Daniel Smith

My friend, Daniel, is in the presence of God now. He will never suffer again. He died yesterday afternoon. His battle with cancer lasted 6 months, and in that time period, it sounds like he shared with many people about the hope he has in Christ (has being the correct tense because he is with him now). Daniel was joyful, talented, hilarious, contagious, loving, kind, intelligent–an all around wonderful person. His hope was found in Christ, and he shared that and encouraged others to share that, as well.
As he is in the presence of Jesus, he will not suffer, but his family and friends are exhausted and hurting. Please pray for them. Also, please pray for all who have heard the message of Christ through Daniel’s personal interaction, his family’s interaction, his blog which blessed so many people, and Daniel’s friends who have been encouraged to share the hope found in Christ. Pray that God would continue to be glorified by those coming to new life in Christ in response to this message of hope. The message he passed on was eternal.
I am blessed to have known him as my friend.

An indictment on my self-absorbed life…

In the last few days, I have been convicted at every corner. My life, even in being “about” others is about me–my middle class world spinning round. It is so easy to “set up” life here in America to be insular, entertaining, comforting. Our worries may be major to us, but in the scheme of things, are minor to those without a pinch of bread to eat.
Three issues have been brought to the forefront of my mind–poverty/hunger, abortion, and the persecution of Christians in India and Iraq. These are issues in which I can choose to be uninformed. I choose to be uninformed by making the most important things in my life my needs and wants and comfort and the well-being of my family and friends in my community. This is easy to do. In fact, I have to literally choose to be informed about issues that take me out of my comfort zone. I simply swallow what is easiest to hear and to accept.
I get a Compassion magazine two or more times a year, and yesterday was the first time I have taken time to read it. Hmmm. Quickly I was reminded that the world is SO much bigger than me…that the need is overwhelming…that I will be held accountable to God for what I do with the abundance of resources He has given me. (yes, abundance, even when things are tight and I worry about finances–it is really relative in comparison to those I read about). I’m ashamed that I worry about fashion or my home’s look as I think about those surviving for another day.
With the election looming, I have also been thinking more about abortion. I have been reading up on some of the issues. It is easy to skirt over things and to not really ingest what the issues are. How often do I think about abortion? Not enough. In the last week, God has brought a sensitivity to me as I look around and see children around me–especially those with special needs. The conception of children is an amazing miracle–a work of God. The fact that some people are ill prepared to be parents and do a poor job of it is a reality. I worked in an inner-city school as a counselor for several years, and I heard so many stories and saw so much pain that I became numb. It is easy for people to become jaded and think in pragmatic terms about everything in life. Yet, again, we are still accountable to God for our actions, votes and consciences. Just because it would be “easier” to people’s lives or our society does not make something right. Our selfishness to shield ourselves from hardship and create ease is sick. I have been heartbroken reading what legislation is proposed for abortion. It is much easier to turn on the tv and be entertained than to think on these issues, but God has given me a mind, energy and resources to fight for those who do not have a voice–the orphans and widows–just as he has fought for me and brought me from life to death.
Through reading several blogs, I have also been reminded of the intense suffering, torture and death of those in relationship with Christ in India and Iraq (these are just two places–there are myriad places where brothers and sisters are suffering for the sake of the gospel). What a laugh that what I may think is horrible in my face everyday is NOTHING in comparison to what the body is experiencing elsewhere. I am reminded to pray for those brothers and sisters and get my mind and heart out of my self-absorbed existence. I pray to see the world in the big picture with God’s eyes, and I am reminded to cling to him heartily praying for those needs around the world. It is overwhelming to see, but just because I am overwhelmed and do not want to hurt from the pain, I cannot look away.
I encourage you to look up from your life…see the needs of those around you and beyond and be a light and prayer warrior. May we all be awakened from our self-absorbed slumbers.

Seriously…

My greatest (waste of time) pet peeve–fake blogs. Reading the thoughts of a character…seriously? I waste enough time reading insightful real blogs but fake ones? Oh yeah, my greatest (non waste of time) pet peeve—Christmas decorations and the Christmas push in October. Nuff said.
What’s your pet peeve?

Did you see the moon?

Wow. Last night, there was a gorgeous full moon. It lit up the night like the day. As I stood in my backyard to ponder it, I was reminded of truth. The moon is a reflection of the sun, just as we, in Christ, are a reflection to bring God glory. Our reflection is only as big and bright as that time we are connected with him, in his word and being transformed by his grace. Most of the time, I am but a sliver or a “new moon” being conformed to the things of this world.
Romans 12:1-2

Does it really matter?

