Juarez....

I have to admit, part of my heart was left in Mexico.  I just couldn't help but fall in love with a people so hungry for what God was doing.  They weren't just hungry for God, but many of them where hungry in their stomachs for something, anything.  They live on, tortillas, beans, and rice.... they scrape the bottom of the barrel for one last morsel.  It's safe, unless you drink the water.  There are no thugs ripping purses off of old ladies.  There are no gangs of men holding up missionaries.  It's safe, and those people need us.  They need our help.  The world has forgotten them, and left them to die.  They suffer from a lack of hope.  We can provide it.  Think about all the waste we produce, and the consumerism that has taken a hold of us, think about knowing where your next meal is coming from, and then think about how a few moments of help can change the plan of a community.  Help Amarillo, Help Juarez.... JUST HELP!

 

alphabet soup.....

Words.  They're what I am lacking today.  I have no idea where they are or why they went away.  All I know is they have abandoned me in my time of need.  What a persnickety predicament to have to procure a problem in.  It’s an unpleasantly terrible thing to lose words.  I checked under my bed, and all I found was crusty old bagel, poppy seed to be exact.  I looked in the coat closet but all I found were some dreadfully smelly mothballs.  I opened the fridge in hopes that last night’s lack luster leftovers would hold a clue to the departed vocabulary.  Much to my surprise the less than salvageable lentil soup was chocked completely to the brim of all the letters I use.  Then I realized after vociferous cheers that I had accidentally added alphabet soup to my lentil lexicon.     

I am not angry

I am not angry

I am not mad

I am not crazy

I am not hypnotized

I am not glad

I am not you

I am not upset

I am not ticked

I am not wondering

I am not sick

I am not racist

I am not lazy

I am not winning

I am not losing

I am not stagnant

I am not without

I am not full

I am not empty

I am not scared

I am not upset

I am not waiting

I am not impatient

I am not divisive

I am not crude

I am not pure

I am not shell-shocked

I am not persuaded by great speeches

I am 

I am ambitious

I am full of hope

I am disappointed

I am thinking 

I am taking life one day at a time

I am 

I am one who voted

I am one small voice

I am disapproving 

I am anti abortion

I am shocked by the speed

I am having a hard time accepting the shift

I am holding out hope

I am convinced through elegant words

I am wanting more than a facade

I am thinking

I am prepared

I am trying to get perspective

I am willing to listen

I am happy to oblige

I am greatly appreciative

I am looking for the positives

I am sure there are reasons

I am laughing at irony

I am hoping people will think

I am thinking, surely other see

I am positive it's not an accident

I am loving them

I am sure love wins

I am me and I am expressing what I see.

Christmas....

So, it was the first Christmas without my granddad.  I didn't like it.  I will just say that first.  As I woke up on Christmas morning and got dressed to go to my aunts house, I couldn't help but think about how hard this was going to be.  I got to my aunt's and as we started to prepare breakfast, my aunt started crying which lead to me crying.  As I set there I kept hoping to hear his huge laugh and loud voice while he came in the the garage door.  I kept thinking as we opened gifts there would be a surprise gift that was huge and he was waiting in the other room to bring it in.  I just kept thinking, where is his laughs.  Of course none of that happened.  

Nothing .... Not one thing.....  It was official.  It for the first time had become the sad reality of my life.  He is gone.  There would be no more large laughs, horse bites, jokes, and more importantly no more time to spend with him.  Christmas with my whole family is such a big deal to everyone; well everyone but me.  BUT, this year, Christmas with the whole family meant much more than I think I could ever express.  No, this was not a "fun" Christmas, or even a "good" Christmas, but it was a Christmas.  The celebration of Christ's birth.  Thank God that's what it's all about.    

I am sad.  I am sure he isn't, and that's what gives me comfort.  

-b

Passing on

So in case you haven't heard, my granddad died.  I was saddened by his passing.  Not for any reason other than he just such a great man.  He lived his life to the fullest.  He fulfilled everything we wanted to do.  He traveled the globe, owned his own business, worked in a oil company, lived in San Francisco, loved my grandmother, and raised two daughters.  I loved him, because where my dad lacked, my granddad more than made up for.  He was a man's man, with a sensitive heart.  He never met stranger, and loved everyone who would let him.  He loved his grandchildren and attended everything we ever did.  He was a comedian, and witty.  He loved every joke he was told, and laughed louder than anyone at his own jokes. 

He is a great man, and we will dearly miss him!  

