Part Three: Christianity

Do you know much about Buddhism? A few years ago I didn't. But ever since Cambodia I wanted to know more about it since that's a big religion there.

Basically, the son of a wealth king - Gautama Siddhartha - just woke up one day and declared he was Buddha. His religion consists of 4 truths: life is suffering, the cause of all suffering is desire, the way to end suffering is to end desire, and spend your life learning to eliminate desire.

How often in times of suffering we mask the pain? How often in hard times we declare we will chose not to be sad? I think it happens all the time.

Larry Crabb says " we Christians are often practicing Buddhists. He goes on to say that "we kill desire in an effort to escape pain, then wonder why we don't enjoy God." How's that for hitting it home in your heart? That one really struck me hard.

As a Christian we are also taught truths. There are also four of them.

1- Life includes suffering, but life is good.
2- The cause of all suffering is seperation.
3- The way we handle suffering is to discover your desire for God.
4- The new life provided through Jesus must be accepted as a gift of love.

Bottom line, as a Christian when we hurt - we should really hurt. And hurt openly in the putrescence of our God. In this life, we will suffer. But take heart because our Savior has overcome the WORLD!

This post was adapted from ideas in Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb. Specifically chapters 6 and 7

9.11.11

I still remember exactly where I was when I got the news. Do you?

Hard to believe it's been 10 yrs.

Here's a tribute video the media department at my church put together for 9/11. It was too good so I have to share!

Sean Strickland

I've starred at this blank screen now for the last 30 minutes not knowing what to write. Then I closed out the screen and came back to this still blank screen off and on for the last 3 days. But today I realized I need to get this post written. The world is too fast for me. I've been reflecting on a Jars of Clay song that says "To love you - take my world apart, To need you - I am on my knees, To love you - take my world apart, To need you - broken on my knees". That's how I feel right now. I just want God to take my world apart. Make it stop so I can catch up. I lost a very good friend and professional mentor to a car crash last week on Wednesday. I still find I am in shock. I've been through the visitation, funeral, and worked but yet i'm still stuck not accepting whats happened. I took this picture after Sean left North Point as a tribute to him. He was the best manager I had ever had. So he was the best boss (as the coffee cup says)....



I learned a ton from Sean. The biggest thing he taught me was that we may have personality flaws but they are not flaws. They are opportunities to grow. I am not a highly relational person (just like Sean). So he taught me how to be intentional about it. He taught me practical ways to apply this to my professional and personal life. The next biggest thing he taught me was to always put your family first. He modeled this to me which made it easy to follow. Sean loved his wife, Jana and daughter, Gabi with his whole heart. And last but not least, he always made me push for more. He would never let me settle for anything. And I know that shaped the employee, wife, mom to be, and manager I am today.

I was looking through some old emails and ichats the other day and came across a few that were pretty funny and some that were really sweet. It was bittersweet for me. I will miss him immensely, but I'm so happy to know he is chilling with Jesus right now. I really wanted him to meet my child. I pictured him and Jana coming to the hospital to visit me. I had already decided my child will call him Uncle Sean. But now, I know that I can talk to my child about his/her guardian angel Uncle Sean.

Anyway, thanks to listening to me this long post. My heart is heavy and I have a lot of healing to do. I also ask that you pray for his family. The last thing I will leave you with is a newspaper article about him. Go here and read this: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/obits/stories//2009/06/07/sean_strickland_obit.html

Have a blessed day and make sure you tell the people around you that you love them. I've lived 9,901 days today. I want my days to count, because I know that God has an ordained amount of days for me. Who knows when mine or your time is up. So make your time here on earth count!

Much love, Etc (that's what Sean called me)


(Our IT team last year at our retreat)

Hope

Today was definitely the saddest day of my life. I have experienced death before but to see that small grave was more than I could handle. I still haven't been able to truly process what happened today. All I know is, Brooks was and is being rocked by Jesus. What a lucky baby! To never have to experience hurt, sadness, pain at all. Brooks will grow in the presence of our Lord. As we go through this valley, I really wonder what people do that don't have Jesus. We are able to cling to the words of our Savior. I haven't been able to really finish talking with the Lord. I know that I will have to be on my knees crying out to God. I just don't understanding why he took Brooks. I know we won't know the answer until we are in Heaven asking Him. But, I do know that we can cling to the cross to get us through this tough time. When I was in Cambodia, we taught the kids about Joseph. We taught them about how no matter where Joseph was, he trusted God. So I guess I need to learn from my own lesson and trust the Lord in this valley. In this difficult time, I want to be a light to Ashly and Denny. I don't have any words to say but I can just stand beside them. I was looking around at some words for comfort and I found some amazing verses. I thought I might share them with you...

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 37:39
The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble

Psalm 46:1-2
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Isaiah 40:18-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

What verses do you cling to during a difficult season?

Never let go because rescue is coming...

But where is it? That's my question today! My heart is literally broken. I just feel as if I'm in a bad dream. I want to wake up, I want everything to be different. But it's not! I know we are supposed to consider it pure joy when we endure trials and tribulations because that develops perseverance and character. Seriously, I don't know if we can take much more. I have listened to these two David Crowder songs over and over this evening and I want to know when is the rescue coming? I do trust in the Lord and my trust is the Lord. But I just hurt so much for the Tucker family. I just saw and felt Brooks moving in Ashly's womb. I know God will never let go, we just have to stand firm.

I guess I should start over and tell those of you who don't know whats happened. My friend Ashly (from work) was a week out from her due date. She went for her checkup yesterday and the doctors couldn't find a heartbeat. It was determined that he had gone to be with the Lord. So starting at 8pm last night she was induced into labor and at 8am this morning the shell of Brooks arrived. It was a very hard day at the hospital. Lots of tears shed, lots of love surrounding, and lots of people their to support them.

Well, the day is over. I'm home now-left with this feeling of sadness. I want to do so much for them but I know they must be alone right now. Please lift them to the Lord. This is such a hard time. With God, we will get through it, I don't know what people do without Jesus.

Here is a video that has been encouraging to me tonight... (below it, I have the words to the "Rescue is Coming" song I referenced)

Rescue is Coming
David Crowder

There’s a darkness in my skin
My cover’s wearing thin, I believe
I’d love to start again, go back to innocent
And never leave

Don’t give up now
A break in the clouds
We could be found
There’s nothing wrong with me
It’s just that I believe things could get better
And there’s nothing wrong with love
I think it’s just enough to believe

Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming

And there’s nothing wrong with you
And nothing left to do
But believe something bigger
And there’s nothing wrong with love
I know it’s just enough to believe

Don’t give up now
A break in the clouds
We will be found
Rescue is coming now