through the eyes of a nomad

Waiting on the God’s timing is one of the hardest things to do. Really. There are so many things that I want to do for HIS glory, but it’s not time. Why?! My heart aches and yearns to go to some far off land to help people. To give them love, to care for them to share life with them and to take Jesus to them. I don’t know where I’m supposed to go, but I want to go.

Matthew 25 keeps presenting itself to me, the “Parable of the Sheep and Goats” to be exact:

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

If you've seen the news recently, I'm sure you're well aware that more than 130 people died at the hands of suicide bombers in Baghdad, Iraq on Sunday. As I sat beside a friend and watched some of the footage Sunday night, I wondered what it would be like to see those images from his perspective. You see, I've never walked the streets of Baghdad, but he has. In fact, Baghdad, Iraq, is the place he calls "home."

Gabir* was a professional in the city, and as such, became a prime target for insurgents. On his way home from work one evening, he was abducted, brutally beaten, and eventually left for dead. Through an incredible series of events, he was able to move with his family to the U.S., where he, his wife, Sanaa,* and their three children now live as refugees. I can't imagine being forced to leave behind friends and family in exchange for safety, but this is the reality they live.

While they are thankful everyday for the opportunity to raise their children here in the United States, they are finding it difficult to make ends meet as he is unable to work due to his injuries, and his wife serves as his sole caretaker. After living in the States for one year, Sanaa is in dire need of dental care which is uncovered by Medicaid.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be selling hand-crafted earring holders to raise money for this family. If you or anyone you know is interested in purchasing an earring holder for a suggested donation of $20 (plus shipping if needed), one hundred percent of the proceeds will fund the dental work needed by this family. The earring holders are beautifully crafted, hand-made, and they make great Christmas gifts!

I will be taking orders for the next few weeks, and will have the holders in your hands in time for the Christmas season. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to read and consider this note. I hope it finds you well!

If you would like to help, please email Kristen.

When I was in college, my creative writing juices flowed best at night. So I wrote many a paper in the wee hours of the night/morning. I like to believe that is when I write the best...or I could just be telling myself that so I don't feel quite as bad for staying up WAY past my bedtime (whenever that is).

Life is so different from what it was one year ago. I have moved from Virginia to Tennessee, I've gone from employed to unemployed, and I've changed my surname from Travis to Delph. I also haven't written for myself in awhile. This is my attempt at rekindling what I loved for so many years - until recently.

Below is a letter I sent to United Airlines. I will never fly United again if I can help it. Their agents yelled at a disabled lady...

To Whom it May Concern:

Customer service offered by Shawn/Sean at IAD, gate A3/4 on 4/27 at approx 10pm was unacceptable. I have flown all over the world, and been on hundreds of airplanes, but this was by far the rudest encounter I have ever experienced. According to your web-site's customer service promise, "In the air and on the ground, online and on the telephone, our customers have the right to expect — to demand — respect, courtesy, fairness and honesty from the airline they have selected for travel." Shawn was disrespectful to a women his senior, a woman who PAID to fly with your company. He was NOT courteous nor was he fair. I was looking through the 12 points for customer commitment...are these just to save face or does your company really uphold these standards? If they are for real, then step number 7 needs to be shown to Shawn/Sean.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1512,00.html

7. Readily, Capably and Respectfully Accommodate Travelers with Special Needs

United’s commitment:

We will provide our customers who have special needs, including individuals with disabilities and unaccompanied minors, with the level of attention, respect and care they deserve.

Below is the encounter btwn Shawn and the elderly lady who couldn't walk (he yelled at her).

A flight to Allentown was overbooked/overweight so they bumped 8 people. Shawn announced they would bump all those who paid the cheapest fair price. One of those people was an elderly lady who couldn't walk. She had two medical bracelets on her arm, one pink and the other yellow. One said "fall risk." She was told a wheelchair was coming to get her and take her to customer service where she could get on another flight the following morning. When no one showed up she asked a United agent about it when he walked by. He blew her off. She began to get visibly flustered. She got out an inhaler and used it twice. A few minutes later, another passenger reminded Shawn the lady needed a wheelchair, he said one was on it's way. At this point it had been almost 30 minutes, and still no wheelchair. The lady began to get more flustered and started to shake, muttering about how she needed to get home to her son. She took out a portable machine and wrapped it around her wrist. I believe it was a blood pressure machine, because she said she needed water to take her blood pressure medicine. Shawn then yelled across the room at her, saying he told her 30 minutes ago to go to customer service - there was still no wheelchair. She said again that she needed water to take her blood pressure medicine, and he yelled again to go to customer service - STILL no wheelchair. This lady could NOT WALK. How was she supposed to get to customer service? She was waiting for United to provide her the services she required, but instead she is humiliated in front of other passengers. So a few ladies, myself included, went to help her. I got her water. She was shaking so badly that she could barely get the pills and water in her mouth. She spilled it on herself, the chair and the floor because she was shaking so severely. She was slightly disoriented from her blood pressure getting so high and was also beginning to sweat. Shawn never once helped or treated this elderly woman like a human being.