Yes. The answer is that it matters a lot…theology, that is. Before you roll your eyes or skip this entry, hang with me.
Everyday we experience pain, joy, fear and frustration. In our pain and frustration, we often ask why. What we believe about God shapes our response to the everyday events in our lives. These beliefs form our attitude and our philosophy. We make decisions and build or avoid relationships because of our assumptions about what God is about and who he is.
The Bible shares with us who God is from cover to cover, and the Holy Spirit is given to those in Christ to help them understand scripture.
Through the scriptures, we see that God is about himself and his glory…that he sent his precious son, Jesus, to be God man among us and to be our righteousness and to die a death because of punishment for our sin. He is the atoning sacrifice.
Through God’s word we see that the greatest gift is relationship with him. Through his word, we see our lives are to be conformed to him and that the Spirit does that. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tells us that God’s will is our sanctification–basically, he makes us more like him throughout our lifetimes. God’s will is not the American dream. God’s will is not our fitting in financially or circumstantially or in status. God’s will is not our comfort in anything other than him and his promises (and his character and promises are FAR greater than anything we treasure here on earth).
I know all of this is my mind, but it is in the midst of a trial, however small or big, that I am reminded in my heart and in the application of it. Last week, I was overcome with sadness at some circumstances in my life that did not look like the others around me. Sadness is a reality of life, but our response to it and how we choose to think about life can lead us to sin or to trust and righteousness found in Christ. By God’s grace, I was reminded of the verse above. I looked back on the faithfulness of God specifically in the last 3 1/2 years of my life–the pain and the growth, the suffering and the fellowship. He has worked so faithfully to make me more like him and bring me joy in him–and he will continue to. I was reminded of reading in “Respectable Sins” about discontentment. I was reminded that my eyes need to be fixed on Christ and not another’s life. The others around me are being sanctified in different circumstances with the same God’s hand. The very truth of God’s word set my feet on a firm foundation. My emotions were still raw, but the truth settled me. The pain was still there, but truth was the anchor. Right thinking breeds right living. If the premise was that God was about my comfort, health or my keeping up with the Jones’, I would have reacted in a different way. I would ask why God is not faithful, but he graciously reminded me that the picture is a lot bigger than my perspective.
Our lives are about conformation to Christ…not our comfort or glory here. Our lives are about conformation to Christ…not our “happiness’ for a time here…but true joy in Him…sharing in him. Things, circumstances, states of being, relationships can so easily become our idols, and we trade the greatest treasure of Christ for them. Theology–the study of God, who he is, what he is about, grounds us in who he is in the realities of this life and beyond. I am grateful for God’s graciousness in teaching me his truths and bringing about perserverence and character. I want to bring him glory, but I so need him to refine me in order to do it!

Thoughts from my weekend…

This weekend I had a variety of experiences. On Friday, Greg and I got to catch the movie, “Fireproof.” It is not filled with Oscar winning acting, but I really enjoyed it. Greg was “pleasantly surprised” too…which is a huge deal. He went for me expecting little. The movie took an honest look at relationships, and it did not compromise the gospel. I was refreshed coming out of it instead of feeling like I needed to scrub my brain.
We then embarked on a project to make our massive backyard a prison camp for our dog, Bailey. She had begun a very annoying practice of climbing the fence. Literally, we could not take our eyes off of her or she was making friends with the Chow down the street or harassing the black dog named snowball next door. The fence fix ups were economical and seem to be working. Bailey keeps looking for the loop hole:).
On Saturday, I got to participate in a new experience for me…Upward Flag Football. I am spending time with a middle school girl, and so I am taking her to her games. This particular program was located at West Park Baptist Church in West Knoxville. I was really encouraged by the investment this church was making in the community. It is a great outreach for parents and students. This is not a program just for their church. I loved seeing the body of Christ reach out where they were to be a light. It was a refreshing, encouraging time. I look forward to continued involvement getting to know parents and students involved.
On Sunday, I helped lead worship after a few month break. It is good to celebrate the truth of the gospel with the body.
Sunday afternoon, I headed to Athens to spend time with my mom for a late birthday celebration (her birthday is in mid-September). We ate lunch together and went to a neighboring town to go to an Arts and crafts festival. I forget some of the joys of small town life–seeing familiar faces, stopping to talk. The town of Athens is so familiar to me and things change so slowly that I can pick up on the slightest changes. One of my favorite things to do is to drive down Ingleside Avenue where there are historic homes. I spent a lot of time there growing up with my best friend, Mary Leigh. She lived just down the street from where my dad worked at First Baptist of Athens. Every building you drive by has a memory.
About ten years ago, the church I grew up in (that was in some ways the hub of the community) began to fragment. It was a painful and destructive time, and in many ways, I do not think the town has been the same since. I know I have not been the same. In fact, I mourned the loss a long time ago. It is almost like my hometown is gone (to me). It is only at a rare wedding or funeral that I see the community of people that were my hometown to me so long ago. Otherwise, everyone has gone their own way. This feeling was cemented when my dad died almost 3 years ago. My dad was a highly respected man in the community. In fact, some people equate good days at FBC with him…they almost hold on to nostalgia instead of the transforming gospel of Christ. I thought about that yesterday. What do you have to cling to in nostalgia but warm passing memories? Those are not our hope, and if they are, then we come up seriously lacking. Our hope is in the blood of Christ…his transforming power, his unwavering commitment to us, his life changing purposes. My dad was a wonderful man, but he was not my hope nor should any man be anyone else’s. (enough about my rant). In some painful ways, the loss of things so dear to me brought me to greater relationship and dependence on Christ–and joy in Him instead of circumstances.
Another precious part of the weekend was getting to drop in on my friend, Amber, at her house. We got to briefly visit, and then I got to see my friend Cindy and her 6 month old, Audrey. They were visiting her parents. I talk to Cindy and Amber all the time, but being on their turf was special.
As I drove home last night to spend time with Greg, I was thankful. Thankful for the opportunities God gives me to reach out and be in relationship with so many, I need to take advantage of seizing those more often. I enjoyed time, not rushed, with my mom. I was reminded of the steadfastness of friendship that keeps growing despite distance and circumstance (with Cindy and Amber). I was reminded to be thankful for our church body that so wants to follow Christ.