Acts 8: 28-29

I attended a great presentation on the Impact World Tour a couple of days ago, and this verse spoke to me.

"and on his way home he was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit said to Philip "Go to the chariot and stay near it". Acts 8: 28-29

The point Patti (who did the presentation) was trying to get across is that we need to listen to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit spoke to Phillip, and because Phillip listened (and obeyed), he was able to share his knowledge and the "good news about Jesus". By the time Phillip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch and abruptly left, the eunuch was "rejoicing" and I can imagine him sharing the good news with his fellow travelers or anyone who would listen.

I try to talk to people at different events I attend (I am slowly becoming less of an introvert), and I always find it amazing when they open up to me, sometimes sharing things they rarely talk about. Most times, all I can offer are words of comfort, or a prayer, but I think these simple things can make a difference in someone's day. I know that I personally feel great when the people around me (or the ones I meet on the wonderful world wide web) give me a "pep talk" or words of encouragement. It's very refreshing!

A few chapters later:

"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia" Acts 16: 6

Call it intuition, or discernment (hopefully not judgment), but He really does want the best for us!

EED

How true Mr. Kipling!

As an economist (by training), this quote summarizes my current view on statistics and its actual value to researchers. Statistics can be very useful when measured and applied properly, but the source of the data is always the key. If you don't believe me, try finding any dependable data on "good governance" or political instability (seriously, let me know if you do...)

"Governments are very keen on amassing statistics. They collect them, add them, raise them to the nth power, take the cube root and prepare wonderful diagrams. But you must not forget that everyone of these figures comes in the first instance from the village watchman, who puts down what he damn well pleases"- Rudyard Kipling

I could not have said it any better myself!

EED

Elom reflects on Scott's reflections: Apocalypse now?- Part 2

If the day and the hour of the coming of the Son of Man are unknown, what can/should I do in the meantime? Sin and wait for His return, knowing that I will probably get another chance for forgiveness? Obviously not!

"Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise, but wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" Ephesians 5:15-16

I need to occupy until He comes, by living a godly life, the one My Father has intended for me to live. A few pointers from Matthew 24: 45-51:

- be faithful: it is very hard not to have faith in God when I see all the wonderful things He has done in my life. I may not realize what He is doing right away, but when I get a chance to look in the rear view mirror of my life, my faith just keeps growing...

- be sensible: I try to live a life filled with wisdom, but it's hard sometimes to distinguish my will versus His will. That's why He has placed wonderful people in my life to help me, encourage me, support me, and pray for me.

- be a servant like Jesus: living a godly life means imitating Christ. Knowing that Christ came not to be served, but to serve us makes it easier for me to be more than just a nice person, and really try to become a servant.

- be responsible/ reliable: I have always been careful when it comes to making commitments. Commitments imply that the person/ people you commit to know that they can depend on you. I try to be the "reliable one" in different aspects of my life. It can a little overwhelming at times, but it is also very rewarding.

EED

27

Excuse me, reader, as I wallow in self pity tonight... just tonight...

I will be 27 in exactly one month, and what do I have to show for it? Nothing much I am afraid.

Experiences? Yes. Experience? not really.
Hurts? Yes. Healing? Still working on it.
Single? Yes. Looking for a relationship? Don't think I am ready.
Still want to see the Grand Canyon? Yes. When? Not sure... next year?
Stronger? Yes. Ready to face the future? Some days are easier than others...



EED

REO Speedwagon

This was too cool! Just a week ago, I posted a blog about some of my favorite cheesy songs, and I talked about REO Speedwagon's "Keep on loving you" being my favorite one.

Fast forward to last Saturday, I am flipping through TV stations, and there was commercial for the Darke County Fair in Greenville, OH with special guest REO Speedwagon!!!
I couldn't pass that up! It was an awesome show!

EED

100 years from now...

I was watching "Sunday Morning" on CBS, and learned that 100 years ago today, a French cartoonist named Emile Cohl created the first animation movie called "Fantasmagorie". The movie barely lasted more than 1 minute, but it changed the world of animation forever... Amazing!



I cant begin to imagine what future generations will remember about us 100 years from now.

EED

Q&A

I used to write down "tough" questions to ask God:

"What's the meaning of life?
Where were you?
Why did you make me go through this particular event(s)?
Why? Why? WHY?"

These days, I am so exited at the thought of meeting Him face to face, that I don't think I will ask ANY questions. I imagine myself giving Him a huge hug and saying thank you.

