Lungs Getting Stronger

My friend Drayton is teaching me how to run longer and getting my lungs stronger. It is really fun. Sometimes when I don't want to run to my limit away from my house to the other we would catch the baseball. Every time I miss the ball I chase it. That gets my lungs stronger. Soon my lungs will get as strong as his. Then I will be able to run alot longer and better. It is really fun to play with my friend. He is even teaching me to trust my body more. He teaches me to jump longer and jump off higher places. Not to high though. That is all I have to say. Bye.


Bear

Big Changes

Last August RC and I went to a conference in Houston, TX. It was a small conference. About 150-200 people. But it was the most amazing thing we had experienced up to that point in our lives. The SOLE focus of the conference was JESUS CHRIST.

HE was the revelation we received that weekend.

And though things had been stirring in us leading up to this point, at this conference our hearts were captured in a way they had never been. And they were captured by a PERSON. Not a vision. Not a mindset. Not a model for things. But by a glorious, beautiful, amazing, marvelous, brilliant PERSON.

JESUS CHRIST.

Suffice it to say, this past year has been pretty crazy. I know I haven't really shared any of it on this blog but that's because I don't yet feel able to. The words just won't come out of my head. It's possible we need to progress farther in this journey before we will fully understand everything. (If that's even possible.) But here is what I can tell you:

At the end of this month we are moving in with my parents in Chicken Town. Chicken Town is only 30 minutes away from The City where we found, just this past weekend, a group of people who have also been enraptured by our glorious JESUS CHRIST and desire, like us, to gather together under His headship. We hope to be able to move to The City within the next 3-6 months.

People think it's odd that we would move (particularly odd that we would be willing to move in with family) for 'church'. That's not one of the things that people move for unless it's some kind of cult or they're crazy or something. No, people move for much grander things than the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the Family of God, the House of God - like jobs - or earthly families - or beaches - or mountains.

It's not wrong to move for those things. Part of our decision to move to the The City instead of some other city where there are people gathering under the headship of Christ has to do with RC's career. But if RC's career was the main motivation, the deciding factor, then we would just stay right here in A-town. But it's not.

The Eternal Purpose of God encompassed in Jesus Christ in the earth today is our motivation.

And we are so unbelievably excited to begin this part of the journey.

Bridget

I can't remember where I read this statement so as to give proper credit, but it's too good not to share anyway.

The christian life is not the imitation of the life of Christ - it's the participation in the life of Christ.

*updated on 4-19-2010 - Husband helped me to remember. I actually heard this statement on a CD of talks that we listen to. It was said by Alan. Once I find out his last name I'll let you know.

=)

Bridget

Losing

A fun movie to watch is A Knight's Tale. We own it and the other night while watching I had to stop it and write down a certain dialogue in it. To set it up: William (a peasant) is posing as a knight and traveling around to jousting competitions. Jocelyn is a rich man's daughter that also travels around to these competitions (no idea why). William and Jocelyn have seen each other and flirted and danced and whathaveyou. Upon entering a new town and therefore a new competition this is their exchange inside a church building:

William: Jocelyn, how may I prove my love to you?

How?

Jocelyn: Do you ask in earnest?

William: Yes.

Jocelyn: If you would prove your love you should do your worst.

William: My worst?

What do you mean?

Jocelyn: Instead of winning to honor me with YOUR high reputation, I want you to act AGAINST your normal character and do badly.

Lose.

William: Losing proves nothing except that I'm a loser.

Jocelyn: WRONG. Losing is a much keener test of your love.

Losing would contradict your self-love and losing would show your obedience to your lover and not yourself.

William: (thinking, reeling, not happy)

Jocelyn: What is your answer?

William: (deciding)

I. will. not. lose.

Jocelyn: Then you do not love me.

He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. -Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:39)

For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. -Jesus Christ (Matt 16:25)

Jesus wasn't just speaking of dying. He was speaking of laying down our own personal dreams, goals, desires, and seeking after God's dreams, goals, desires. God's eternal purpose.

If you would like to know more about God's eternal purpose than I highly recommend the book From Eternity to Here.

And just in case you think you have God's eternal purpose figured out (I know I once did) let me say that, no, it's not JUST saving lost souls or fellowshipping with us or having us worship Him.

It's MUCH grander than that!

And it's for Himself.

Praise God!

Bridget

Life, Not Light

So, I took this picture last week when the kids were outside playing. That's Bobo on the right and Studly on the left. It was in the 50s and we (the adults) found it funny that Bobo had on long pants, a long sleeved shirt, a jacket, and earmuffs while Studly had on shorts and a t-shirt. For kicks I ran outside and snapped this pic: Then yesterday I read a post on Milt's blog and I thought of this picture. You see, Bobo and Studly are standing in the exact same temperature. It's not 40* for Bobo and 60* for Studly. It's 50* for both, yet their differing opinions are revealed in their choice of clothing. But this doesn't stop them from playing together and accepting one another.

Oh, for the Body of Christ to stop gathering together with and accepting only those that share their same opinions (like if Studly would only play with kids who also wore shorts and t-shirts in 50* weather) and to start accepting and gathering together with those who have the life of Christ no matter our differing opinions for that is the only biblical grounds we are given for accepting our brothers and sisters in the family of God.

Milt puts this so much more eloquently and fills in all my gaps. Please take the time to read his post. Once you do you will totally get the title of this post. =) And I'm sure it will stir your spirit like it stirred mine.

Bridget