PLUNGE47

While we were in KC it snowed three times. The first time it began while we were in the movie theater and we walked out to sleeting flakes. Across the packed parking lot we moved slowly against the wind and were happy to find car… and unhappy to realize the lights were left on and the battery dead (thankfully Ivy was with Gran). So in the cold snow we unsuccessfully tried to jump the old battery and eventually got a ride across the street to Sears. Die Hard in hand we once again braved the cold snow, connected the battery and soon the car was warming our frozen limbs.

   Another snow fall began as we drove home from my grandparents. Right when we opened the car door Ivy began to chant “snow”, which sounds a lot like “no” since her “s” sound needs practice. I pulled her out of the car seat and we both looked up to the sky and began to catch snow flakes in our mouths. Ivy screamed with delight and dancing with her in the snow was one of my best times of our trip.

   It is strange how one moment something happens and it is a curse, but in another moment the same thing can become a blessing…  In truth the entire world faces this dilemma in Christ, who for some is a blessing, but others a curse. Often it is our situation in life which decides our path. Parents, sickness, failure, war, success, friends – all influence us and through them we choose or reject Christ. In this we must ask if our lives lead people to reject the name of Christ or do our lives cause people to dance in the joy of knowing Him?

 For Ivy life is joy and in everything there is excitement. The box is just as wonderful as the toy-if it comes with peanuts the box is better! So as we slowly counted out the change from the mop bucket-I was irritated that banks would not count it for us-Ivy ran around the room in fascination. Soon after we emptied the change onto the table she discovered the bucket was the most wonderful object in the room. She pushed it all over the place. Then we helped her into the bucket and gave her rides around the room. She laughed and yelled with delight. Life was beautiful from inside a mop bucket…

  I must say you have proved beautiful things come from everywhere. Who would have guessed the 6th grade girls could raise 120 dollars with deserts for the Angel Tree or the 7th grade girls could buy 30 ornaments for the IHN family’s Christmas tree?! Who could have dreamed the Middle School group would bring over 200 dollars in change and raise over 400 through t-shirts to help feed Africa?!

 I thank you for giving in the true spirit of Christmas, giving to those who have nothing… giving gifts to Jesus himself!!!

The money was sent to World Vision’s Africa Food Aid, click here for more information.

It is strange to look at Roger Clemens, the once great pitcher, and see a steroid user. For a long time Barry Bonds was the face of steroids, but I could handle that because he is a jerk in every interview I have read. But Roger was always the nice guy-a role model… of course it seems a good portion of baseball was using drugs, but popularity doesn’t make it correct. And part of me wants to be angry. Their job was to play a game (and make millions), so how could they defame the sport, the fans, themselves? Then I read an article this morning and the author asked, if all you had to do was take a few drugs and work out to be a professional ball player, what would you do? Honestly, I would be tempted to take the drugs-I would love to be a baseball player (not to mention making a little more than a MS Minister!). And if all it took was steroids… In this desire we find the problem with humanity, the roots of our evil.

As we continue toward Christmas, I love the contrast of the opening lines of Luke 2. In one corner the most powerful man in the world is using force to move the people, but in another part of the world, in a tiny town, a poor couple finds themselves in a barn… The world looks at the goal and is willing to do anything-take drugs, use violence-to get there. The end justifies the means. But Christ’s whole life, even his birth, shows a new way. A way where self sacrifice turns the world upside down-a way that leads to the cross, but also the path to salvation.

The money we raised through t-shirts and the mop bucket change will go to World Vision’s Africa Food Aid. I have not even started to count the coins, but so far the shirt money is $420!!! Remember to bring your change and if you have not already gotten a shirt you can get one on Sunday. THIS SUNDAY IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!!! Click here for a link to the World Vision’s Africa Food Aid.

Fifty years ago the city of Tulsa-Megan’s hometown-buried a time capsule to be opened for the state’s centennial celebration. Inside was a beautiful, brand new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere. The car was lowered into a the crypt and sealed in concrete. Unfortunately it wasn’t a tight seal and water leaked into the box. Over the fifty years the car was completely submerged in water and when it was pulled out it was literally rusting away. As you can see chunks are falling off… (CLick on the picture to link to the USA Today article and a video of the car raising.)

   I have always hoped the UPS man would pull up to my house and deliver a box of money. I am not sure how many bills could fit into a small box, but I imagine even one’s would add up to a sizable amount. So every time the deliveryman pulls up, I announce to Meg, “Here comes our box of money!” Of course when we open the package it ends up being clothes for Ivy…

   For Joseph and Mary the delivery box of money became reality. People literally arrived at the door bearing gifts. As always the present was for the child, but the package instantly made the family rich. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh are foreign to us, but they were gifts reserved for a king. Too valuable to be in the possession of a carpenter’s family…

   Unfortunately openings are not always as they seem. With the arrival of riches also came a curse. The valuable gifts must have been on Joseph’s mind as he slipped off to sleep. He was excited about the future, but he awoke in a cold sweat from a nightmare. The same men who brought gifts had also brought the wrath of the ruler. Herod would soon murder babies and the family was forced to Egypt. Their delivered riches washed away to keep the family alive…

The money we have raised through t-shirts and the mop bucket change will go to World Vision’s Africa Food Aid. I have not even started to count the coins, but so far the shirt money is $370!!! Remember to bring your change and if you have not already gotten a shirt you can get one on Sunday. If you filled out a green sheet I reserved a shirt for you. Click here for a link to the World Vision’s Africa Food Aid.