I am APPALLED that your airline would allow this to happen. She had someone escorting her during her other flights, and then because she was bumped, she is left high and dry? This is unacceptable. To treat a helpless, handicapped woman, who cannot walk and obviously has medical problems is an atrocity. I have emailed, twittered and facebooked about this and I plan to continue to. I want everyone to know how United treats it's disabled passengers. It is unacceptable. Shawn needs to be punished or fired. If you claim you don't know who I am talking about, I took a photo of him with my phone, so there is no confusion. Here is a link to the photo: http://s618.photobucket.com/albums/tt266/emtravis/?action=view&current=UnitedShawn.jpg

For Shawn to humiliate this woman the way he did is unacceptable. I have only flown United a few times, and every single time I have been delayed going out of IAD. But the way your personnel treated a PAYING DISABLED passenger has sealed the deal for me. I will never fly United again. And I will NEVER suggest it to anyone. I have already told a number of my friends this story and they have agreed that they cannot fly an airline who treats people this way.

United needs to review the 12 points with their agents. I have never seen such disrespect by any other airline. A number of the passengers on my flight 8009 to Richmond said they plan to write and call as well. I plan to report this event on any other website I can. It is unacceptable. I would be glad to talk to someone.

Describe waterboarding to me. Other than it "simulates drowning," as the media puts it.


Waterboarding consists of immobilizing the victim on his or her back with the head inclined downwards, and then pouring water over the face and into the breathing passages. By forced suffocation and inhalation of water, the subject experiences drowning and is caused to believe they are about to die.

In contrast to submerging the head face-forward in water, waterboarding precipitates a gag reflex almost immediately. The technique does not inevitably cause lasting physical damage. It can cause extreme pain, dry drowning, damage to lungs, brain damage from oxygen deprivation, other physical injuries including broken bones due to struggling against restraints, lasting psychological damage or, ultimately, death. http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/04/05/open-letter-attorney-general-alberto-gonzales

A World War II account:

Chase J. Nielsen, one of the U.S. airmen who flew in the Doolittle raid following the attack on Pearl Harbor, was subjected to waterboarding by his Japanese captors. At their trial for war crimes following the war, he testified "Well, I was put on my back on the floor with my arms and legs stretched out, one guard holding each limb. The towel was wrapped around my face and put across my face and water poured on. They poured water on this towel until I was almost unconscious from strangulation, then they would let up until I'd get my breath, then they'd start over again… I felt more or less like I was drowning, just gasping between life and death."

A more recent account:

In May 2008, journalist Christopher Hitchens had himself waterboarded in order to experience "as nearly as possible what real waterboarding might be like." Though sympathetic to those who believe that "when contrasted to actual torture, waterboarding is more like foreplay."


Hitchens ultimately concluded after being subjected to it twice that "if waterboarding does not constitute torture, then there is no such thing as torture."



You can read Chris' full account here. Or if you are a more visual being, click here to watch the video of his waterboarding experience.

"The information gained from these techniques was valuable in some instances, but there is no way of knowing whether the same information could have been obtained through other means," said retired Adm. Dennis Blair, the director of national intelligence.

"The bottom line is these techniques have hurt our image around the world, the damage they have done to our interests far outweighed whatever benefit they gave us and they are not essential to our national security."

For all those (Dick Chaney, Condoleezza Rice, former-President G. W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, etc.) who claim it's "not torture" and just an "interrogation technique," maybe you should have someone waterboard you.

Bottom line: IT'S TORTURE

Information from The Washington Post, The Columbia Journal for Transnational Law, Human Rights Watch, The New Yorker, ABC News, thinkprogress.org, Vanity Fair, CNN

I am intrigued by all the publicity Miss California (a.k.a. Carrie Prejean) is getting for her answer at the Miss USA pageant. She was asked by Perez Hilton (self described queen of media) if she thought every state should follow Vermont in their decision to legalize same-sex marriage. He ended with "Why or why not?"

