pure opportunity

It's almost been a year...

2007-02-16T08:50:00.000-05:00

Well it's almost been a year since my last post...a lot of things can happen in a year...and a lot of things can stay the same! About this time last year, my wife and I decided that we were going to move our family of 16 years cross country from Rhode Island to Arizona. We both were born and raised in RI, married there, had our children there...It wasn't a job change, it wasn't a life crisis- we just felt that God was saying "move". What a strange feeling...You know, I can kind of understand how Abram felt leaving UR in his 70's to follow the voice of God. So know it's a new place, new job, and new opportunities that the Lord has me here to take! It is my prayer that God would keep my eyes wide open to the 5 million + opportunities happening around me every day...Can you see your opportunity today?

Opportunity?

2006-03-25T09:11:00.000-05:00

I haven't updated in a while...as some of you have pointed out. Thanks for trying to shake me from my slumber. You know it really hasn't been slumber...it's been more of a hibernation. I have come to realize that opportunity is closer than you think, and sometimes it lies where you never even thought to look.

God is calling us, his children, to not only look for the opportunity to show His love in the darkness, but also in the light...I have found out that many people in the Light need to be shown His love, forgiveness, unconditional acceptance (also known as Grace) and that by doing so, the Dark will be caught off guard...

Over the past few months I have seen the tragic consequences of sin, not only in my life but in the lives of many of the people I love and hold dear. And I have seen the way sin separates the "righteous" from the "unrighteous"...and I am hear to say that I am witness to the scripture that states that our righteousness is like dirty rags...

And that all we are called to do is to ... Love the Lord our God with all our Heart, Mind, and Strength ... and Love People as we Love ourselves!

Look for the opportunity to Love today, and try not to see anyone's rags...dirty or not!

Because of Winn Dixie

2005-10-29T06:26:00.000-05:00

Yes...Because of Winn Dixie! I know, it's a kid's movie. And it's about a girl and her dog. But in having 2 kids of my own, we were watching the movie version last night. It is quite good, and in the middle of the movie Opal, the main character, is given a tin of candy called "Litmus Lozenges". The story surrounding the way the candy was made is important, but not for this post (see the movie or read the book), but whomever Opal gives a Lozenge to, comments that it is "sweet and sad at the same time". Then Opal says something very profound regarding her life and how it relates to the candy..."It's sweet and sad all mixed together, and it's impossible to separate them."

...and this got me to thinking. Isn't life exactly that way? Sometimes sweet one minute and sad the very next moment? Isn't it at the times we feel on top of the world, that we feel the most alone? Then I'm reminded that we are in a world crying out for completion, perfection, and love that only God can bring, and that in those feelings of sweetness and sadness, our heart is actually yearning to relate to our Creator. He wants us to share those feelings with Him. And as I realize this, I realize that I am never alone...that He is right here with me, feeling those same things. In a trivial, human way...isn't that feeling of sweet and sad what He felt at Calvary? And then I realized that God was speaking to me through a "Kids Movie". How cool is that? Thanks God for taking the time to watch that movie last night with us...had a great time!

Brent

Home School Has Begun!

2005-10-10T11:27:00.000-05:00

Hello all...just a little post to let you all know what is going on. God has given my wife and I the awesome opportunity to homeschool our 2 boys. I have the privilege to teach history. I love history! It really shows the way God pursues people with His Love. How He has actively sought out relationship with mankind since the beginning of time, and how we as followers of God must share His love with others, or He finds other ways to get people's attention. Lord help me take the opportunities you give me every day to show your love!

Away from the blog for a while...

2005-08-29T05:52:00.000-05:00

Not that anyone really needs to know...but if you haven't noticed, I have not posted in a while. The month of August was really spent spending time with people! We have a wonderful neice Dennae, who had been staying with us since April. She was scheduled to go home to AZ around the 10th of the month, so we wanted to spend as much time with her as possible before she left. What a challenging young woman she is! Every time you turn around, she is finding opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone...it really challenges my heart!

