Engage-Reality

Some of you know Marcus and I have been working on a ministry called Engage-Reality since last September. God has been giving us the vision piece by piece, so the website http://www.engage-reality.com/ has been our attempt in putting those pieces together. At the time God gave us this vision, we were working with groups of people that were often ignored, misunderstood, and oppressed (Marcus with the homeless and myself with survivors of sexual abuse.) We soon felt alone in our passion for these issues - we wanted people to understand the truth behind the stories and stereotypes of those struggling in these issues. Our hope with Engage-Reality is to spark an interest in others to find a group of people they can be passionate about, then educate themselves about the issues and motivate them to some type of action/service. We are in the process of redesigning the website, and possibly turning this into a non-profit, where we will focus on core issues, public awareness of the issues, and linking individuals with work already being done on the issue. Please check back with the site in a few weeks and keep us in your prayers as we seek the direction God has for us. Below is our latest post from Engage-Reality's Blog: http://www.engage-reality.blogspot.com/
And thanks to everyone for your prayers and sweet words about Seth and the adoption! We love you!!
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Why Should Christians Care About Social Injustice?

Poverty. Orphans. Degradation of women. Abuse of children. Homelessness. Unequal access to health care. In the last hundred years our society has shifted, from the church caring for the oppressed to government programs overseeing issues. Many may see this as a positive shift, and it is not a bad thing. The government does have the resources, funds, and research to address these issues. But something is gotten lost in the shift…people. When we view rape as an issue or poverty as just an issue something’s wrong. Behind the scary words, like sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, there are people; people that are hurting, scared, isolated, and often hopeless.

I know that issues can be overwhelming. I have heard many people say “I don’t watch the evening news or read the paper anymore. It is too depressing.” But ask the same person what’s their favorite TV show? Don’t be surprised when you hear Law and Order or CSI! Is it okay for issues to be entertainment but not reality? But it is reality, “ripped from the headlines”, you couldn’t make up most of those plots. Caring about “issues” doesn’t make you right or left, red or blue, or “in the world”. Caring about “issues” makes you compassionate, even (dramatic pause)… Christ-like.

There are over 2,000 verses in scripture that relate to caring for the oppressed and the poor. 2,000! Do you think the God of all creation was trying to tell us something? Yes, something like, don’t forget each other while you are doing life. Jesus is the perfect example of what God expects from us. (No surprise right?) Jesus loved people, I mean really loved people. He didn’t care about social norms. Remember the Samaritan woman? Jews talking to Samaritans wasn’t going to happen, but a man talking to a woman in public was a disgrace. Jesus never put a stereotype on anyone nor did he have one size fits all way of healing. Instead he looked at crowds with compassion, took time to listen to stories, and touched people. Jesus was revolutionary in person and in love. He made history of 600 plus laws and gave his followers just two – to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and the second love your neighbor as yourself.

The kingdom of God is right now. We are in it, we are it. It isn’t just something that awaits us, but it is Good News that must be shared today with those that need hope and a future. The Good Samaritan saw one person, with one need he could meet. Maybe he left his house that morning with his day’s agenda in his planner and heard story after story of issues that were beyond his control, but he did not let that stop him from doing one simple thing. He simply crossed the street. He saw a man with an immediate need who wanted help, and then he did something about it. The Samaritan cleaned his wounds and carried him to a place that could meet needs beyond his ability. We are not meant to meet needs on our own. I think that is why many Christians find themselves overwhelmed or afraid to reach out. We are afraid we won’t know what to do or what the answer is. Yet, we are surrounded with resources, we just have to know them and be willing to learn how to help with a specific need.

God has not called us to be passive or timid. But he’s called us to boldly reach out with compassion to others and to look beyond an issue or a stereotype, and see a person. Yes, we must make ourselves aware of the issues, their prevalence and consequences. We can’t be effective if we are ignorant and we can’t help someone if we aren’t aware. So may we not see issues, may we see our neighbors.

I Dare You,
Christy

It's Offical...

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
1 Samuel 1:27

A little over 4 months ago our lives changed forever. The word change seems too small for what really happened…transformed describes it better. One, seemingly normal, Thursday afternoon, 12 noon on March 20th to be exact, we received the phone call that all adopting parents wait not so patiently for. The voice of our case worker on the other end said, “Your son is ready for you.” I didn’t know if I should shout for joy or cry out of shock and happiness. I cried… and called Marcus, “Come home now…we have to go to Columbia…We have a boy.” It took several repeats of that statement and picking Seth up from the hospital for him to believe me. The transformation happened in 6 hours – notified at noon and held him in our arms by 6 pm! That is a day we will never forget.

Things are very different for parents who adopt verses those who can have biological children. For biological parents, you are never interviewed – questioned of everything in your past that could affect your ability to parent well or not, you home is never inspected, and once you hold your child in your arms, count all the fingers and toes, and look into their beautiful eyes, biological parents never have a lingering question of “What if something goes wrong? What if the biological father shows up?” So for us the next most important day after bringing Seth home from the hospital was his court date for finalization.

The day was full of anxiety, excitement and in the end, relief and peace. We didn’t expect any surprises. Our lawyer was as thorough as they come, prepared us for every question and possibility. But you can’t help but to question or think something will go wrong or be rescheduled, especially after our journey. But God knew what we needed and things absolutely could not have gone smoother. It was pretty special having family there to celebrate with afterwards too. And what an incredible anniversary present. Today we are official!