Apparently he didn't really want her opinion. Carrie told him and the rest of the nation tuning in that she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman.

"I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite[-sex] marriage. And you know what? I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman -- no offense to anybody out there -- but that's how I was raised and ... I think that it should be between a man and a woman."

Regardless if you agree or not, there is no reason to bash her (Perez). Perez asked her a question, followed by "why or why not?" What did he expect? Her to answer the way HE wanted her to? Then it's no longer a question of "why or why not?" she believes in something...maybe he should have just told her what to say? But then it wouldn't be a question...

There is speculation that her answer (which she was asked for HER opinion) lost her the crown. She finished runner-up to Miss North Carolina, but she says she has no regrets about her answer.

Being from California where the high court legalized "gay marriage" last year only to have voters reverse that ruling by passing Proposition 8 adds to the controversy surrounding her comments.

"By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith," Carrie told Fox News. "I'm glad I stayed true to myself."

She told NBC's "Today" show, "It's not about being politically correct. For me, it was being biblically correct." She added, regarding her missed opportunity to win the crown, "It wasn't what God wanted for my life that night."

I commend Carrie for standing up for what she believes in. I think everyone should - regardless if it's "politically correct" or not. That's the beauty of our country, you are free to give your opinion. But what's not a beauty is when your answer goes against some sort of "status quo" and you are then mocked for your OPINION. Please.

Prejean is a student at San Diego Christian College in El Cajon just outside San Diego and a volunteer at Shadow Mountain Community Church's International Ministry Center, where she helps refugees learn English, the Christian Examiner reported. Shadow Mountain is where popular TV and radio minister David Jeremiah is pastor.

(some material taken from bpnews.net)

My over-arching goal is to understand the view of church within the post-modern, post-Christian communities. I also want to better understand how the church is viewed in different circles and how the church can better relate with these people. Let me guarantee you, there will definitely be different opinions between myself, my guest bloggers and you, the reader. But that is ok. The goal is to listen, read and take into consideration what others think and feel...regardless if you differ in opinions. It is my hope that I will have a better understanding of the unique community within my generation, the Millennial/Gen-Ys.

Dear Church...

Just the other day I was talking with a local coffee shop regular when, completely unprovoked by me, he began venting about his experiences with the Christian church. A twenty-seven-year-old with a Jewish background, he offered a quick "I hope you're not a Christian or anything because because I wouldn't want to offend you" disclaimer before listing off a number of offensive encounters he has had with organized Christianity.

"It appears I don't have the truth." He smirked, his voice thick with bitterness. "As soon as church people figure out I'm Jewish, they immediately rule out my credibility. Nothing I can say could possibly be legitimate or worthy of discussing because their tunnel vision is focused on one thing and one thing alone: we need to get this guy to see the errors of his ways.

"To tell you the truth, I'm not even that hung up on Judaism," he admitted, lowering his voice as if he didn't want any Christians to hear him. Laughing, he exhaled smoke into the air. "It's just the best thing I've got thus far. If anyone with a little courtesy could show me differently, I'd be all ears. Until then, I've got no use for Christians."

NOTE: If you don't read this whole post, please at least read the italicized paragraphs close to the end.

I am intrigued with the postmodern mindset. Every since I attended a conference about Western Europe earlier this year, I have not been able to shake this desire to know more. Rest assured, I am a God-fearing, Jesus-loving Christian, but I do share some postmodern views (or so I've been told that I do).

We live in a world where more and more people fit the term "post-Christian." Meaning someone who doesn't necessarily feel the need to claim an organized, dominant religion and/or denomination; rather, they create their own values and views of the world. Researchers say that Europe fits within this category and more than half of the population in many areas in Europe "profess belief in a transcendent, personal and monotheistically-conceived deity."

Having said all of this, I have decided to (finally) do some research of my own. Over the past few weeks I have picked up four books (UnChristian; Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation; They Like Jesus but not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations; and Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical) that I hope will enlighten me as to why many feel Christianity is not a way to happiness, salvation, redemption or anything in life worth meaning.

The title of my blog series reflects part of one of the books, Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation. It was written by twenty-something Sarah Cunningham. She grew up as a preacher's kid (I can relate) who spent more time within the walls of a church building then her own home...which I can also relate with.

Sarah sucks you in with her raw, transparent, refreshing-no-bs-honesty.

I had no plans to write a blog on any of my findings, but I came across something at the beginning of this book that I have to share. This is something so sobering, so sad and so true of the what the church as an institution has become in the eyes of some of the public - both "believers" and "non-believers" alike.