So, you know when your heart is being challenged, how the Lord really pours it on thick! I have been reading Ephesians in The Message translation of the bible, and chapter 5:8-10 has been sticking with me...

" The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. GET ON WITH IT! The Good, the Right, the True- these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it!"

I can honestly say, she has done that. She has a prayer written in her bible, that she has laminated as to make it a permanent reminder. The prayer paraphrased says, "Lord, let my heart be open to love people today, just as you have loved me. Let me not think of my own comfort, or security, or pain...just let me, by my love, show people You. Please don't let me put walls up, but help me be vunerable, just as You made yourself vulnerable..."

I think she has figured out what pleases Christ...and has set out to GET ON WITH IT! I just wonder if I have? Have you...

Be Careful What You Read...

2005-07-29T06:25:00.000-05:00

In my last post I commented on a book I am reading called "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. In the comments to my post there was a lot of agreement about what was written by him, but also some disagreement. I think this is good, I don't usually agree with everything I read, and it is sometimes this disagreement the makes me think all the more. In her comments of disagreement on this book I am recommending, JillVerrier stated that the book was "full of nuggets, unfortunately you had to choke on the pages junk to get to the good stuff."

Pretty strong words, and I do agree with her in that there are things in Donald Millers writing that I disagree with...But I think the point of the book as a whole is just that! How many people who call themselves Christians in this consumer culture of ours, see the "Pages of Junk" in peoples lives and never try to look past that to the "Nuggets" of truth that lie within?

Why aren't our hearts aching for the people we come in contact with every day who are hurting and lost and by putting on an air of self-confidence are really just crying out to be loved by us?
Why do we close our hearts to the Pandemic need of the Africa AIDS Crisis? Where one person dies every 15 seconds, not the weak and the frail, but (pardon my frankness) the sexually active who are usually the adult men and women of society.
By 2010 UNAIDS estimates there will be a grand total of 107 million orphans in the world - virtually no change there - but a mind-numbing 25 million of them will be orphans of AIDS. That's 23.7% of all orphans
There are 34 million orphans in Africa, of whom 11 million are believed to be orphans of AIDS. One third of Africa's orphans, or about one child in 20 overall, has lost his or her parents to HIV
The global number of orphans due to AIDS is going to double in a decade, if we don't look past the pages of junk and see the people that Christ came to love, dying with no hope at all!

Finally I want to say that JillVerrier is a very good friend of mine, and when she says "It is so real that everyday I walk by demon possessed men and women living on the streets because they were "free" and didn't care what others said. Because they were "just being who they are". She means it! She is one person whom I know is looking for the nuggets in everyone she comes in contact with! In fact, she has laid down her life for these precious little ones, and IS making a difference every day in their lives, so when she comments strongly like she did, it really makes me stand up and take notice! So thank you Jill for reminding me through your comments to be more like Christ, and look for the "Nuggets" in everyone, just as He did in me!

Busy little thoughts...

2005-07-13T06:54:00.000-05:00

Wow...it's been a while since I last posted...been busy, and I have been reading "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. AMAZING book...in it's point of view. It is really challenging me, and I hope helping me to see the opportunities that are out there, especially when it comes to people with different ideology than me. Let me quote from the 2nd chapter...something that I am trying to digest and ingest...

"Some people skip through life; some people are dragged through it. I sometimes wonder whether we are moving through time or time is moving through us...I say this only because time kept traveling through me. When I was young I thought I had forever to figure things out...But I didn't. I didn't have long to figure things out. I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God."

So I ask myself...

Am I wasting time?

Am I being religious to the detriment of taking the opportunities God is bringing into my life?

Am I sinking into habit?

Is my heart engaging God?

How about You?

2005-07-04T07:36:00.000-05:00

Here is our friends Kelvin, Huseini, and Monji...we took the opportunity to show them our love! It is so worth it...

Even when you are far away...your heart still aches when you see them...