Guaranteed To Make You Laugh...

I must show some indignation....

Warning: IF you respect James Dobson please do not read this post, you will be offended. Consider yourself warned............

MSN is my homepage. And today the headline was “Evangelical Leader Rips Obama.” Of course it was James Dobson. I am sorry I may offend some, but I passionately dislike this man (notice I didn’t say Gentleman)! Let me break this to him and his followers gently; we are not a Christian nation (haven't been for years now), Mr. Dobson should not speak for the Christian community, and is he a Psychologist or a Tim Russert wanna be??

It pained me to even try to listen to his broadcast today. Every election is the same song and dance for Dobson, good ole Christian Bashing of brave men and women who dare to enter an election to run this country. (Though I don't approve of many who run, I wouldn't attempt or imagine trying to run a country.) The whole feel of the program was poor me, why did Obama jump on me in this speech, over 2 years ago may I add. Obama was simply comparing the
'Christian thinkers' (wow I use that description very loosely) of today, much like Paul did with Apollos and Cephas. It was a very smart speech by Obama, that Dobson and his fellow partners in crime totally took out of context by taking quotes here and there and cutting him off before the point is made. But Christians are very good at picking and choosing anyway, isn't that why we use highlighters in our bibles?

So I won't go on a complete rant here are my problems with this guy:
1. He makes conservative Christians appear ignorant, judgmental, and merciless to the rest of the world. (Check out Hosea 6:6)

2 It all goes back to Abortion. I am not denying the importance for us to stand against this injustice to innocent children - but where is his loud voice on all the other injustices that children face every day; sexual and physical abuse, neglect, lack of education, lack of respect even in our churches, children left in foster care, or those that are born into families that never intend to love or care for them. Just advocate for children's rights - advocating for an issue is about controlling what you don't like. My quote on the abortion issue: No uterus, no opinion!

3. Isn't it a contradiction to be against the killing of babies but support a president who sends us in to a war where innocence men and women kill and are being killed?

4. Pro-family. Notice this never has anything to do with upholding God's standards of a husband and wife of stay committed to each other (unless of course he is talking about how only the wife is to submit), but only that family is not for the homosexuals. Do we as Christians even have the right to say others are breaking the sanctity of marriage when the divorce rates of evangelicals equal that of non-believers?

I'll end there for now... my little boss calls.....
But I think I still have the outrage ability in me!!! :^)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25343812?GT1=43001

A Change of Rhythm

With a new baby brings a change in the rhythm of things, to say the least! Still not one complaint or anything I would change. But finding time to stay connected to God, my husband and myself has proved to be a challenge with our new "little boss"! I watch the news now more than ever, so there have been many things that have outraged me that I've been thinking and writing about. (By the way, if gas prices were "record breaking" yesterday, doesn't that mean they are "record breaking" today too. But without fail it is said everyday!) But I just don't feel that those outrages should take this post. These days time alone is precious. Instead I wanted to share some of the scriptures that have stopped me in my tracks in the last few weeks!

James 1:6-8 (TNIV)
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Those who doubt should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; 8 they are double-minded and unstable in all they do.
God wants us to be decisive. I struggle with that sometime - often I cheat and let time make a decision for me. But God wants us to make up our minds and not fear failures or mistakes.

Hebrews 10:10 and 14 (NLT)
10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
In Christ we are complete right now - in Him we are whole. Jesus did everything we will ever need. There's nothing left to add or change. There is no sacrifice left for us to bring Him - He did it all. We can't add to what He has already done - not holding on to the past, not forgiving ourselves, not hanging on to our mistakes. Jesus has done all we need and we just have to grasp on to the truth that in Him we are complete!

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Being made holy seems to be a ongoing theme for me. God's love must come first - it is through His love that we have the power and security that enables us to be holy and fulfill our God given purpose.

Galatians 5:22
The fruit of the spirit Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control; those things are resources from God. I rethink things now, to say "I have no patience" is to say "God really doesn't have enough power to give that to me." But these are God's resources that give us the power, that isn't naturally within us, to live differently.

Genesis 1:27 (TNIV)
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Imagine the possibilities when we put into practice being made in His image? How would you look at yourself differently? How would you look at others differently? I am stuck here in this verse - considering how different my life should be just because of that verse. So I'm doing lots of writing and study on that theme...I'll get back to you on that.

This is INSANE!!!

I am so glad to live in America, to drive in my own car...with just my husband and baby, and yes after watching this to even pay ridiculous gas prices!! I guess the Japanese don't have personal space or a body-bubble!! I would freak out, no maybe just live on the streets if this was the only way to work!!!!

The Glory of It All

For me there are worship songs, then there are Worship Songs! You know, the personal ones that dare you go deep down look at all your stuff - the good, the bad, the pain, the joys, and complete brokenness and failure - then realize it all pales in the awesomeness of who God is. You can't possibly experience God and remain who you are and where you were. Without God I am nothing - nothing works, nothing makes sense, and everything is chaos. And as messed up I am, it is amazing that he came to rescue and repair me once and for all.

Enjoy the video. It takes me to a new level every time I hear it!