And so Sarah writes...

Throughout my childhood, and at important junctures in my adulthood, I began to pick up that not everyone's encounters with the church were as positive as mine. Not everyone, as it turned out, got the full-blown PK package: hugs in the church foyer, cookies at Christmas, or invitations to play at house after house.

Slowly I grew concerned that my experience with church was not necessarily the norm. Several months before taking my first church staff position, I enrolled in an additional learning track at Spring Arbor University. My urban studies minor, conducted under the supervision of sociology professor Paul Nemecek, allowed me to craft and independent study that examined how local churches interacted with diverse people groups in our city.

Block after block, I surveyed citizens in our town. More often than not, these interviews produced throught-provoking stories.

The comments from a woman working in connection with the local justice department summerized the feelings of many. "What do you think churches could do to improve their relationship with the local community?" I asked.

"Churches?" she repeated, almost as if she thought she might have heard me wrong.

I nodded and repeated the question.

"I don't see anything that churches could do." She wasn't being mean, but rather to-the-point. "We've already got tons of churches. Look around. There's a church on every corner. I bet you could count nine or ten within three blocks of here," she reminded me. "And nothing has changed, has it? Did you know that three or four of these churches have been here since the town was on the map? But some of the social issues keep getting worse and worse."

She paused for me to write things down. "People don't have enough job training or employment opportunities. Drunks wander the streets. The same homeless people have been circling in and out of the shelters for the last fifteen years. Kids don't have anything to do to keep them out of trouble. Meanwhile, the churches keep right on existing, holding their services every Sunday. And it never changes anything. It seems pretty obvious to me that churches are not the answer."

"...churches are not the answer."

That just blew me away. Honestly, that is were I stopped reading over two hours ago. I had to process. How true is that statement? Think about it. In some cities, thousands of homes stand within a 10 to 15 mile radius of at least one church, yet the church may only has 200-400 regular members. How many of those members are related and inter-married? Subtract that from the total...now how many "individual families" have truly "chosen" (meaning not born into or married into the church, per say, but visited and decided this church was a good fit for them) to be a part of your church?

What can the church - not as a building, but a body of believers - do differently to reach those who feel they don't need church? How can the church reach those who have been burned out by the church? How can the church overcome irrelevance and return to the New Testament church? How can the church erase the stereotypical hypocrite label?

I received an email from a family friend this morning. Every morning he sends an update on his wife's health status. She has been going through a lot over the past 150-plus days. She has gone from bed-ridden and unable to turn herself over to walking some. Praise the Lord!

Today's email, Day 155, especially touched me though, so I wanted to share it with you...it's amazing the little things God bring into out lives to reassure us of his presence...

Day 155: I love God moments. Those are the ones where God does something great to surprise you and make your day. Marilyn has always had problems keeping up with her stuff like car keys and credit cards and we can all identify with that. These have very notably increased since her illness. In fact I spend a large amount of my at home time looking for her misplaced stuff. Three weeks ago she misplaced her wedding ring. I turned the house upside down,vaccuumed the floors and searched the residue but no ring. We had given up on that platinum item and I had put it out of my mind. Saturday I had cut the grass and trimmed and was using the blower to blow off the drive way. I looked down and saw a circular item that I thought had been embedded in the cement. When I bent down to inspect it,it was the wedding ring. How it got there I do not know or how it survived three previous times I had used the blower there I do not know. It was a God moment. A praise Jesus time for me. The ring is back on her finger and my day was made. Yesterday was an excellent day at rehab. They are increasingly making it harder and she is doing all she can to keep up. One friend from Canada called yesterday and said she knows more about my life than her own. I keep you updated so you will not fail to pray for us. Remember Aaron,Denise, Doug Couch and his wife, Orrin Barrett and that we love and appreciate you. Blessings.

Leroi Moore, the sax player in the Dave Matthews Band, has died today. He was 46.

Moore was seriously injured in an ATV accident June 30 outside Charlottesville. He had a punctured lung and broken ribs. One month later, he returned to the hospital due to complications.

The following statement was released by the band:

"Leroi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. Moore had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program."

I've been exhausted for over a week now (I'd be willing to bet I'm not the only one)...I'd like to say I have no idea why...but that would be lying...below is the cause of my sleep deprivation...


I have been on Michael Phelps Standard Time.

Also, did anyone see that joke NBC broadcasted about how to hide sleep deprivation at work? I think there were four...they were hilarious...these are the two I remember...help me out if you remember the others...

