Saturday, August 16, 2008

Things that make me go HMMM

I just had a phone call from a friend who told me he was waiting for my next blog (Thanks Rob!!). Well ahead of my Wednesday deadline, I decided there was no time like the present. This, of course, has nothing to do with the fact that I would like to avoid giving my dog a bath and cleaning my house =).



My inspiration for today was the Olympics and a recent conversation. I tuned in and the US was playing Spain in basketball. Here is a confession that, perhaps, indicates the smallness of my thinking...I think of basketball as an American sport. Now I know that my team mates just finished a basketball camp in Ireland...and that the missionaries in Spain ran a very well received intramural basketball league several years ago, and yet this thought persists. As I watched a few minutes of the game, I realized that the Spanish team was quite good. They looked and operated like a basketball team. Hmmm.... Does Spain have an equivalent of the NBA? Do other countries? I have no idea. There is so much about the world that I don't know and rarely think to ask. OK, so I realize the answer to this question is not one of significant importance. The principle, however, is...



This reminds me of attending the Missionary Enrichment Conference last year. ABWE invited national pastors to share. As one man was introduced, the missionary told of the Moldovan's invitation to speak at the graduation of the Bible Institute where he ministered. The missionary assumed that there would be around 10-15 graduates. There were several hundred! This Moldovan Bible Institute is training scores of people who will minister in places where Americans can't go. Hmmmm... Aren't missionaries American? Don't "established works" around the world have an American fingerprint on them? I often...or used to...think of missions as an American "sport". It isn't!! There are fellow believers from many countries who minister in dynamic and powerful ways because God dwells in them! The answer to this question is definitely one of significant importance. The principle...



There are a group of ladies gathering at the Birdhouse this summer to study Revelation. As we have studied the Scriptures inductively, it has caused us to look at our assumptions about our understanding of the Bible. When I've grown up hearing Bible stories and sermons, don't I already know what God says? Hmmm....sometimes our assumptions are shaken up as we delve into His Word for ourselves. There are times the light goes on and we wonder how come we've never thought of that before. Several years ago I realized that Isaiah lived during the time of the kings of Israel and that he is talked about in 2 Kings!! Who did I think he talked to? He was a real person who spoke out God's word to Israel. I was so excited to make this connection and then embarrassed that it was so obvious. I never took the time to consider it. The principle...



The prinicple is that I have many assumptions that are not correct. Many times these assumptions are hidden. I wouldn't ever say them out loud...No one else in the world can play basketball or if they do they must come to America...Americans MUST be involved in all good things that happen for the Lord throughout the world...I KNOW the Scriptures. Whether or not I say them out loud, the assumptions are there. They reveal the pride of my heart. That makes me go Hmmm... May God allow me to be teachable and bring my false assumptions to light!

Friday, July 4, 2008

Fear and Trepidation

Oh dear...Do I really think that I can make a blog entry that will only take seconds to read? Minutes with Suebird doesn't quite have a ring to it, so I went with seconds. We'll see if that helps to keep me from being long winded. I doubt it =). It will be interesting to see what random thoughts leak out into a blog entry. That is where the fear and trepedation come in. Several of my teammates in Ireland have a blog and as I read their entries, I think that there must be an art form to blogging and I am not sure that I have "the gift". We shall see. I fear that I will share way too much information about my inner thoughts that shouldn't really see the light of day, especially in print. I'll have to trust the Lord to give me discretion =). Perhaps with "exercising" these blogging muscles will improve. Blank screens can be a bit daunting, can't they?

For those of you who are wondering why "Suebird", allow me to explain. Several years ago I had a friend who jokingly declared his intention to own his own country. I decided that I would be the queen mother. After some discussion, I was demoted to the national bird. The nerve!! The national bird was christened "Suebird" and the name stuck. Perhaps it was no coincidence that my Kentucky kitchen is decorated with birdhouses. My house is now affectionately known as the Birdhouse. The concept of being a Birdhouse has caught on and taken on a life of its own. The idea is to have a home where people feel welcomed and God is honored...a refuge...a place to play...and cry...and laugh...and talk...a place to feel loved. I am honored to be one of the keepers of the nest!

Happy July 4th! It is a bit odd to think that this will likely be my last July 4th in the states for quite awhile. That seems a bit surreal, but exciting. I was encouraged to check my account this morning and find that my support has gone up to 66.99%. YEAH!!! Little by little it is going up. In the meantime, I am hanging out at my mom's house today. A low key holiday suits my mood.

I have, no doubt, used up several seconds of your time. Thanks for checking this blog out!

Suebird