Are you looking for something to help you in the coming month to be ready to fully celebrate Easter? CMF has put together a little booklet of 31 devotions to help. These little devotionals are all written by missionaries, staff and others associated with CMF. If you want to check it out, go to this link.
http://cmfi.org/media/EasterDevotional.pdf
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A movie class
I hope you have been enjoying this fresh new year! Mine has been packed with lots of fun things. I spent the first two weeks watching movies. I audited a class at Emmanuel Christian Seminary about theology in the cinema. I watched a few movies in December to help with this class and I did a good bit of reading books on the topic. I spent the first week of January trying to catch up on movies I have missed over the years while I was in Kenya. The next week was spent in watching more movies during the class and talking about the various spiritual themes that can be found in them. It was a very eye opening couple of weeks!
I generally watch movies to relax and veg a little. I don't often think about what the movie is trying to 'say.' I just enjoy the experience and move on to the work of the next day. Sometimes I will see a very obvious theme and might think about it for while, but usually, I just enjoy the story. This class helped me see the many and varied spiritual themes that can be found in movies.
Why is this important? People may not go to church, but they do watch movies. They might be willing to talk about the themes of the movies. Others may be like me and think a movie is wonderful without thinking about the implications of what the movie is teaching in all the fun.
I went to see the movie Les Miserables. I must confess that I had never read the book or seen any version of this story. I knew the outline of the story, but not much more than that. This was an easy one to see spiritual themes in, so it was a good place to start. Themes of forgiveness, grace, the balance between grace and law, and sacrifice and redemption were pretty easy to spot and to ponder.
Another movie that got me really thinking was Contact. People all around us are looking for meaning and trying to understand the relationship between science and religion. This movie explores a lot of those questions. How do we prove God's existence? How do we prove love exists? Is science all about proof or is there some belief in there? How do we who believe in God treat those who don't? What about faith? Is it blind? Is it based on feelings, evidence or a mixture?
This class dealt with a lot of different types of movies. I cried a lot while watching these movies and I also laughed a good bit. Most of the movies we watched in class were tear-jerkers, but we did watch a couple that were funny with some pretty serious themes. Before class, I watched Groundhog Day and in class we watched Forrest Gump. Is life just a meaningless repetition of events until we die? What gives it meaning? How much does our attitude change the way we view our life? How does our society view a really good person? Do we mock them and say they are just stupid? Is real love intelligent? How does love work for or against great power? Foolishness over against power and wisdom are great themes in Forrest Gump. How does that relate to God and the Bible?
Well, those are just a few examples. It was a fun class. I saw several movies I had never heard about and some that I wanted to see, but never got the opportunity. I think I will watch movies a little differently in the future because of this too. I will also think more about questions to ask after seeing a movie with friends. I might even choose some movies for my English students to watch (over several hours because of having to stop to read subtitles) that I might not have thought of using in the past, like the one below.
Would you like some movie recommendations to get you started? Comment or send me an e-mail and I will be glad to help you.
I generally watch movies to relax and veg a little. I don't often think about what the movie is trying to 'say.' I just enjoy the experience and move on to the work of the next day. Sometimes I will see a very obvious theme and might think about it for while, but usually, I just enjoy the story. This class helped me see the many and varied spiritual themes that can be found in movies.
Why is this important? People may not go to church, but they do watch movies. They might be willing to talk about the themes of the movies. Others may be like me and think a movie is wonderful without thinking about the implications of what the movie is teaching in all the fun.
I went to see the movie Les Miserables. I must confess that I had never read the book or seen any version of this story. I knew the outline of the story, but not much more than that. This was an easy one to see spiritual themes in, so it was a good place to start. Themes of forgiveness, grace, the balance between grace and law, and sacrifice and redemption were pretty easy to spot and to ponder.
Another movie that got me really thinking was Contact. People all around us are looking for meaning and trying to understand the relationship between science and religion. This movie explores a lot of those questions. How do we prove God's existence? How do we prove love exists? Is science all about proof or is there some belief in there? How do we who believe in God treat those who don't? What about faith? Is it blind? Is it based on feelings, evidence or a mixture?
This class dealt with a lot of different types of movies. I cried a lot while watching these movies and I also laughed a good bit. Most of the movies we watched in class were tear-jerkers, but we did watch a couple that were funny with some pretty serious themes. Before class, I watched Groundhog Day and in class we watched Forrest Gump. Is life just a meaningless repetition of events until we die? What gives it meaning? How much does our attitude change the way we view our life? How does our society view a really good person? Do we mock them and say they are just stupid? Is real love intelligent? How does love work for or against great power? Foolishness over against power and wisdom are great themes in Forrest Gump. How does that relate to God and the Bible?
