Overcomplicate

     My post today was inspired by this image on Pinterest:

      I think we're all instigators and victims of an overcomplicated life. I suppose this has been on my mind most lately as it relates dating, but the basic principle can be applied to most relationships.  We seem to think something means more if we don't ask for it, if we don't start the ball rolling. Yes, okay, in some aspects. Surprises and gifts are wonderful and they show thought and care. And sometimes the other person needs to make the first move.  But when I see girls trying to suggest something to their boyfriend and then get all pouty because he didn't pick up the hint, I don't think that's fair to the guy.  In general, boys and girls don't always speak the same language. In fact, every person has his or her own language because each and every one of us is a unique individual who only sees the world from one, personalized point of view.  
     Would it not be better to be lovingly up front and honest? I think it would change our relationships for the better.  When you need a hug, ask for it.  When you miss somebody, tell them. Of course, this is in general and as with everything there are exceptions to this, there is a balance. If you've tried to talk to somebody 10 times and they aren't responding, you may want to take a break and not nag them.  But that's not my point.  Bottom line is: don't overcomplicate. 

There's something in my shoe

     The other morning, I slid my foot into my sneaker and scraped over a small stone.  Habitually, I froze up and almost pulled my foot out of my shoe.  There's something in my shoe, there's Something in my shoe, there's SOMETHING in my shoe! No, it's just a rock.  But I have a very good reason for this instinctual reaction.
     A year and a half ago, getting ready for school. 5:45 am, dark, I'm half asleep, and I'm pulling on my uniform.  I pull my scuffed-up, thick-soled, black dress shoes out from under my dresser, pull the left one on. *Yawn.*  I lace it up, ensuring the strings are flat, not twisted.  Next shoe, now.  It's like the hokey-pokey.  I put my toe in, I PULL MY TOE OUT!  There's something pokey in my shoe!  I'm awake!  I'm pretty sure I screamed - you can ask my sister if you really need to know.  I ever so slowly grab one of the laces and tip the shoe sideways; out comes this:

     This is a parktown prawn.  They are ugly, very pokey, squirt ink, and impossible to kill.  I've been told it takes several phone books to stun them.  Of course, my mom doesn't like killing things.  I'm thankful she let us kill the mosquitoes.  Spiders, wasps, parktown prawns, they go outside.     Meaning someone has to pick them up and carry them there, and, when it's my shoe, that someone is me. Eurgh! 
     For the remainder of my time in Africa, I never failed to check my shoes before putting them on. And I still have the THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY SHOE instinct. 
     All this to say, be thankful you don't find parktown prawns in your shoes. 

I was freaking out too much to ever take a picture of one of these, so the image is from http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=264444

Distractions of bickering

     This post is definitely a reflection.  It's an issue I've noticed, but haven't formed a complete opinion on yet.  I'm still thinking through it.
     I think humans like bickering.  Or we just like being stubborn in our opinion, and that leads to bickering.  It tends to be over petty stuff such as what color the walls should be or what we should eat to be the healthiest.  We aren't exempt from this as Christians - have you heard about those people who think you can't be saved unless you're baptised?  Or, *gasp*, what about those who think we're predestined and have no free will?  How about those who are all up in arms over whether women should have long hair or not.  I absolutely refuse to join in my siblings conversations about what the end of the world is going to look like.

     It seems to me like we're caught up in the fine, legalistic details and are distracted from the pure, simple, wonderful truth of the gospel.  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.  Each of the things which distract us are a minimal part of the Bible.  Should the end of the world make any difference how we live today?  Should we get so caught up in hair length that we forget our call to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all Christ has commanded us?
     See all my question marks?  Maybe it's okay to be really opinionated on these issues.  I have opinions of my own on them.  It just seems like they are causing a divide in the church of Christ, causing us to miss out on the beauty of Christ's amazing, loving gift.  And that's something that I think is not okay.

An Unfinished Story: The Ninth Lesson

The ninth lesson: John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation

In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.  The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.  He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
(John 1:1-14, NLT)

An Unfinished Story

Phillip Godfrey

It was a night in December, cold December when a light came into our world,

A light sent from up above us, one night Bethlehem beheld.

But is that night in December all we remember of the light heaven chose to send?

An unfinished story is what we are hearing, but we can determine its end.

For he was sent to protect us, he was meant to direct us like a star shining overhead.

He pointed the way to heaven so clearly with what he said.

But will the world ever hear him, gather near him as a guide, guardian, and friend?

An unfinished story is what we are hearing, but we can determine its end.

Rejoice, all the angels sang, rejoice, as the church bells rang.

Would we hear them say were they here today?

This is an unfinished story, filled with glory such as we cannot comprehend.

A wonderful story is what we are hearing but we can determine its end

Rejoice, all the angels sang, rejoice, as the church bells rang.

Would we hear them say were they here today?

This is an unfinished story, filled with glory such as we cannot comprehend.

A wonderful story and we have been given the chance to complete it,

A chance that we must not suspend.

The chance to complete it the way we would like it to end.

Rejoice!

I Got Proof

Kareem Manuel feat. Lecrae

If you go through the Bible consisteAnnotatently (that means read it)

Realize there’s no inconsistencies, start looking at things differently

When a soldier in his infantry looks at Genesis 3

God said it was him, the messiah that crushed the head

Of the serpent as I read, saw it all come to a head

Told of the suffering at Judas’ hand

The promise seen through Abraham

Prophecies Isaiah said, all fulfilled through Christ who bled

The Da Vinci code or Zeitgeist film

Couldn’t convince me not to die for him

Without their fame and prominence

Their arguments don’t make no sense

How you gon’ convince me that I’m simply a product of chance?

