The Bean Bag Chair: September 2006

a sight for sore eyes...

Just thought I'd pass along a couple links to this cool new photographer I found. Talk about inspiration and challenge...he's a Christian guy from Nashville who has taken pics for artists like Switchfoot, Starfield (see below), JARS, Jeremy Camp, Rebecca STJ, Leigh Nash...not to mention shooting the hotties from Prison Break! Recently he did a photo documentary on Africa and published a book. If you have the chance you should check it out...the pics are AMAZING!!! (And the price isn't unreasonable either! BUY THE BOOK!!!)

Anyways, his name is Jeremy Cowart...if nothing else I hope his pics inspire wherever you find yourself in life to be salt and light and the redefinition of Christianity in the modern world.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremycowart/
http://www.jeremycowart.com/

consume me...

Consume me from the inside out...these words were so poignant for my evening at Revolution. God has been doing some major heart surgery on me - but it hasn't been pleasant in any stretch of the imagination. I would consider my spiritual life at the moment as fairly dry. Not in the sense of God not "doing" stuff or "speaking" stuff in my life...just a lack of "feeling" it. Spirituality and the presence of God is far beyond a simple feeling...and yet what we feel so often dictates our passion or commitment level. In my relationship with God right now I have been learning to worship Him - not for what I've "felt" in the past, but for the simple truth that He is God and deserves my praise. Whether or not I feel anything does not change the reality of God of His greatness that compels worship.

And yet there are times I miss how things were... and such was my convo with God during worship. It was then He gave me this vision of a dried out forest/field. It was barren and lacking a solid rain. The trees looked like giant pieces of driftwood, parched grey. The grass had shriveled brown. Not a drop of moisture could be found. Reaching out His hand, His finger sparked the dehydrated forest. In a moment the whole hillside was ablaze.
Sometimes God needs the land to be parched dry of old ideas, selfish goals, distractive habits. We need to be dried out before we're ready for the flames of His fire to spread through our lives and be poured out in our earthly purposes. There needs to be nothing left of the old life - it needs to be squeezed out to the last drop so the only thing we desire - at all cost - is the consuming presence of God. And when we are dry, dangerously dehydrated, it will take but a moment to ignite our life and change the face of our destiny. As tragic as the Kelowna fires were to the landscape of BC, I was always amazed at the photos that caused the nite sky to become a glowing ember. May our lives be as bright a beacon in the darkness of this world.

Support our troops...

I'd like to introduce you to Starfield...a freaking amazing band that has two of the highest qualities EVER: they're solid Christians who just happen to be Canadian! Okay! Okay...Canadian isn't a stipulation, but it is a definite bonus! ANYWAYS, I just had the opportunity to catch one of their shows tonite at Redeemer College and was completely and entirely blessed! It is always refreshing to be able to catch a live show where the focus is worshipping God and not drawing attention to self. So few bands can balance fame and giving praise to God...kudos to those who can! It was a cool reminder to be praying for those involved in music ministry and doing battle on different fields than my own.
If you haven't picked up any of their stuff...give it a listen and support the homefries. Know of another band that deserves a plug that balances both on and off stage focus on God? Post a comment and share your finds...lets support the troops!

I'll huff...and I'll puff...

Yippee for birthday candles... the annual test that I am still in fact breathing! For those of you concerned of the possibility of my contracting birthday blues - I want to alleviate you of those assumtions. I am loving life (all 28 years of it) and loving God more than I ever have before. I feel overwhelmingly blessed by all the amazing experiences I have enjoyed over the past year...friends, family, the students @ HD, Revolution, spiritual giftings, Mississippi, California, NYC, crazy visits, cameras, cottages, meeting new people...where does it end?!!!
But aside from all the great memories, I have also learned some tough lessons. My heart has been wounded on more than one occasion...and yet God has been gentle and ever-more the source of my strength and peace. He has surprised me in ways I never thought possible. He has led me down pathways I never thought I wanted to walk. He has opened my eyes to a world I had overlooked by lack of time, understanding and pride. Dang pride...

