Barbershop Blessings

I had the blessing to meet a wonderful Christian barber today. His encouragement was a great reminder that the Lord desires to use us wherever He places us...whether it is behind a pulpit, in the mission field, as a student, as a businessman, as a stay-at-home mom, or wherever we work. It reminded me of a clever response I recently read about (can't remember where though and not an exact quote...Jonathan-paraphrased!).... Someone was asked, "What do you do for a living?" Their response? "I am a servant of God, sharing His love and truth while cleverly disguised as a grocery store bagger." What are you cleverly disguised as? Are you on mission for God no matter where you are? 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. 19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Death & the Brevity of Life

At my grandfather's funeral this weekend I was reminded of the brevity of life and some applicable verses.

James 4:13-15
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

Job 14:1-5
1 "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. 3 Do you fix your eye on such a one? Will you bring him before you for judgment? 4 Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! 5 Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

We must make the most of each day and live it for God's glory! Here is a great quote I particularly enjoy:
"Only one life, 'twil soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Israel - overlooking Temple Mount & Mount of Olives

Here I am - hat hair and all! You can see the SE corner of the supporting wall for the temple mount and the Al-Aqsa Mosque :( in the background. The white hill in the distance is the Mount of Olives...filled with Muslim and Jewish graves....

I was in Israel for a 3 week class through Jerusalem Univeristy College from Dec 31, 2007-Jan 20,2008. I hope to progressively share different photos, videos, etc. in the future!

If there is a specific location you are interested in, let me know so I can front load it!