"Thank you for saving me. Thank you for loving me, thank you for your patience with me. THANK YOU"

EED

How a single & random act of kindness changed my life

I have mentioned a few times that my story was more a story of reconnection than of conversion. For a long time, I was convinced that I could rely on my strength to do anything, which obviously didn't work very well. There are times/encounters that you intuitively know will change your life. I have wanted to write about one of the important steps of my story of reconnection, but I don't think I can capture the meaning of the encounter that would change my life for the better. I'll give it a try...

Here is how a seemingly insignificant conversation changed the course of my life.

It happened about 2-3 years ago. It was a rather difficult time in my life... the beginning of my quarterlife crisis. I was working at the Cheesecake Factory at the time, where I started as a baker and ended up learning almost everything, but that's not relevant to the story. I was working one afternoon, and it was a relatively quiet shift, which was really unusual for that time of year (late summer). Every one else in the bakery was "phased", meaning that I was the only one working that afternoon.

In comes a customer, and I automatically plaster the usual friendly smile on my face. He notices my accent (I do have a weird accent...) and asks where I am from. I tell him that I am from Africa, and he says that he recently went to Africa, Rwanda to be exact, with his church. He asks me if I think there will ever be a real reconciliation process in Rwanda. I remember thinking "How am I supposed to know?... Man! the things you have to do to get a nice tip!". At the same time, I was really intrigued... Don't get me wrong, I met nice customers once in a while, but this was different. This felt like a deliberate act of kindness. We chit chatted for about 5 minutes and he left. I remember thinking "What!?! No tip for the conversation!!!"- lol. My coworkers and I had ongoing debates on whether to tip cashiers or not. I won't get into the details of the debates, but really he didn't have to tip me.

The entire time this customer and I were talking, I noticed B.S (funny initials- I know...) staring at us, which I thought was rather nosy & rude. After the man left, she ran to my register and said:
-"Do you know who that was?"
-"Hum no... Should I have asked for an autograph?" (Note: I met Kevin Pollack, Mandy Moore and a few local news people while working there-lol)
-"His name is Scott and he is the pastor at the Vineyard!"
-"Hum...okay... so?"
She started telling about her church, and just like that... a seed was planted. I have been looking for B.S at the church, but she must have moved on...

It took me almost a year and a half to set foot at the Vineyard... my excuse.... I didn't know where it was. Anyone who lives in Dayton will find this ludicrous, because the Cheesecake Factory is 5 minutes away from the Vineyard, it's literally down the street! (link to Mapquest) I simply could not get into my brain that Indian Ripple Rd and Dorothy Lane were one and the same. I was lost... REALLY lost. My mom really wanted my sister and I to go back to church, and that's how I remembered hearing about the Vineyard and finally decided to check it out. I attended one service, and I knew I was home.

The really funny thing about this story is that I didn't even recognize Scott. He did the announcements at church every week, led worship sometimes and even gave messages, but I wasn't sure if it was him or not. I simply figured that he must have moved on too. I almost approached him after one service, but decided against it, because I didn't want to sound weird, in case it wasn't him. It wasn't until months later, when I heard a sermon in which he specifically talked about being in Africa that I finally connected the dots.

Funny how God used a 5 minute conversation to make such an impact on my life!

I was mudding the ceiling of Beulah Land Baptist Church in New Orleans a few weeks ago, and I stopped for a minute to call my new friend Peggy over. I had told her my story earlier in the day and I asked her:

- "Do think God knew I would be here today when I met Scott years ago?"

She just smiled, and I smiled back...

I know HE did.

EED

Elom reflects on Scott's reflections: Apocalypse now?- part 1

When people talk about the end of days, I always go back to the year 1999 for some reason. Well Y2K of course, but also because Hollywood really cashed in on my legitimate fear of the end of times with movies like: "The devil's advocate" (Al Pacino was simply brilliant!), "Stigmata" (this movie REALLY had me thinking), "End of days" (believe it or not, I am actually a big Arnold Schwazernegger fan!). I spent Dec 31st 1999 in Paris with my best friend and a pair of VERY uncomfortable shoes... and of course, nothing happened!

I have been eerily indifferent to the concept of the end of the world ever since. Fast forward to 2008... I finally got the memo: we have been in the end of times since the day of the Crucifixion. It's really not so much about when it's going to happen, but where will I be when this happen? I don't mean "where" literally, or I might as well pack up my stuff and move into the Church (hum...actually, this doesn't sound like a bad idea, just to cover all my bases..), but where spiritually will I be when Jesus comes back? I like the warnings mixed with hope found in Matthew 24:

"You will hear of wars or rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Matthew 24: 6

Not really comforting, but Jesus tells us not to be alarmed. Being ready is not about putting my life on hold and anxiously wait for His return. Being ready is about faithfully living the life God has intended for me; it's about always being prepared to receive an unannounced guest:

"But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:43-44

I feel kind of relieved when I read these passages. Of course I am still nervous, because I have no idea if I am actually ready or not, I don't think anyone has any real way of knowing. I do have my faith and my hope... which is not too bad if you ask me.