1. Wear sunglasses to hide red, puffy eyes.
2. ??
3. ??
4. Don't go to work. Stay at home and sleep.

I had a great couple of days in Atlanta this past weekend with my family and David. The drive was long (the way back was MUCH longer, or at least it felt like it was)...we went to a Braves game on Sunday afternoon. It was lots of fun, but really, really hot.

It was pretty smoggy on Sunday...but that's pretty much Atlanta all the time during the summer...especially when it doesn't rain. But I still love it...and miss living there terribly.


David and I.


This would be the real me. Goofy. Haha!


And here is my brother. Just as goofy. I love this photo! Makes me laugh every time I look at it. Hahaha! Looove my brutha!


Turner Field.




Maggie in her jail riding back to Richmond...I know she looks pitiful, but she really does like being in her jail when she's in the car more than sitting in someone's lap...she's a very uptight and anxious traveler.

We all have used or heard this idiom at some point our lives, most likely. I began searching the history behind the saying, but came back empty handed. I did however find a good explanation on a Google search.

To say that one is stuck "between a rock and a hard place" stresses that there are two forces which are restricting one's movement. Often it is the opposite direction of these forces that causes the sticking point. One is unable for some particular reason to do something that one would like to do, such as act or not act in a certain way. "I'd like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place." To have someone between a rock and a hard place is to have them in a position that causes them to make a choice that they don't want to make. "You've got me between a rock and a hard place; I'll sell it to you at the price you quoted."

Have you ever felt like that? If you haven't - if I may be so bold - you are lying.

I think we can feel we are stuck between opposing forces in relationships, work and even our walk with the Lord.

I woke up this morning feeling like I was between that rock and a hard place. My day has drifted along and I am still stuck, feet wedged between the same rocks. I truly believe the enemy uses the same "rocks" to keep us from growing in relationships we have, and more importantly "rocks" and "hard places" keep us from growing spiritually.

On my way home from work I popped in Casting Crowns newest CD "The Alter and the Door." I always forget how much I relate with the lyrics. It always seems that I put it in just when I need to hear those (sometimes hard) words the most. If I could post the lyrics for the song that speaks to me most on this album, I would probably just post every single song. The transparency of the songwriters astounds me, and makes me want to be more like that. I mean, if a widely-known Christian group can lay all their spiritual insecurities and struggles for all who hear their music, surely I can do the same with the small number of people I know.

As Christians we never stop growing and learning. But I sometimes slack on my growth with the Lord...I get on fire, and then some of the flames are extinguished. I always feel I am somewhere in the middle with my walk. I want to trust him completely, but I want to hold onto a couple of strings so I feel that I'm still in control. I want to place all my faith in him, but I also want to fend for myself because he might not do what I want, when I want it.

The seventh track (funny, 7 is the Biblical number of perfection...) is the song that inspired this post:

"Somewhere in the Middle"
By Casting Crowns

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle

It's always reassuring for me to think that God loves me no matter what. His love is unconditional. True agape love. It never changes. In Matthew 22, Jesus shares what the "greatest commandment" is with the Pharisees. In it the word Jesus uses for "love" is actually translated from the Greek word agape.

Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love (agape) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love (agape) your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Praise Jesus for his agape love.

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Just wanted to share some photos from Deeper Still in Atlanta. It was an amazing conference! I'll write more about it later. In the mean time, check out Beth Moore's blog, Travis Cottrell's blog or the Deeper Still blog for videos, photos and highlights!


Me and my mama on the first day of the conference.


April and I having a good ol' time.


Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore.


The ladies on the second day.


Beth Moore (front center) and Travis Cottrell (upper left).

Unfortunately I can't take credit for this six-word memoir, but I do relate with it...

Live to write. Write to live. - Unknown

I find myself more and more drawn to the less conventional way of Christian thought. I'm not sure if it's a generational thing or if I am just weird...sometimes I have a hard time understanding why I think so differently (some have labeled me liberal - I disagree)...or maybe it's because some feel that I have to believe a certain way in order to find favor among their collegues, church family, friends?

Let me explain.

There have been numerous things that I have gotten me really thinking about the "Christian way of thinking."

First, it was the Deeper Still conference I went to in Atlanta. There were 19,000 women in attendance - we were from all different backgrounds, ages, races, denominations, but you know what? We worshipped together. We fellowshiped together. We ate together. We laughed together. It's how you imagine heaven to be - differences don't matter. The only thing that really matters is Jesus. For that brief 36 hours, we left our differences at the door. We were all there to grow, learn, sing, cry and just praise the one most important thing we all have in common: Jesus Christ.

