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4 months ago
in Ugly Teeth/Big Nose Syndrome on Missio Dei
My whole concept of beauty was radically changed last year when I was in a grocery store. Hard for me understand what happened, but it was like a veil was rent and for a few minutes I could only see every person there through the eyes of Love--and every single person--the "ordinary," the "beautiful," the "ugly teeth/big nose" people--became so stunningly gorgeous that I had to keep wiping away tears as I walked through the aisles. In a few minutes it was gone. I think it is His love that makes all things beautiful.
The only way I can even vaguely relate to it is that I have never, ever seen a dog (not even a picture of one) I did not find beautiful. Not even the ones that everyone else says are hideous looking. They are all so gorgeous to me. I think we are to God as dogs are to me: All of us gorgeous in the light of His love.
Also, I don't know why, but this post brought to mind the lyrics, "He was born to shimmer, born to shine...." http://tinyurl.com/d53v5r
The only way I can even vaguely relate to it is that I have never, ever seen a dog (not even a picture of one) I did not find beautiful. Not even the ones that everyone else says are hideous looking. They are all so gorgeous to me. I think we are to God as dogs are to me: All of us gorgeous in the light of His love.
Also, I don't know why, but this post brought to mind the lyrics, "He was born to shimmer, born to shine...." http://tinyurl.com/d53v5r
1 reply
Jonathan Brink
Tracy, I have experienced moments like that and they are awesome. I long for it to be complete it me.
5 months ago
in Thoughts on hell and speaking responsibly about it on Open Conversations
Josh, have you read the book Hope Beyond Hell? It has given me MUCH food for thought on this topic. I have an extra copy I'd be happy to send to you if you'd like it. I think you'll find it fascinating--I sure did!
1 reply
jshmueller
Thanks, Tracy! I sent you an email!
5 months ago
in You Can’t Be Saved on Missio Dei
Josh, I just love, love, love the way you've expressed this here. I'm gonna' "steal" it at some point :-)...but I promise to give you credit when I do!
1 reply
jshmueller
Thanks Tracy! Steal away ... and giving credit is appreciated but not really that important in the end, is it?
5 months ago
in Obama’s Grande Triple-Shot Latte Inaugural Speech on A Mending Shift
Interesting. The newscasters yesterday were saying Obama wrote his own speech with only a little help/input from his speechwriters. I wonder which is true?
In any case, I sat there crying like a baby when I heard that it was slaves who had built the White House. I never knew that. No matter who people voted for or didn't vote for, yesterday was a remarkable, incredible, long overdue day.
In any case, I sat there crying like a baby when I heard that it was slaves who had built the White House. I never knew that. No matter who people voted for or didn't vote for, yesterday was a remarkable, incredible, long overdue day.
1 reply
Jeromy
Perhaps Jon wrote the first draft, then handed it off to Obama to have at it and make it his...conflicting news reports, got to love 'em. Yea, I didn't know that about the WH either...talk about somethings going full circle. I loved the fact that Obama took his oath on the same Bible Abe Lincoln did -- talk about making a statement!
5 months ago
in Brown Eyed People Are Stupid on A Mending Shift
He works in the high school in our town, with 8th to 12th graders, special education. He also works as a behavior supervisor, which means any kid that gets in trouble in a classroom gets sent to him (a rather high stress job in my book!).
I would be very, very wary of letting just any teacher do this exercise, though. It could be so damaging to the students if not handled properly, but I sure would love to see every teacher be required to undergo this process. I hate racism with a passion, so this really hit a nerve in me, in a very good way.
I would be very, very wary of letting just any teacher do this exercise, though. It could be so damaging to the students if not handled properly, but I sure would love to see every teacher be required to undergo this process. I hate racism with a passion, so this really hit a nerve in me, in a very good way.
1 reply
Jeromy
Tracy, good point. Done correctly it could be powerful for kids, done with the wrong heart or flippantly and it could be damaging. How do you think the teachers in Rich's school react doing this exercise together?
5 months ago
in The War is Over on A Mending Shift
Chad, your comment brought something to my mind: The other thing that I read about this story when I first heard it years ago was that it took quite awhile for this man to believe the war was over. They had to repeatedly make contact with him (like dropping pamphlets that he'd find in the jungle, etc.) before he believed it was true. I wish I could remember the details, but I even think some of his own family (or maybe it was former fellow soldiers?) had to go out to try to convince him. In any case, this always gives me great hope even for those who are initially very resistant to the truly great news of God. Sometimes people need to repeatedly hear the truth before their hearts can rise up and believe it.
1 reply
Jeromy
Nice insight, Tracy (as always). I believe they had to find his old commanding officer to give him the orders to come out of hiding and that the war was over.