EED

About: The shack by William P. Young

My new and good friend Peggy recommended "The Shack". She kept saying "Oh, I think I have to go to the shack...". I can see why :)

It was a very interesting book... Some might say that it's a little out there, and I can't deny that it is a little controversial. The overall theme of the book is how God uses our pain to help us grow and trust Him more. The main character, Mack, receives an invitation from God, asking him to come back to a very painful place for him... the shack.

I liked this book, because I think it can speak to every reader in a different way. I think I know how it spoke to Peggy, and I know it will be different for each reader. Mack is surrounded by what he calls the Great Sadness (or in my case, it was the Great Loneliness). It was easy for him to dwell in this state of perpetual sadness, because in a sense that was all he knew. Any attempts to leave the sadness behind seemed vain and after a while it starts to feel like a second nature.

"It is extremely hard to save someone unless they are willing to trust you" p180

A few memorable quotes from the book:

"Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside" p120

"Submission is not about authority, and it is not about obedience, it is all about relationships of love and respect" p145

"Most emotions are responses to perception- what you think is true about a given situation" p197

"Forgiveness is not about forgetting, Mack. It's about letting go of another person's throat" p224

"Sometimes they (tears) are the best words the heart can speak" p228

This book is definitely a good read. Of course, as in any book dealing with theological fiction, "The shack" is not intended to be used (or interpreted) a substitute for His Word. Just some food for thought...

EED

A good person...

Song: Quelqu'un de bien (a good person)
Artist: Enzo Enzo

I have not heard this song in years... It was played at a BBQ/meeting I attended a few days ago, and it's been on my mind ever since. The singer talks about a young lady who after years of searching herself, just wants to be remembered as a good person...

Chorus translation:

"She just wants to be a good person
With a good heart
Just a good person

Not a famous person
But a caring friend..."

A few of my favorite things...(cheesy songs)

I simply LOVE cheesy songs! There is something special about a great cheesy song, that just makes everything bad disappear.

Favorite 70's cheesy song: "How can you mend a broken heart?" the Bee Gees version- Ah, the Bee Gees... the kings of disco and cheese...

Favorite 80's cheesy song: "Mr Roboto" by Styx- Three words: "I am Kilroy!!!" Not really a cheesy love song, but it's oh so good!

Favorite 90's cheesy song: "Goodbye " by Air Supply- so cheesy it's actually yummy!

Favorite cheesy songs of ALL TIME: it's a tie between "Keep on loving you" by REO Speedwagon and "I would do anything for love" by Meat Loaf...

They don't make songs like these anymore... How sad!

EED

Elom reflects on Scott's reflections: Joyful!

What keeps me from leading a joyful life? Simple: my sinful nature…

As much as I want to believe that my life now is closer to the one intended by my Heavenly Father, I still sin. The enemy of my soul is desperately trying to steal, kill and destroy the hope and joy I have found since I decided to hand my life over to Christ. The enemy is planting seeds of doubt and fear along my path, but he is not the only one to blame; my own emotions also gets in the way.

By letting the Holy Spirit take over my life, I think I have been doing much better at fighting the desires of my sinful nature.

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Galatians 5: 19-21

That’s a lot of grounds to cover… The good news is that, I can really see the Holy Spirit working in my life. It’s a hard thing deny. For instance, I have this almost insatiable desire to serve others; anytime I read or hear “Just show up” I take it as a personal invitation! I signed up for another volunteer opportunity the other day, and someone asked out of concern if I was doing it out of guilt… I don’t think ANYONE should sign up for anything out guilt. I try to be very careful about that…

This podcast also marked the end of the “Getting off the emotional roller coaster series”. What have I learned? Trust! Trusting God can be a challenge sometimes; I am still tempted to just “get things done”. It works sometimes, but more than often, I just end being dissatisfied with the results, and end right back to where I started. Trusting Him, means trusting Him with every areas of my life, not just the obvious ones… I read this as I was driving today:

“Exercise daily. Walk with Jesus”

Still learning… still walking

EED

Elom reflects on Scott's reflections: Guilty?

How do I know that my sins and my guilt are washed away?

The reference to Leviticus chapter 23 was certainly interesting. The Old Covenant required a series of feasts and rituals to ensure the forgiveness of sins. I could not help but imagine myself during the Feast of Weeks, bringing “two loaves made with two tenth of an epah of fine flour, baked with yeast” with seven male lambs, one young bull and two rams as offerings to the Lord (Lev 23: 18).

