January 26, 2011

Reign In Us

I've begun to hear this song this semester. It's very good; the chorus is what I love the most. I'll be learning it on guitar soon.

January 23, 2011

Mambo Sawa

I got a very good reminder yesterday.

I was beginning to stress out about the work I have in front of me; I'm the sound designer for a show that goes up at the end of February and classes have started up and I've got my first batch of homework to churn through. I spent some time with God and was quite productive, but I still felt the huge burden of "stuff that needs to get done."

I started to cook dinner, and that helped; we were having some friends over later and I had to get an early start. While the cooking and friends who eventually showed up helped, I was handed some real perspective by a small choir.

My friends and I went to see the Watoto Children's Choir. All I knew was that they were a children's choir from Africa; I was not expecting a beautiful worship service sprinkled with stories of great sorrow but greater hope through Jesus. I was crying at least half the time. I got in, they started singing about God and someone could have said "Suprise! Your family's here." It was wonderful.

These kids reminded me of two things: that I have been provided for materially. These kids have all lost one or both parents because of AIDS, other diseases, or war; now they live safe lives in the Watoto village with families and some of them get to tour the world singing about Jesus.

They also reminded me that both they and I have been rescued from something worse even than the situations they come from: death. Life without God. We have been brought into the love of the Father, through the Son. It's the most simple of truths, but I was not operating with it in mind earlier that day. I'm glad that they came to Williamsburg to remind me of that, while at the same time ministering to the rest of audience too.

January 6, 2011

Eka Kpukpro Owo

After reading this article about the Scottish missionary Mary Slessor, some of my thoughts about how I want to embrace God's plan for me became clearer.

Let me know if you've had the same thoughts: as I sit through these four years of college, occasionally I will suddenly feel that it is pointless and that my life would be much more productive for the Kingdom if I moved to Tibet or Kenya or Orange County, California as a missionary. Then, after some praying, I determine once more that God is not currently calling me to do things quite that way (yet).

My time in college is not like Jesus's time in the desert or Mary Slessor's time in poverty in Scotland in that is is difficult; but it is a time of preparation. If I was not supposed to be here, God would have made that clear by now. First off, I live in one of the most developed countries in the world and thus I don't have to worry about food or shelter; I have internet access and expendable money. Second, I'm getting a college degree, which is something only 1/3 of U.S. citizens have. Thirdly, the degree I'm getting is from the second oldest College in the nation and one of the most well-connected in terms of Alumni. While I might not be solving problems and spreading Christ in person in foreign lands, I have been placed in a very rare spot with very rare opportunities. This degree is equipping me to go big for Christ in the time and place he has (very intentionally) put me.

He's got to have some plan for a Theatre major/sociology minor. The great thing about God is that he's the originator of Creativity and Power, so there's really no situation he can't turn for his Kingdom; besides, he planned for this.

Mary Slessor went to Africa, grew to love and be familiar with the people, and helped, healed, saved, and brought Jesus to many just by her powerful example. I yearn to do something similar, but often I must check my motivations. If I yearn to do these things more whatever the Father's will is for my life; if I am disappointed when his plan for me turns out to be to live in a developed country, make and give away lots of money and raise Godly children who also want to change the world, then my desire is just for my narrow definition of adventure and not God's will for my life.

Which, itself, will be the biggest adventure I could hope for if I'm putting God's glory and will first. Like C.S. Lewis said, put first things first and you get all the second things thrown in.