Change

It's all over the place.  We are seeing change like no other in this country.  I mean the stocks are lower than they have been in years and confidence in the country is probably at an all time low.  I mean whenever you turn on the TV all you hear is how awful everything is.  I resent that.  It's like the media has set up this perfectly set stage for President Obama to fail.  It's a shame.   I didn't vote for him.  I just didn't believe in a lot of the things he said.  His policy on abortion cannot be stomached in me.  

BUT, and that's a huge BUT, he is my president so I will listen to him.  I will honor him, and more importantly I will pray for him.  In the Bible God used a donkey to do His work.  It is my belief that is He can use him, then He can use Barack Obama to to the His work.  NOW, I am not calling President Obama a donkey, even if that is his party's mascot; I am simply saying that he is better than a Donkey, so obviously God can us him.  

be blessed

-broc

Camp Again

Yes, another camp has passed, but this year was unlike any other one I have ever been apart of.  Yes, we were in the same place, and did a lot of the same things, but this year was most definitely different.  It was like God poured out His Spirit before we even got there.  I mean from the moment we drove down into the canyon, I could feel Him.  I could almost smell Him.  It was like there was a fog throughout the camp.  We started to unload the trucks and I just couldn't believe how much He loved us.  We went down the day before, because we had a ton (literally) of things to set up for the kids.  Set up was easy and quick.  It was just crazy for it to work out that way.  The next morning we all got up around seven, as we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the kids.  I mean we were about the unfold the canvas we had been painting for months.  The excitement in the air only added to the already awesomeness that was God's Presence.  We set up a game for the kids, and all the sudden we could hear the throng of diesel engines as they rounded the edge of the canyon and headed down the hill.  We cheered knowing that  months of prayers, preparation, and planning all culminated to this moment.  Instantly there was a thought that said, it is time.  The buses stopped in front of the various cabins used to house the children for the week.  All of the sudden a chatter erupted out of the bus as the kids screamed, "WE'RE HERE!"  Just like clock were the shuffled off the buses, grabbed their bags, and ran to make sure they got first pick of beds.  Camp had officially started, and all the pons were in place, and of course the presence made it everything a kid could dream of.  After a little debriefing about rules, regulations, and expectations, the kids threw on their swim suits and jumped in the enormous pool.  

Later that evening, the kids filed into what is the "sanctuary" at this camp. It's really what we would call a gym, but with the most amazing lighting it became an awesome venue.  The worship started and the kids were on.  They belted out the tunes and danced like their lives depending on it.  They did not care what their neighbors thought, but only cared about their audience of one.  Day one proved to be one of the most amazing worship experiences.  

Day two, met with morning dew, and a gentle breeze.  It was beautiful, and the sun coming over the canyon wall made for the most dynamic moments.  It's just God's promise coming to wish us good day.  That night in the service, the song "How He Loves Us" ministered to our hearts, and was ironic since the message of Salvation was preached.  Throngs of kids were touched and walked forward ready for a change in their lives.  It was heavy, and The Presence of God was flowing like water.  They crowded the stage; the multitude was so great they even crowded onto the stage.  As they prayed in faith to receive all the Jesus did for them, there was not an adult with a dry eye.  

The next day was even more amazing, there were enormous tests and even greater battles.  Where there was battle, and where there were tests, there was victory.  It's very interesting, because this nights message was all about overcoming fear.  The story of David and Goliath, and others who had courage.  The veil on the memory verse for camp was lifted as those words of Deuteronomy 31:6 became part of each child's life.  Then came the faith part of the evening.  The children were asked to walk forward if they were dealing with a giant.  As the adults lined the front of the stage hundreds of kids marched to the front and dropped their giant off to a leader.  As you could imagine, the kids walked more uprightly as they had the weight of that fear off their shoulders.  

The final day seem to roll by like a movie reel  showing the feature film.  It was again met with a few battles and the kids walked out their fears with even greater tenacity.  That night as everyone piled into the "sanctuary," there was a since that something amazing was about to happen.  You could almost see everyone leaning forward in their seats as the anticipation set in.  The worship was phenomenal, and you could almost smell the incense of praise as it rose to The King.  Even more of His presence blasted each person gathered in the room.  "Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss..." melted our hearts, and absolutely changed who we were.  Then the preaching began.  Tonight God would introduce His "Helper."  Holy Spirit was there, and He was ready to baptize these children and adults in His empowering Presence.  The children raced to the front to receive the "Helper," and to immerse themselves in all that God had for them.  As they receive their gifts, they practiced while filing back to their chairs.  Then more worship.  It was so intense as Abba shown His love down on us.  "Oh how He loves us... We are His portion and He is our prize."  

The next morning the curtains closed, and the buses and the entire caravan drove up the hill of the canyon, looking back to bid the place were God met them goodbye; laughing knowing that now they will meet with Him daily.  

Peace

-b