Friday

Today you wept.

Today you were betrayed.

Today you were unfairly tried.

Today you were as silent as a sheep led to the slaughter.

Today you were scorned.

Today you were spat on.

Today you were hated.

Today you were beaten to the point of un-recognition.

Today you were abandoned.

Today you were denied.

Today you stood alone.

Today everyone stood against you.

Today you were traded.

Today you carried your cross.

Today you were crucified.

Today you did all things willingly.

Today you suffered.

Today you had compassion.

Today you breathed your last.

Today you claimed it to be finished.

Today you took my sin.

Today you took my shame.

Today you took my guilt.

Today I remember the cost of my freedom.

Today is Good Friday.

And There Was Light

So, as much as I love our new apartment there are a few things about it that I'm not a fan of. One of those things is that there are no overhead lights in any of the rooms except the kitchen, dining room, and bathrooms. Which leaves the two bedrooms and living room with a necessity for light producing objects. We got the bedrooms taken care of with lamps we already owned, but we were unsure about what we wanted to do for the living room. So for the last month and a half the lights from the dinning room and kitchen have been the lights we've had on at night to try and illuminate the living room. Which has left the living room fairly dim.

But thankfully I have a new friend here, Beth Randall, and she has some creative juices flowing through her veins. So over the last few weeks we have been brain storming some lamp ideas and we finally came up with one we liked. We spent a Sunday afternoon with my other new friend, Gracie McGeehon (Beth's sister), and retrieved all of our parts and built our creation.

It began with 6 Dollar Store frames.

We added fabric. 

Attached them to a wooden embroidery hoop. 

And the shade was complete! 

Then we simply used twine and attached it to our awesome looking rope which held the light fixture. 

 And then we hung it up!

Here's our victory picture! 

And here is Eddie mesmerized by the awesomeness of the lamp.

I think this may very well be one of the coolest things I have ever worked on. Thanks Beth and Gracie for your help in bringing some light into our lives!

Safely Home

I just got done reading a book called "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn and I think I would say that it is probably one of the most influential books I have ever read. I know, that's some high praise for a book. But let me explain.

For me, I resonate with books that tell stories, either fiction or non-fiction. Not that I don't like or am not affected by theological or instructive books, I just find myself more convicted and changed by stories. For example, I am more convicted by my lack of faith when I read about Hudson Taylor than I am when I read a book about faith, how to have it, and what it does in my life. When I see faith, grace, love, etc lived out in other people, fictional or not, I am affected more than if I just read books that talk about faith, grace, love, etc. And because of that, I tend to read more biographies and Christian fiction.

"Safely Home" is a fictional story based on some real life events and people. Here is a short synopsis:

Executive Ben Fielding hits upon a perfect plan: he will make his company millions of dollars by using Chinese labor to manufacture its electronic components. To kickstart his plan, he visits China, where he stays with college roommate Li Quan, whom he hasn't seen in over 20 years. From Li, Ben learns that his initial impressions of China from his research and from visits over the years are false, but Ben doesn't believe Li's stories of the persecution of Christians until Li is taken to jail. As Ben rediscovers Jesus through Li's faith, he discovers the truth that God does not promise an easy life on Earth, only eternal happiness after death.

I don't want to give away too much of the story, so I won't give specifics. But I was convicted of a lack of reliance on and love for Jesus Christ, a lack of love for the lost, too much love for the comforts of the world, and not setting my eyes and my heart on eternity and eternal things.

If you enjoy reading a good book and want your faith and your heart stirred and refreshed for Jesus, I recommend reading this book. And if you do read I would love to hear your thoughts on it.