That the Big Bang came, and made a monkey that done made a man?

If you want to follow theory or die you got...?

Then there’s clearly nothing left to be said

Cus Christ is alive, rose to the sky

While all your truths are surely dead

[Hook]

I got proof, I got proof, I got proof

That he’s still living

I got proof, I got proof, I got proof

That he is risen

And this is why I die, why I live my life

For the sake of Jesus Christ, cus I believe that he’s alive

[Lecrae]

Witness not based on what I witness

But due to the word of an eye witness

But get this I don’t wanna wanna miss this

Business is serious like sickness

Arguments get me weary, man

They don’t use any history

All they have is a theory mayne

Why they tryin’ to Da Vinci me?

I spit a couple flows, did a couple shows

Met a couple bros who was all into doin’ no-nos

That and they into reading pros off of Dead Sea scrolls

Come on bro tell me that don’t sound loco

Cus Jesus died, took our sins into the sky

And a hundred times five seen him in the flesh alive

And the light in Paul’s eyes got him on his knees cryin’

Mention Jesus died tonight, runnin for his very life

They think that’s a lie, but Paul really died

Like millions other Christians who gave their life up for Christ

Hook

They wanna know why I’d die for him

Confused on why I ride with him

Got questions about Christian living

He’ll answer like Iverson

Heard me say Christ in all my songs

Dude run up on me like what if I’m wrong

I said I’m not then I saw his jaw

Stretch out and lay on the floor

He asked me how so I told him more

Christ in the clouds, and people saw him

Witnesses told them their report

Got them killed still they held on

To what they knew was no mistake

Got crucified, burned at the stake

If this wasn’t true, then dude I say

Would you die for what you knew was fake?

So I hope this hitting home, I ain’t reached this on my own

But why I preach him in every song

If he ain’t rise then find his bones

Been looking in the tombs, still looking in the ground

Keep searching bro, no where to be found

I ain’t Sherlock, but homes I’m found

So believe he ain’t no where around

"An Unfinished Story" is based off of a bulletin from a church service I attended in South Africa.  I will give credit to individuals throughout the series, but the bulletin is from St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Linden, from the 18th of December 2011 at 6:30 pm.  I edited to make it more modern.

An Unfinished Story: The Eighth Lesson

The Eighth Lesson: the wise men are led by the star to Jesus

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.  He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

    are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
    who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.  Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!  They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
(Matthew 2:1-9, NLT)

On this Feast of Epiphany, the day following the twelfth day of Christmas,  I want to share two songs: a traditional rendition of We Three Kings and a less traditional version of Little Drummer Boy, the second being sung by a group making their way into the spotlight.

We Three Kings

Sung by Jennifer Avalon

Little Drummer Boy

Sung by Pentatonix

"An Unfinished Story" is based off of a bulletin from a church service I attended in South Africa.  I will give credit to individuals throughout the series, but the bulletin is from St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Linden, from the 18th of December 2011 at 6:30 pm.  I edited to make it more modern.

An Unfinished Story: The Seventh Lesson

The seventh lesson: the shepherds go to the manger

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.  The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
(Luke 2:8-20, NLT)

Angels We Have Heard on High

The Piano Guys

(This is one of my favorite groups - not traditional, but definitely beautiful)

Angels we have on heard high

Sweetly singing ore the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains 

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo 

Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ whose birth the angels sing

Come adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord the newborn King 

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo 

See him in a manger laid

Whom the choirs of angels praise

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid

While our hearts in love we raise 

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo

"An Unfinished Story" is based off of a bulletin from a church service I attended in South Africa.  I will give credit to individuals throughout the series, but the bulletin is from St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Linden, from the 18th of December 2011 at 6:30 pm.  I edited to make it more modern.

An Unfinished Story: The Sixth Lesson

And now, after a brief interlude of family and food, I will continue with the unfinished story.  It seems to me appropriate to continue this after Christmas, after the commercialism has reached it's peak, after our attention moves away from lights! sweets! gifts!  Although it is still the same story that has been broadcasted for the last six weeks, year after year, don't allow yourself to become tired of it.  It is so important, no matter what time of year we tell it!

The sixth lesson: Luke tells of the birth of Jesus

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

(Luke 2:1-7, NLT)

Away in a Manger

Casting Crowns

Away in a manger, 

No crib for His bed 

The little Lord Jesus 

Laid down His sweet head 

The stars in the bright sky 

Looked down where He lay 

The little Lord Jesus 

Asleep on the hay 

The cattle are lowing 

The poor Baby wakes 

But little Lord Jesus 

No crying He makes 

I love Thee, Lord Jesus 

Look down from the sky 

And stay by my side, 

'Til morning is nigh. 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, 

I ask Thee to stay 

Close by me forever 

And love me I pray 

Bless all the dear children 

In Thy tender care 

And take us to heaven 

To live with Thee there

"An Unfinished Story" is based off of a bulletin from a church service I attended in South Africa.  I will give credit to individuals throughout the series, but the bulletin is from St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Linden, from the 18th of December 2011 at 6:30 pm.  I edited to make it more modern.