I read a story written by a co-worker today, and it was all about the generational differences between Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers/Millennials. Basically the lack of respect that exists between the generations; however, we all have one thing in common - we want to change the world and/or feel that what we are doing with our lives is meaningful and significant. I know I totally fall into that category. One of the hardest things for me to bear is to feel that what I am doing is not significant. One of my biggest fears is that I will wake up one morning as a 65 year-old woman and realize that I have nothing to help others during my life. What makes life significant? That is completely up to the person. Granted I haven't hit 30 yet, but I don't feel that I have reached at point of "significance" yet. I want the Lord to use me, stretch me, make me uncomfortable (bold, I know).

I long to get my hands dirty. I just want to help people. I want my life not to be judged by what I've done for myself, but what I've done for other people. I want to passionately share the love I have for Jesus with others. I want to find the fine line between tolerance of and intolerance so that I can sit on the line. However, I do know that if Scripture says something is wrong, it’s wrong. Plain and simple. No beating around the bush. But! I do not have the right to judge or condemn those who are wrong. I am to love them. Share Christ with them. Not push them away because they are different.I want to share Jesus with post-moderns, drug addicts, the homeless, gay people, believers, non-believers, transgender, atheists, single moms, women who've had abortions, Muslims, Jews and anyone who will listen. The denominational line is not something that will stop me from sharing my Savior just because I feel someone's lifestyle or way of worship is deemed taboo because it is different. My Jesus hung out with thieves, beggars, tax collectors, lepers, believers, non-believers - why can't I do the same?

Some may still say my way of thinking is liberal. I don't believe that it is. Some may think I'm being too tolerant. I don't think that I am. If I become so consumed with the "holier than thou" mentality, I become irrelevant to those who think differently than I. I am not allowed to judge. But I do know one thing, my Lord, Jesus Christ, commanded that I "go ye therefore" and tell everyone (this limits NO ONE, no matter their sexual preference, way of worship, beliefs, lifestyle, family history, substance use, etc.) about him and the everlasting love he offers to those who follow him. Praise the Lord for grace and mercy! It is only by his grace that I'm saved! I know what I was like before his grace rescued me, and it is much better with it than without it. Why wouldn't I want those who are "taboo" to the Christian world to experience this same grace?

Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (soap box: no where does it say the person being baptized needs to be in a SB church or baptized by a SB minister in order for it to "count")

Turns out, writing six-word memoirs is kind of fun! Definitely not as challenging as I was expecting it to be. If your wondering what in the world I'm taking about click here.

I have received numerous 'six words' from friends and family...and I would love to have more (comment, hint hint). Here is an updated list of memoirs...the new ones are in pink:

My memoirs:

Loved deeply. Hurt painfully. Loved again. - me

By grace I have been saved. - me

Destined to be a nomad forever. - me

My biggest temptation is a sale. - me

Degree? Check. Job? Check. Restlessness? Check. - me

The following memoirs are from friends and/or family:

Seeking God's kingdom, everything else follows. - April Franklin, author of Discourses of a Vagabond with a Mission

Six feet deep; no glass ceiling. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Full of myself, running on empty. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Death no longer a bumble bee. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Live for Him, forever with Him. - April Franklin

Learn to serve, learn to lead. - April Franklin

Without pain love is not learned. - April Franklin

Life's not free; get a job. - Amie Nixdorf

More of Him, less of me. - Amie Nixdorf

Two schools of life: responsibility, accountability. - Amie Nixdorf

As mentioned in my previous post, Sum your life up in SIX words, I am going to try my hand at a few six-word memoirs of my own, as well as, include some others have sent me. If you read my previous post, these six-word "stories" are not near as difficult to write as I thought...or I may be in the writer's "zone" right now...who knows! Anyway, please send me you six-word memoir(s) and I'll post them! :)

My memoirs:

Loved deeply. Hurt painfully. Loved again. - me

By grace I have been saved. - me

Destined to be a nomad forever. - me

My biggest temptation is a sale. - me

Degree? Check. Job? Check. Restlessness? Check. - me

The following memoirs are from friends and/or family:

Seeking God's kingdom, everything else follows. - April Franklin, author of Discourses of a Vagabond with a Mission

Six feet deep; no glass ceiling. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Full of myself, running on empty. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Death no longer a bumble bee. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Live for Him, forever with Him. - April Franklin