Well, those are just a few examples. It was a fun class. I saw several movies I had never heard about and some that I wanted to see, but never got the opportunity. I think I will watch movies a little differently in the future because of this too. I will also think more about questions to ask after seeing a movie with friends. I might even choose some movies for my English students to watch (over several hours because of having to stop to read subtitles) that I might not have thought of using in the past, like the one below.
Would you like some movie recommendations to get you started? Comment or send me an e-mail and I will be glad to help you.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Our present - His presence.
The one who came to save His people from their sin has been celebrated this month. I pray that He is born in our hearts each day as we follow Him. The focus of the past days for me has been on family and celebration. I have enjoyed being present for family gatherings this year instead of just having a short phone call during the events. Really, presence is what this season is all about.
He came as a baby. God wanted to be with us. He wanted to be present. He became our present that we celebrate every year at least for a little while. He still wants to be present to us today and every day. He wants us to know Him and His presence in a real way. Counting my gifts this year has helped me to do that. I hope you have found ways to help you enjoy his presence in your life too.
As the year comes to a close, I have a few more gifts to list. God is so good and I have enjoyed this year of listing my gifts. It has helped me to stay focused on the giver and on how blessed I am. This is a habit I will keep, but I may not list all of them here. I will keep counting though and periodically share a few with you.
He came as a baby. God wanted to be with us. He wanted to be present. He became our present that we celebrate every year at least for a little while. He still wants to be present to us today and every day. He wants us to know Him and His presence in a real way. Counting my gifts this year has helped me to do that. I hope you have found ways to help you enjoy his presence in your life too.
As the year comes to a close, I have a few more gifts to list. God is so good and I have enjoyed this year of listing my gifts. It has helped me to stay focused on the giver and on how blessed I am. This is a habit I will keep, but I may not list all of them here. I will keep counting though and periodically share a few with you.
1102. Christmas
cookies made
1103. We can draw
near to his throne without fear!
1104. Cat in a box
 |
| I fits! Really, I do. |
 |
| Why you takin' my pitchur? I'll shoot u wit my laser beam saucer eyes! |
1105. Singing His
praises with friends.
 |
| Joy To The World!! |
1106. A handmade gift
from a friend.
1107. No car trouble
and a safe drive to IN.
1108. Snow at Mark’s!
1109. Family!
(missing one very important person though)
1110. Baking with Mom
and Dad.
1111. Shopping for
the feast with the whole family – what messy joy.
1112. Card shark
Dennis!
1113. Christmas gift
shopping.
1114. Family and
tenderloin sandwiches.
 |
| amazing my cousins are so old and hadn't had these before :) |
1115. The Annual
Family gathering – I’m here to enjoy it!
1116. Late nights and
drinking it all in to save for more solitary times.
 |
| Yes - 2 games of Euchre going on in this picture. |
1117. God is
coming! He is near! He is
here! He is coming again! All at once! Alleluia!!!!
1118. Sharing the
light and remembering He is the Light.
1119. Worshiping with
family.
1120. Celebration of
real Love.
1121. A new family
member met and loved on.
1122. A dog and her present. Missing Chewy!
 |
| His favorite sleeping spot |
 |
| last Christmas in Lodwar |
1123. Les Miserable
movie – Grace rejected or accepted.
‘to love another person is to see God!’
1124. Blizzard and
loving the snow.
1125. Slowed down
restful day.
1126. Unexpected
extra day with my parents.
1127. Brother’s love
– shopping and returning things with me.
1128. The cold and
snow scenes all around – seen and felt.
1129. Dinner with
family.
 |
| brother, cousin, me, great aunt and another cousin taking the picture |
1130. Icicles on
striated cliffs in KY.
1131. A beautiful
tree - bare white branches on a dark trunk.
1132. Safely home in
TN.
1133. Just breathing.
1134. Pondering a
movie or two.
1135. Church with
friends and lunch after.
1136. Gumbo taste
explosion (to spicy for me!)
1137. Italian food
and friend time.
1138. Broncos
win! Clinch playoff advantage!
1139. A new year
coming!
1140. His multitude
of blessings this year!!!
He loves us so! It is so easy to miss the evidence when we don't examine our days. Praying for a bright New Year of His presence in my life and in yours!
linked with Ann
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tis the season of...
