wrong. So determined that he was going to join me. I knew what I was going to find. It was going to be incredible. I mean, Narnia and Wonderland incredible. But hopefully without all the scary bits.

 

Charlotte freezes as James steps forward.

 

                                                                                JAMES

We stepped out of the front door and immediately, Charlotte took a deep breath and got the goofiest smile on her face and I knew I was in for it. She was ready to ruin my life. She was ready to pull me into a world that didn’t exist in reality but only existed within her imagination. We began to walk down the sidewalk. Charlotte kept looking in every direction, looking for something that might lead her to a new world. I wanted to roll my eyes into the back of my head.

 

Charlotte unfreezes.

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

I still don’t understand why you’re going. You don’t even know what we’re looking for.
 

                                                                                JAMES

And you do?
 

Charlotte looks straight ahead.

                          Pause.
                          Charlotte breaks into a smile and points.

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

There!

She runs to the edge of the stage. James saunters after her.

 

                                                                                JAMES

So? It’s a path with a gate in front.
 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

It’s a dirt path with trees and flowers lining it. The best new worlds are found when we follow the path.

                                                                               

            JAMES

It’s gated and locked.
 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

There’s even someone’s glasses hanging on the fence. They must have been transported from this very spot. The glasses are hanging from the inside. James, this is it! If only I could get to the other side.
 

                                                                                JAMES

                                                                                (frustrated)
IT’S GATED AND LOCKED!

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

The unbelief in you is almost unbelievable.

 

James rolls his eyes as he freezes.

 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

It was a beautiful path and I knew it lead to somewhere. Someone had walked this path before me and had left a sign for me to follow. My brother just didn’t understand. So I tried to find a way in. I tried to climb up the fence, I was too short. I tried to squeeze my hand through, my hand was too fat. I tried to bend the bars, but I wasn’t strong enough. I even put on the blue glasses that had been left hanging there to see if that would have some magical powers. They didn’t. I prayed, I begged, I sang a song, I danced, I stared, I jumped, I did everything I could think of. I put my biscuits through the holes in the fence, hoping that maybe the person with the key would appear and accept my offering. But nothing. As I did everything strange, James just stood there. Finally, I could think of nothing else to do, so I sat down in front of the path and starred.

 

                                Charlotte sits down and freezes. James unfreezes and begins to talk.

                                                                                JAMES

Yep, everything insane one could think of, she did. It was so embarrassing. All I wanted to do was hide. Instead, I leaned up against the fence amused. She chanted, she waved, she offered food. Ridiculousness. I was thankful when she finally stopped. The thing was, she didn’t get it. She didn’t understand that she wasn’t going to be able to get through unless she had a key. If she had a key, she could simply walk through the doors. But there was no one with the key around. She wasn’t supposed to head down that path. The path wasn’t for her. It was for someone else.

 

                                James sits down next to her.

 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

I can’t get through.
 

                                                                                JAMES

Duh.

 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

Why not? I should be able to. People should not keep paths locked like this.
 

                                                                                JAMES
Maybe at the end is someone’s house and they don’t want kids going into their yards. Maybe it’s a crazy old woman who wants to eat us. Whatever it is, there is a good reason why this is locked.

 

                                Charlotte sulks.

                                Pause.
                               An older gentleman, Mr. Nottingham, walks by.

                                                                                MR. NOTTINGHAM

Good morning, James and Charlotte. Trying to get onto the path?

                                Charlotte looks up but doesn’t say anything.

                                Mr. Nottingham sits next to the kids.

                                                                               

                                                                                MR. NOTTINGHAM

The thing is, Charlotte, despite your belief in the world you want and the world you think you’re searching for, the world you’re actually looking for is here in the real world. You want adventure, you want excitement but I can tell you it’s not through this gate.
 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

How do you know?
 

                                                                                MR. NOTTINGHAM

Because I know the man who has the key to this gate. That man lives at the end of the path. Yes, he has a beautiful house but it doesn’t lead to an unexplored world, it leads to a very real house in our very real world. The gate is locked to protect him and protect you from happening on it when you’re not supposed to.
 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

But what’s up with the glasses? Someone’s gone through already.
 

                                                                                MR. NOTTINGHAM

People do go in. But only when they’re invited. One day, you’ll be invited, I’m sure. You’ll get the key, the gate will open and you will go through it. But only when you’re ready. Only when everything else has lined up in your life, when your time to go is here, then you can enter. If you enter before your time, it won’t be as it needs to. There are still things you need to do and you still need to grow up some first.
 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

So when I’m a grown up, I can go? Does that mean you can go?
 

                                                                                MR. NOTTINGHAM

I step in to get instruction from the man in the house but then I am sent out again. I stand guard of the gate to make sure that people know what they are getting themselves in to when they enter in through the gate. One day, Charlotte both you and your brother will step through. But I suggest waiting until you’ve been invited.
 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

But how will I know I’ve been invited?
 

                                                                                MR. NOTTINGHAM

You’ll know. I promise.

 

Mr. Nottingham ruffles their hair before he walks off. Charlotte turns to James, confused.

 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

I don’t get it.
 

                                                                                JAMES
Mom says Mr. Nottingham has always been a bit strange.

 

                                Pause.

                                                                                JAMES

Go home?

 

Charlotte nods and stands up. She freezes as James exits. Another actress walks onto the stage, Charlotte at the age of 50.

 

                                                                                CHARLOTTE

I didn’t understand most of what Mr. Nottingham told us except for the part that I couldn’t go in. But when I got older, I started to understand. There are certain paths in life that we do have to wait for. There is such a thing called timing. With the right timing, we end up where we need to be and when and we’re much happier for it. But when we step outside of the destiny of timing, things aren’t what they need to be. So I’ve stayed in the timing. Both James and I moved on. I realized I could write my own fantasy worlds and I was perfectly content with living in the real world but writing in my imagination. My brother became a scientist, intensely practical. Every summer we’d come back to the gate. It was always locked, and always had a new article of clothing hanging on the fence. Mr. Nottingham showed up a few times looking just as he always had. One day, when James and I were very old, we returned. To our surprise, James’ favorite scarf was on the gate. For the first time, we really understood. James received his invitation. We embraced and said our final goodbyes as Mr. Nottingham offered James the key and the two walked down the path together. I never saw my brother after that. But I finally understood. I walked many paths in my life. Some of them opened right away and some were closed until the right timing. But there are certain gates that will stay shut and only when we really are ready, not in our timing but in God’s, will they open. Had I rushed it when I was 12, the results would have been devastating. Instead, we stay on the path we’ve been given. One day, we’ll be invited through a new gate into the glorious light of a paradise and new world beyond our wildest dreams. Until then, we must keep walking and keep enjoying the life we’ve been given.                             

 

                                Lights down.