Uncushy

That title might throw you back a bit, or even make you sweat, or better yet maybe it even peaks your curiosity. I must admit, it's not my original idea. What does uncushy mean to you? Well first read this blog: Uncushy. It's the belief that we must reach what the Bible calls "the highways and the byways," to work together for a common purpose, and be all the God created us to be. Comfort zone is often where we Christians live. Uncushy is getting out of the comfort zone and getting into life. Sure, we get gussied up for church on Sunday, and we shake the right hands, but what does the rest of the week look like? We simply don't have enough time, and we'd, "like to get to that."

Cushy always make me think of a nicely stuffed chair and ottoman for me to rest. The perfect place for me to make my way through the mundane world. "It's a blood bath out there," we say as we watch the news at 10. We think, "what an awful place to call home," when we see homeless men in the downtown ghettos of our communities. We think, "maybe we should help those unruly kids with pink hair." We make our judgements while look down from our city on a hill. We sit back in our cushy chair and think of all the reasons we shouldn't do something, not even letting that still small voice inside guide us to a place where we can really be used. We've gotten our hands dirty until the camera lens pans the other direction.

I have heard more than one person say, if you are in the very center of God's will, it's not a safe place. That statement stuck to me like a tick sucking the life out of me, while I told myself that God's will is a safe place. It just isn't, it's not safe. There are million of variables and trillions of could've, should've, would'ves. The truth is, if you look in the Bible, everyone was in the middle of strife while on the middle of God's will. All the disciples died really horrible deaths while dong what they were created to do. I'm not saying that everyone must die for their faith in order to be called uncushy. If it's truly not safe then I'm sure it's called uncushy. I think of my sister's in-laws. They are missionaries in Nicaragua. They are right where they need to be, and yet they are so near danger.

I like the way uncushy has felt on me. Yeah I'm not perfect, and that's okay. That feels good to say that. It feels good to know that while saying that, I have a friends that love me despite me. My intentions are ever to move to a place where truth and love intersect. That intersection is the place I want to dig a well and drink the water. The kool-aid is getting old and stale, and it's not even about me.

vaya con Dios -- really

-b

Nicaragua Changed my life!

I have got to get this out of my system!

I went to Nicaragua. I had a blast; it was so surreal. Let me tell you a few things about that country. First and foremost the government is run by a socialist named Daniel Ortega (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ortega). He has his face plastered everywhere. He's on billboards, painted on walls, on the news, and everywhere you could think of. Yes, it seems as if he is trying to convince someone he is awesome.

He is a member of the sandinista party. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandinista) Through public speeches and from several public policies it's easy to see that Ortega hates America. He has even made negative comments about to seemingly "untouchable" Barack Obama. the FSLN, as the party is reffered to is corrupt. Ortega claims to be changed and to be a man of God. Funny, he says he is helping the homeless, and the truth is, he built apartments for the homeless and let his cronies move into them. He is not helping the enormous orphan problem. In fact, all he is doing is pushing his liberal agend

a to the masses. He is corrupt and MUST be stopped!

The second issue is the majority of the citizens of the country live in dire poverty. If it weren't for the mass Christian missionaries feeding, clothing, and care for the medical needs of the people there would be massive deaths. While is was there, we went to the dump ground. There is a whole system of living that goes on inside the dump ground. Kids, cattle, men, women, dogs, and vultures are all digging through the same trash piles. The humans are looking for food to eat and plastic and metal to turn in for money. Parents make their kids beg, and dig through the trash all day. Many of the parents don't work but rather stay at home all day and consume drugs. It's a sad to see little boys and girl

s without clothes, or shoes digging through the trash. Many of the children are forced into prostitution by their parents to ensure they get first pick through the trash that each truck brings into the ground. That means little 5-12 year old girls are prostituting to the men who drive the trash trucks. It's simply impossible for my mind to wrap around that, until I saw it. Can you imagine being so desperate that you gave yourself up for trash? It's a travesty!

Thirdly, the country is a BEAUTIFUL! It's surrou

nding is lush vegetation and think rain-forests. They have many exotic fruits and of course I LOVE the coffee! So, if you see something is made in Nicaragua....BUY! If you like coffee buy the Cafe Don Paco, you are helping!

If you are interested let me know and I will let you know where you can get it!

BUT mostly the country needs your prayers, so please do!

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!