A season of joy and a season of sorrow. A season of pain followed by great delight. A season of fear and awe followed by rapturous praises and running to see. A season to know that the darkness has not and will not overcome the light. A season of the here and the not yet. A season to relive and anticipate Theopany - God's coming.
This is a season of many things. Often these things are mixed together. Sometimes these things can even seem opposed to each other and yet they stand together in history and in our hearts. This seems to be especially true in light of recent tragic events. Words cannot express the emotions about this event. I'm thankful the Spirit will utter these groanings and sighs in prayers to the Father.
I pray for those closely connected to these events. I pray for the impact it has had on so many people that are only connected by these deep emotions all across the world. I pray for healing and wisdom.
At the same time, I give thanks to the Lord that we are told that the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome the Light (John 1:5). I am thankful that God came in the form of a little child and that he promises to come again.
In this season of so many things, I am also thankful for many small ways that God has blessed me. I share these with you and hope that you might find your own ways to see how the small, ordinary everyday things around you are really gifts from his hand. Enjoy the list!
I pray that you are finding the time to focus on the real reason for this season in the midst of all its busyness. It is a great stress reducer!!!
Linking up with Ann
This is a season of many things. Often these things are mixed together. Sometimes these things can even seem opposed to each other and yet they stand together in history and in our hearts. This seems to be especially true in light of recent tragic events. Words cannot express the emotions about this event. I'm thankful the Spirit will utter these groanings and sighs in prayers to the Father.
I pray for those closely connected to these events. I pray for the impact it has had on so many people that are only connected by these deep emotions all across the world. I pray for healing and wisdom.
At the same time, I give thanks to the Lord that we are told that the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome the Light (John 1:5). I am thankful that God came in the form of a little child and that he promises to come again.
In this season of so many things, I am also thankful for many small ways that God has blessed me. I share these with you and hope that you might find your own ways to see how the small, ordinary everyday things around you are really gifts from his hand. Enjoy the list!
1043. Window shopping
with Indy
1044. Christmas
lights
1045. Candle scents
1046. Outdoor World –
amazing!
1047. Relaxing
kitties.
1048. Time with
family
1049. Deer in the
yard
1050. A safe flight
to Indiana
1051. Help from a
friend
1052. New projector
for ESL
1053. Made it to
church on time in spite of my car not wanting to start (again!)
1054. The projector
worked (mostly) for my presentation at church.
1055. Potluck dinner
fun with the folks at MPCC of Hall
1056. Meeting a
possible new Turkana teammate on the way to TN!
1057. Car didn’t
strand me in Corbin, KY as it didn’t want to start for quite some time.
1058. A nice new
apartment
1059. Help with my
non-starting car and moving in to my new place
1060. A car loaned by
friends for me to use.
1061. A rolling
heater loaned for the cold coming soon – I hope!
1062. Advent Market
fun
1063. An unexpected
gift to make creative things
1064. Lunch with
friends I unexpectedly met at the market
1065. The songs of
the season
1066. Branches found
for my Jesse Tree
1067. Storytelling
and Jael’s story
3 gifts from the savior
1068. A robe of
righteousness
1069. His presence with me
1070. A beautiful day
to enjoy with others
1071. On the way to
Bethlehem
1072. My name written
on the Palm of His hand and never to be forgotten. Isaiah 49:16
1073. A beautiful
park to walk in
 |
| Can't believe the warm weather in December! |
1074. A fun baked goods auction
1075. Come, Lord
Jesus, bring your peace
1076. Lunch with good
friends and the Broncos win again!
1077. Sharing baked
goods bounty with my new neighbors :)
1078. They figured
out my car problem – A new crank sensor and I am good to go
1079. Help picking up
my car
1080. Lunch at
Freiberg’s German Restaurant
1081. Wandering
through a music shop with Laura and Jerry
1082. A Season of Joy
concert – what fun!
1083. Talking about a
class – to take for credit or not??!!
1084. Aunt B’s – good
food and memories with friends
1085. Carolling with
DCC folks
1086. Many old
treasures found in long stored things
1087. Lunch with
Carolyn and Beth
1088. Fun times with
Kathy and friends
1089. A very hard
thanks – Bring your light to this dark world!
1090. The Hobbit
movie with Yance
1091. Sword packing
angels!
1092. A beautiful
sunset
1093. Journeying with
Mary and Joseph
1094. My little
Christmas tree found at the dollar store
1095. Praising the
Lord with His people
1096. Sunday
afternoon naps :)
1097. A fun ornament
1098. Dessert at the
Mad Greek Restaurant
1099. A visit to
Bristol Motor Speedway
1100. Dinner with
friends
1101. The reason for
the season
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