These rather complicated sacrifices had to be completed on a regular basis to ensure the forgiveness of sins. The priests, who were anointed to offer these sacrifices also had to live by very strict rules to safeguard their holiness (Lev 21). Despite all these regulations and strict rules, the forgiveness of sins was not guaranteed.

“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins”. Hebrews 10:11

By shedding His blood for our sins, the Great Priest, Jesus Christ, provided the clean slate we so desperately longed for and needed.

“and since we have a Great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10: 21-24

His gift to us is our Salvation. In other words, I could try to “win” His forgiveness by accomplishing good deeds, but this will not take me very far. My good deeds are certainly not a way for me to obtain Salvation, or else I would have to volunteer every second of every day. Instead, I can be thankful for the sacrifice He has made for me, and all of us.

EED

Ps 118:8

Dear Father,

Thank you for your comfort. Please Father, don't let my heart be troubled by things I cant control. I thank you for showing me the cause of all the confusion. Please help me remember this verse, and practice it every time I feel disappointment creeping into my heart.

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord,
Than to trust in man"
Ps 118:8

SO BE IT.

Giving (originally posted on my Myspace account)

You can give so many things away, your time, your money, your energy, your heart, presents, good reviews, tips... For a very long time, I would give thinking that I was doing it unconditionally, but I was always secretly hoping to receive something in return. A compliment, a good review, a simple thank you...

The older I get (-yes, older-), the more I realize that giving REALLY needs to be unconditional- with no strings attached. You may not get the "thank you" you think you deserve, or the pat on the back for your efforts, but that is the essence of giving.

Of course, I do forget that sometimes... I am only human afterall, but everytime I think I did not get enough credit for something I did from the bottom of my heart, I sit back and try to rememeber why I did it in the first place...

EED

I am back!

A group of us came back to Dayton on Sunday morning around midnight. As we were unloading our luggage from Jon's van, a car pulled into the Church parking lot, and the driver asked "Is the first service at 9:00am?" We all looked at each other, and said "Yes". The two people in the car said thank you and left. How strange...

Almost every thing about this trip was strange, and amazing! I have learned a few lessons and met some great people. We would get to the site at 7:00am, have breakfast, and work until 6pm or later, with lunch and dinner breaks of course. I spent most of my time there on either a scaffold, or a scissor lift (or just ladders sometimes), insulating, mudding, taping, sanding ceilings or high walls. I even learned how to operate a scissor lift! My body was covered in fiberglass for 2 days...ouch!

My lessons started as soon as we started driving down to New Orleans. Here is a list of a few of them:

• Lesson: Don't judge people by their appearances, we all have different stories.

I should know this by now, but I am sometimes caught off guard when I meet people who seem to have it all together, only to realize that they also carry their own set of problems. All I could so in most cases was to offer them my undivided attention, but I am always amazed to realize how a few words of encouragement can make a difference in someone's day. I could tell that some people were not used to sharing their problems, but it was as if being stuck in the same car for 15 hrs, working and sweating together made it safe for us to talk freely about our lives.

• Lesson: humility.

We all needed a good dose of humility to survive the week. We all had so many different personalities, but we all tried to remember the reason why we were down there. Of course, it made me feel good when Rick, my partner in crime, started calling me "Boss", but I tried hard not to let it get to my head. I started joking and called him "My best employee ever!". I think we did pretty good overall.

• Lesson: stop when you need to stop. Listen to your body.

I learned that the hard way. We started working on Sunday, and by Wednesday afternoon, my body decided to shut down for the day. It just shut down, and I simply could not do anything! It felt really scary, but my body is not really used to 4 straight days of manual labor under the hot Louisiana sun. I had to take it easy the rest of the afternoon, and came back stronger the next day.

• Lesson: perseverance

Perseverance almost came easy for us because we were working to rebuild His Church, a gathering place for His followers. When we realized that only a very small group was able to come down for the second week, we unanimously decided to stay and work an extra day, some people even stay 2 days! It was really amazing!


I will try to post some pictures later...technical issues with Blogger...

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My New Orleans friends

Thank you God for all the wonderful & inspirational people I have met and got to know better on this trip:

Thank you for honest Darlene,

Thank you for sweetest Peggy and her faithful Mike

Thank you for soul searching Victoria, hard working Janet and curious Emma

Thank you for wonderful Rick,

Thank you for supportive and unstoppable Josh, Jon, Ralph, Ron, Jim, David, Derek, and Terry

Thank you for talented Pat and Gregg's leadership

Thank you God for using Mark to send me these words of encouragement:

"You can do it all! I've seen you do it all week. You can do anything you set you mind to, and NEVER let anyone tell you otherwise"