2005-07-04T07:07:00.000-05:00

It has been 5 months since we returned from Tanzania, and we sure miss it! We love the people, the way they smile, and wave as you go by...the happy chatter, even though they don't have much. It really make life here in America seem unimportant. I know it is important, and that God really does give me opportunity every day, even in America. It is His desire to reach ALL, but it just seems like we are so spoiled. We take so much for granted! We live to spend our money...we don't even know how many people are out there hurting and dying of AIDS, and even if they are not dying, they are affected! When will we open our eyes and our hearts to the lost and destitute, the widows and the orphans who have nowhere to turn? I hope these next few photo's will at least open some of your eyes to the possibility of changing this world for at least a few pchildren who need help. Let me challenge you to find a child who is orphaned and hurting, and pray for them, write them a letter, send them some money or clothes or toys, try to visit them...who knows, they could become the next president of their country, a doctor who finds the cure for AIDS, or an inventor or great humanitarian...just because you took the opportunity the God gave you to touch the life of a child!

"Introspective thoughts for the mission-minded..."

2005-06-27T06:17:00.000-05:00

Isn't it just like God...when He really wants us to learn something, or He really wants to get our attention, haven't you found that He surrounds you with that topic? In music that you hear, in the books you are reading, in a 'so-called' random TV show that you turn on, in a conversation that someone starts with you, or in a periodical that just 'happens' to get delivered to your house! Well God I hear You, and as Samuel said after the 3rd time you called him...I'm listening.

received a copy of New Man magazine this week (www.newmanmagazine.com) and on page 42 the title to this post appeared. The purpose of the article was to get you to think about our lives and the missionGod has us on...

" To become world-changers, we must change our thinking when it comes to risk. Jesus' followers are called to lay down their lives, if necessary, to see God's purposes fulfilled. Will you play it safe...or gamble hard on God's way?"

The article goes on to quote famous people as follows...

"The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."
- C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

"Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: Will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?"
- Odysseus, from the movie Troy

This is making me think about the opportunities God places in my life every day. What will I do? Will I aim at heaven? Will I love fiercely, fight bravely...or will I ignore the harm that I see, and not do anything about it?
If you have not taken the chance, please click on the link next to this post about seeing a picture of how AIDS affects children in Africa. Maybe by viewing this you will get a picture of the "harm" that AIDS brings to the innocent children of Africa, and maybe the Lord will call you to become a world-changer, here at home and around the world...

How Will You Be Remembered?

2005-06-18T07:44:00.000-05:00

epitaph
n 1: an inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there 2: a summary statement of commemoration for a dead person

I was reading recently, and came across Benjamin Franklin's autobiographical epitaph and found it very interesting.

" The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; Like the Cover of An Old Book, It's Contents torn out, And Stript of it's Lettering and gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the work shall not be wholly Lost: For it will, as he believ'd, Appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the Author."

This got me to thinking (and it doesn't take much :-) about my life. Will it's contents be torn out and wholly spent for the Author? Or will I still have lettering and gilding left on my pages? Will my life have been meted out, as Ben Franklin used to say "For the good of Mankind", or will I have spent my life on myself, and selfish pursuits? Lord help me to, each day be "stript of my lettering and gilding."

2005-06-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

Cilff or Solid Rock...

What are we looking at the cliff or the Solid Rock?

2005-06-17T10:44:00.000-05:00

In a recent string of comments from my last post, I have been really challenged about where my faith is, and what I put my faith in. A friend who is in Tanzania stated;

"We think we're stepping off a cliff when we do something for him and we view it as a leap of faith, but I don't believe that's what He sees. I believe He knows that we have tons of faith because we are willing to go so long without Him and His hands of protection, but when we come to that place of decision, He knows that we're not stepping off of the cliff but onto the Solid Rock. For the world-wide renown of His sovereign glory...What are we so afraid of? "

And, isn't it amazing how God uses many different things to get your attention? I read this from David in Tanzania, then in a book I am reading by Erwin McManus he states...