Here is what I found: "Despite the efforts of the Philippine Army, letters and newspapers left for them, radio broadcasts, and even a plea from Onoda's brother, he did not believe the war was over. On February 20, 1974, Onoda encountered a young Japanese university dropout named Norio Suzuki who was traveling the wold and told his friends that he was “going to look for Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the abominable snowman, in that order. The two became friends, but Onoda said that he was waiting for orders from one of his commanders. On March 9, 1974, Onoda went to an agreed upon place and found a note that had been left by Suzuki. Suzuki had brought along Onoda’s one-time superior commander, Major Taniguchi, who delivered the oral orders for Onoda to surrender."
Here is what I found: "Despite the efforts of the Philippine Army, letters and newspapers left for them, radio broadcasts, and even a plea from Onoda's brother, he did not believe the war was over. On February 20, 1974, Onoda encountered a young Japanese university dropout named Norio Suzuki who was traveling the wold and told his friends that he was “going to look for Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the abominable snowman, in that order. The two became friends, but Onoda said that he was waiting for orders from one of his commanders. On March 9, 1974, Onoda went to an agreed upon place and found a note that had been left by Suzuki. Suzuki had brought along Onoda’s one-time superior commander, Major Taniguchi, who delivered the oral orders for Onoda to surrender."
5 months ago
in Interesting Stuff on Missio Dei
Sorry, but I have to add one more comment. Your wish list is PATHETIC, brother! Mine has 395 items in it :-)
I do have several of the books on your wish list if you ever want to borrow them. I love to lend them and many of my books have been all over the place. I do, however, write in them so if underlining and notes in margins bother you, you won't want to borrow them! Let me know if you want to know what I have.
I do have several of the books on your wish list if you ever want to borrow them. I love to lend them and many of my books have been all over the place. I do, however, write in them so if underlining and notes in margins bother you, you won't want to borrow them! Let me know if you want to know what I have.
1 reply
5 months ago
in Interesting Stuff on Missio Dei
The movie got some rave reviews: http://tinyurl.com/7qx95y
1 reply
Jonathan Brink
I hope it's good. I'll have to catch it.
6 months ago
in Animal Cookie Grace on A Mending Shift
That's what is so funny: We normally eat very healthy, vegetarian diets, but lately we've both been craving junk food and Rich just went more than a little wild at the grocery store! I'll be cleaning out the cupboards soon and we'll be back to our healthy eating once again. I have to run for now because the Oreos are loudly calling my name ;).
1 reply
Jeromy
'tis the season. i say enjoy the cookies...at least you'll die with a smile on your face.
6 months ago
in Animal Cookie Grace on A Mending Shift
Jeromy, this is wild: I've been with my husband for many years (coming up on 25 years of marriage in March) and never once has he ever brought me home animal crackers from the store (nor do I think I have ever bought them for myself!). On the day you posted this I read it and was deep in thought about it on and off throughout the day. That afternoon Rich walks in the door and hands me a box of animal crackers, exactly like the ones pictured above!
I had not talked to him about this post nor had he read it yet (he will today!).
Isn't that wild? I've just left the box sit on the kitchen counter, a nice reminder. Fun, huh?
:-)
I had not talked to him about this post nor had he read it yet (he will today!).
Isn't that wild? I've just left the box sit on the kitchen counter, a nice reminder. Fun, huh?
:-)
2 replies
Derek
I think the real miracle here is that a box of cookies can sit on your counter undisturbed for a whole day! In my house a box of animal crackers left unattended on the counter would look a lot like a piranha feeding frenzy: After 30 seconds there would be nothing left besides the tattered remains of a flimsy cardboard box.
In all seriousness however that is really wild
In all seriousness however that is really wild
Jeromy
tracy, that is indeed too wild. you'll have to let me know how many broken animals turn up in your box.
its funny that you mention them not being cookies, but rather crackers, thus not worthy. jen sees them as the opposite. she says, "how can they call them crackers when they clearly cookies."
judging by what rich brought home, i think you two need to eat more veggies! thanks for sharing that cool story.
its funny that you mention them not being cookies, but rather crackers, thus not worthy. jen sees them as the opposite. she says, "how can they call them crackers when they clearly cookies."
judging by what rich brought home, i think you two need to eat more veggies! thanks for sharing that cool story.
6 months ago
in Advent with Ted the Loser (from Jesus Shaped Spirituality) on A Mending Shift
I so loved the loser line because one of my all-time favorite quotes from anyone is when R.F. Capon talks about how all we have to do to receive God's immense grace is to be one of the lost, last, least, or lifeless (he says dead, but I like to keep in line with the other "L" words!). Loser is now added to this list as far as I'm concerned.
1 reply
Jeromy
Very true, Jesus seemed to say that the Kingdom belonged to such. So would you be offended if I called you a loser?
