Black socks and white-woolen locks

We've been going through John 10 this week at bible study and I was inspired to write a poem from the perspective of the thief. Here it is:

I am a wolf in sheep's clothing
Passing by the watchmen, on to the herd
Disguised in determination
Waiting for one to be lured
Out by curiosity, or a mere distraction
So I can soon follow that lonely lamb
And satisfy my unending hunger
But suddenly, I hear a crying Man
He's calling out a name
One I do not recognize
And that measly morsel turns around
Leaving me to wallow in my demise
Where the Man now lays His head
I would not think to enter
For I am a god in my own mind
'Pride' some call it (I'm my own center)

peace, love, and perspective.
kaeli

Scum of the earth

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God...For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."

-1 Corinthians 4:1; 9-13 (ESV)

I feel that society has a pretty basic stereotype of what the Church looks like; I'm not saying I like this stereotype, I'm just expressing that there is one: People that wear nicer clothes to the gatherings than the typical weekend-wear, that are able to tithe large sums of money each week, people that are modestly exclusive; a body that has growth, but there is no outreach.

As believers in Christ, we are called to reach the unreached, to love the unloved, to humble ourselves because we are no better than anyone else. We are already outcasts by society's standards, so let us also reach the other types of outcasts: the dropouts, losers, failures, fools, and the lost. (Remember, we were once lost too.) There are already an abundance of people out there that judge; let us be humble ad love people as they come. We are aware of our ever-present need for a Savior for we are the scum of the earth; our job is to shine that Light in other people's darkness, to be love and present an option of New Life.

Inward growth is important - we needn't forget our own relationships with Jesus - but we also need to reflect Him to those that need Him; to be selfless in putting everyone else's needs before our own; to make them feel like they belong for once. It's more than just doing a local outreach: it's building relationships, helping them grow, encouraging them.

There are broken, hurting people out there. What are we doing to express a greater Love to them?

peace, love, and humility.

kaeli

Psalm 139-ish

She releases a slow, soothing sigh as she recollects her not-so-distant past. Reminded of what used to consume her thoughts, she shakes it off, looking forward in hope.

"This heart's been broken many a time," she thought, "but You have set me free."

Before the dust in the air can settle, she jumps to her feet, arms raised in surrender, and cries out to the One who saved her:

"You know who I really am - every part of me - and why I've felt this way. Sometimes it's hard to believe that You understand; I need Your hand to take hold of me. But you see, even before I was a thought in my mother's mind, You saw me intertwined in Your grace; You knelt down and kissed my face. It is almost too much for me, but that is where beauty is found. How can I hide from You when You know exactly where I'll go? If I think I've gone too far, if I'm running scared from the Dark, Your light will break through the night. You pulled me through the eye of a needle, away from isolation; my most secret place is somewhere Your name seeps in. I can do nothing but praise You for this life You've given me. Though I am broken and poured out, Your love rescues me."

She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. She knew her Love was near:

"I love it when You whisper in my ear to meet You at the shore. I love it when You call me by name. I love how You hand-picked every star and put each in its perfect place. I love when You wrap Your arms around me and pull me in the biggest embrace, the tightest embrace, the warmest embrace. I cannot wait to finally see You face-to-face. I love that without You I have nothing; I am nothing."

She bowed her head in serenity, though joy and wholeness flooded her soul like a raging river.

peace, love, and identity.

kaeli grace

V is for Vegetarian

I don't even know what to say right now other than I miss my best friend. I know he's better off and I'll see him again. Instead, head over to JJ's blog to read his post about Jonathan and watch the memorial video. He did a much better job than I could right now.

peace, love, and hope.
kaeli

Ps. Does anyone have the photo of me and Sennit riding bikes through Target after his graduation?

Salvation changes every part of you

God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness. ...Pursue a righteous life - a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of many witnesses. The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

Titus 2:11-13. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (The Message). Psalm 37:23-24 (ESV).

peace, love, and faithfulness.

kaeli

Dust and ash

Oh, how I can taste

Your sweet, saving grace

As it flows like raging rapids

Through my soul; I no longer feel trapped in

This grave that I've made -

In my bed of contentment.

I was a slave bound in chains,

But in You I am resting.

I drink Your words like water;

They refresh me, along with Your other sons and daughters.

I am but clay in my Potter's hands,

Being molded and matured to become a new man.

I am transformed with a naked heart;

Lord, You've been with me from the start.

(My name is Dustin Ashe and here I lie

Dead to the world, but fully alive.)

peace, love, and so much joy.

kaeli

Community

We are all one body (1 Corinthians 12); one living, breathing community. Well, shouldn't we be acting like it?

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

We are commanded to love each other (John 13:34). Loving each other requires helping one another out. Helping each other out requires being open and honest with each other. See where I'm going with this?

We, as the Church, are a Community. In a community, there shouldn't be anyone worrying about what people are going to think of them because they don't want to be judged. We are supposed to be there for each other through our struggles, our pain, our joys, our excitement - all of it. Openness and honesty are necessary in community so we can build each other up, pray for each other, and encourage one another (Philippians 4:3-5).

Love people as they come. If someone comes to you with something awesome that happened to them, rejoice with them! If someone is struggling with something, accept that they aren't perfect (and neither are you) and love them for who they are. But love them so much that you can't let them stay that way.

Tonight I was able to enjoy an awesome dinner with four friends I hadn't spent time with in a while. We went out to IHOP and just got to talking. I was able to share with them the amazing journey God has been taking me on (the growth and the pain) and they were able to share what's been going on in their lives. Even though I hadn't really seen them in a while, we were talking as if we saw each other all the time. There was no judgment with what we shared with each other. There was love and understanding. This is one example of how it should be.

In return, when someone is being open and honest with you, don't be afraid to do the same.

Accept the challenge, Church. Be the community we're supposed to be. Love like Christ. Do life together.

peace, love, and done ranting.

kaeli