"How is it possible that, for many of us, being a good Christian is really nothing more than being a good person? The entire focus of our faith has been the elimination of sin, which is important but inadequate, rather than the unleashing of a unique, original, extraordinary, wonderfully untamed faith."

I get it God! Enough already....I guess you want us to stop being our "ordinary good Christian people" and start living lives of "untamed faith". Why don't we see more Christians living to change the world for Him? Do we really believe the the Creator God is giving us the faith and freedom to live out dreams greater than ourselves? Go ahead..............JUMP OFF THE CLIFF

Can you see the "Opportunities"?

2005-06-14T06:51:00.000-05:00

At a meeting last Saturday night, and we were talking about provision, God's Provision, in meeting our needs. We were praying together, and one person prayed the atypical prayer about how our fellowship of believers needs to be a place that "draws People In".

Now I have heard that said from the pulpit, and prayed for many years (over the past 5-7 at least) and something in my heart this time just SHOUTED, noooooooo! It 's not about "drawing people in! God never promised that if we prayed and fasted and put on our "Sunday Best" that He would compel them to come in. Isn't it about GOING OUT?

Then, in prayer I got a picture of God's provision. And I think I heard God saying...What do you think My provision looks like? Do you think it is monetary? Do you think it is nice possessions? Do you think it is 'Grand Cathedrals'?

Then He said, what if you are looking for something that doesn't exist? What if My provision is not what you expect it to look like? What if my provision is..........THE HARVEST!

Why are we waiting from the people to be drawn in, when clearly Jesus told us to look to the fields that are white, ripe for harvest? We must pray for eyes to see the opportunity God is clearly putting before us...The opportunity to touch people and meet their needs right where they are, not waiting for them to come in. Then, and only then will we see the provision of God for our Fellowship of Churches...

Another Opportunity for You?

2005-06-13T13:34:00.000-05:00

In my thoughts about our time spent in Africa, I cannot help but to remember the faces of the children. So full of joy when we played "futball" with them, so accepting of us even thought we were so different. These children, who had lost everything to poverty and AIDS, are still so accepting. They are not the "angry young man" steriotype that is so typical here in the west.

I just want to encourage anyone out there, that you can make a difference! We are just an ordinary middle class American Family who has seen the opportunity to make a change in the lives of some orphans in Tanzania...you can make a difference also. Let God open your eyes to the various opportunities that surround you every day! You can make a difference...

If you want to read more, here is a good link.

2005-06-09T20:30:00.000-05:00

Here is a bunch of opportunity...13 kids who could use anyone's help! All orphans, but all loved!

2005-06-09T13:13:00.000-05:00

Sunrise in Arica

"opportunity" quote

2005-06-06T18:38:00.000-05:00

Just read a little of Erwin McManus' 'an unstoppable force'...in his thoughts about envisioning the future, he talks about HG Wells' time machine and our thoughts of a time machine..."Most of us dream instead of a machine that would cause time to stand still. Time moves forward-without prejudice or regard to the quality of the moment. Tomorrow is always its destination. We must stop resisting history's relentless pursuit of the future and instead capture the present opportunity."

2005-06-06T18:10:00.000-05:00

On a recent "Opportunity" with the whole Family

Thinking

2005-06-06T06:33:00.000-05:00

Just thinking about my time in Africa...There was so much opportunity! You lived, breathed, and swam thru opportunity just to go to the corner! In Tanzania, 47% of the population is aged 14 years old or younger! There are children everywhere...Many are orphans who search the streets for food, begging or sniffing glue to take away the hunger pains. As I left Africa, I became numb...just overwhelmed by everything we take for granted here in the US. I am now trying to live my life deliberately thankful for the little things (clean running tap water, electricity on a daily basis, smooth roads, refrigeration) and I am trying to think of ways that I can affect Africa, the things I do, the way I live, and in living that way, maybe the people around me will get a sense of what I am doing, and want to help the "Orphans and Widows" they come in contact with every day. God is opening my eyes that there are orphans and widows that I run into every day...Do I see them? How about you?