And so I stand at the brink of another year... holding in my hands the amazing journey of a life passed... anticipating the amazing adventure still ahead. I am not one to have plans set in stone - I have learned that God's planning and timing has far surpassed my own! Sometimes I wish for the security of a scheduled life...but I am a firm believer of "Carpe Diem" (for all you dead poet's fans!) Live your life with purpose before your Creator and give Him the freedom to paint your future.
"I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper!"
Prosperity takes on different faces in the Christian life...may we embrace it! Especially when the price of gas "drops" to 79 cents!

A Voice for Africa...a lesson in giving.

Well...it's that time of year again! This year's September bash was definitely one of my most memorable - a benefit evening for AIDS orphans. I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I am. I have some of the greatest friends on the face of the planet! This year's catch was that you had to come with an outfit for an orphan. As I was sorting through the clothes today I realized how awesome my friends are. I was humbled to the point of tears at the overwhelming generosity and creativity in each bag. People gave in abundance, and as I look at the stack of clothes (not one outfit the same) I am overjoyed at the thought of how they will bless the lives of children who need a sliver of hope in seeming darkness. I wasn't sure what to expect people to bring...but I am definitely amazed! Thanx to all who made this event a success and gave so generously. Words cannot express the blessing you have imparted on my life. When you make yourself available to God, it is amazing the life He can pour through you. We are doors to the storehouses of His blessing.
Sorry I have no pictures of the event to share with all my peeps who couldn't be there (you were GREATLY missed!)...I didn't pick up my camera all nite! As usual...it was somewhat crazy times (hosting always is for me!) We had loads of food...and outdoor games - although the surprise big hit of the nite was bracelet making. We had an outdoor "walk-in" theatre featuring "Casablanca". It is a classic...although I think more action would have been a better choice...next time! My brother and I ended the evening cleaning up and watching "Top Gun" after everyone had left. Nothing like ringing in a new year with a classic eighties flick and Tom Cruise! It was the coolest...sleeping bags and hay bales, the nite sky hazed with a layer of misty fog, and fighter jets/hot guys in uniforms projected larger than life on our barn wall. If only I could have a piece of chocolate it would have been perfect!

what am I doing?...

I was putting together a video presentation for the AIDS Benefit Evening we're having next weekend. It didn't take long before I had tears streaming down my face - alone in my office at work...great time to get all emotional. Face after face cried out a name - these were someone's children...parents...friends...and I had to ask myself, what am I doing?!! The "AIDS pandemic" is a common household term, and yet do we really understand the profound impact this is having on the infrastructure of Africa and it's people? What do we have to see to join forces to actually make an impact on the devestation? And it's not just Africa...the world is full of needs, one can hardly know where to begin! And yet so often we do nothing, or just enough to appease our conscience. Will God's people awaken from their complacent slumber to find it is too late?

Seeing thru spiritual eyes...

So yeah...life isn't always what we expect, is it? At the beginning of the summer I asked God to help me see thru spiritual eyes...not just physical ones. Who would have thought such a simple request would create such challenges?! All I can tell you (without delving too deeply into my "personal" stuff!) is that things aren't always as they seem. Sometimes our physical eyes overlook what truly is important in life...First impressions of people can be marred by the externals rather than taking the time to see the internals. Broken hearts are not visible behind a brave smile. Hurting peeps are shunned because of what they wear or how they talk. Our minds are a jury, convicting and dismissing at the will of what registers in the orbs. Who will take the time to see past the masks and to the heart? To a soul? To a new beginning...

Up in the middle of nowhere...

Just got back from my last summer stint at the cottage. This time we were somewhere around Flinton, ON. It ended up raining all weekend, so it was a nice blend of games, family, cheezy Mary Higgins Clark novels and quirky movies. I even sat down and knit if you can imagine! Given my summer in fast-forward, this was strange to me, but definitely needed!
Rather than bore you with the details, I attached some pics - aren't my neices and nephew the cutest?!!! It's always good times when family is around!

Owen making friends with our plastic version of Buckwheat the lobster.