The Message of the Cross

St. Louis, MO -- Hey all... How are all doing?

Well, I've been here and there, going around, meeting with people, working at establishing new contacts... So many people have been so helpful in this and people who are interested in Japan are popping up here and there, so that's pretty cool.

I got to talk to the teacher who originally connected me with Tim and Christine Huber who are working over in Japan. He, the teacher, taught English over in Japan for a year. Anyhow, it was exciting to talk to him and talk about the different experiences and the people we met... it was pretty cool! It was exciting to see someone who has also captured a passion for Japan, who though he's not going, has been a part of sending others there. It was a great conversation!Anyway, I'm making my rounds and visiting other churches in these weeks... although I have to say that I'm really looking forward to getting back to our church! :)

Just to give you an update of what's going on: I'm working on establishing new contacts and building the "Project Japan" team-- both financial supporters and pray-ers are needed! I'm also visiting with current supporters and getting some much needed family time in. I will be getting a part time job in about a month or so, to help out with expenses here and to put into savings for getting to Japan... But as far as support goes-- it's still needed! What's not immediately needed right now to live off of is getting set aside for Japan as the start-up costs are a bit insane.

Just think of me as being on a bit longer of a furlough. Oh, and in a couple of months, paperwork will start for the visa and for the school that I'll enter in Japan.

So, that's that.So the other day, I heard an advertisement for a jewelry company. This jewelry company was talking about graduation presents and it said something to the effect of-- For your son, I suggest getting a cross, to remind him of his accomplishment.

Wait, wait, wait, wait...Since when did the cross become a symbol of our success or accomplishment? I shook my head and scrunched my eyebrows... Should not the cross remind us of His accomplishment? Of what He did for us? Of the priceless, painful sacrifice made for us?

It made me very sad to think that the cross, in many eyes, is just another symbol... and one that is used to remind us of our own achievements. That is not the message of the cross to me.

Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying that it's wrong to give someone a cross for a special occasion. I myself have given and received crosses. Please do not feel as if I am condemning people for buying crosses... I just want to think a little beyond the decorative image of a cross.

What struck me was the reason for giving it-- to remind someone of his own accomplishment. I guess just the secular nature of it was what took me aback.

What is the message of the cross? When you see it, what does it remind you of?

When I see it, I think of Jesus' precious sacrifice... of the hope He gave us, of His resurrection, of His incredible grace that I don't deserve but that is freely given...And I think of the many people who don't know the message behind the cross. Of those to whom the cross is just a pretty "t" or a symbol of some religion of who knows what... Those who don't know the saving power of Christ.

I think of those for whom the cross what meant (which includes everyone), but whose ears have never had the opportunity to hear about it that message of hope, of God's love.

So, when I think of it, it means more to me that just some piece of jewelry or some wall decoration that gets glanced at now and then and reminds you of some ceremony or event in life... It means the salvation of souls, the love of God manifested... I pray that I may never become immune to the image of the cross and what it means for me, as well as for others.

Cultural Baggage

St. Louis, MO -- And so I went to the store by myself today. Let's see... actually, 5 stores. In 3 of them, I left not having bought anything. All this took me about 4 hours.

But I did get most of the stuff on the list that I've been making on a post-it note for the last several days. Granted, there wasn't a whole lot on that list, but... still.

I've been home for a little over a week now. When I came home, the screen door was on the wrong side. My dad changed it I don't know how long ago. But I'm almost getting the hang of opening the door from the right side.

The kitchen is way different... My (Mike's) room is different... and the living room and dining room are different from the last time I lived here. It was different when I came back, if I remember right.

Oh, the title is credited to Jose, Emily's husband, who would often tease me that I didn't know how to respond because I had so many cultures influencing me... When I was at their house, we had some Indian food (obviously) and it included rice. My first reaction was: where are my chopsticks? Second reaction: Ok, then where's my fork? Third reaction: Oh, this is India! We eat with our hands. You might have been amused to watch my facial expressions with this train of thought.

So, I've been praying during this transition (because, it still is)... for, well, everything. For what's going on here, what's going on back in Mexico, what's going on in Japan, and for getting there... I've been praying for God's guidance, timing, open doors and direction.

I'm really excited for Japan. It's an incredible country, with an interesting history behind of it of Christianity, and there are a million people (well, a bit more than that) who don't know Jesus or have ever even heard of Him. I'm also excited because, well, what I want to do is work with youth. I was gonna say "target them", but that just kinda sounded... weird. So.

But the Japanese youth are needing and searching for something new and satisfying. We know that the only thing that truly satisfies is our Savior-- we were created to know Him, and when we do and have relationship with Him, we are doing what is our purpose, and things are better, not easier, but well-- they fit.

So, anyhow, I'm hoping to show you a video soon, if I don't have the opportunity very soon, I hope to then post it up here. Every time I see it, it stirs up a passion within me. But, it explains in a couple of minutes who I'll be working with and about the Japanese people. It's really good! Anyhow, I'm pretty excited. Japan! For such a small country, it's full of so much opportunity!

Well, if you guys could be praying for me as I wait on God and begin this whole process, and as I get back into the groove of being in the States. It takes awhile to get accustomed.

Where is Home?

Oklahoma City, OK -- So, this really HAS been a multicultural week. I'm with Em and Jose still, and it's been enjoyable, as I fully expected it would be. I've met some of her friends and we've had food from all over the world and talked about experiences from all over the world and watched "cultural" movies... I feel globalized.We had some good talks last night about all kinds of things and it was thought provoking. You all know how much I like to think. :)

AND in thinking about everything that has to do with coming back to the states, I am AMAZED at the faithfulness God has shown. Even when you look at how the moving date got moved up a couple of weeks... I moved out like the day that Mexico City was shutting down, and was starting to get talked about... and JUST as it became a big deal in the States.

These very friends that I'm staying with now, well, they were thinking about coming to visit me, and had to cancel back in March time for other reasons (they didn't buy tickets or anything), and well, God arranged everything. It would have been very bad for them to be there with a baby as all this flu is going around.

What about transportation for me? Someone gave my family a free car!

What about communication? Someone (I'm not sure if they want to be mentioned) is giving me their phone since they just got an upgrade. I remember... as my mom just told me this evening about this all... that I commented to this person a year or so ago how much I liked their phone! Who would have imagined? God!

I'm just amazed, and feel humbled by the faithfulness and goodness of God. In small things, in big things, in everything God shows Himself faithful. And I am grateful.

Speaking of grateful, today we had an experience. As Em and I were chi-laxing (as my brother would say), Em's little boy, who is teething, got ahold of the digital forehead thermometer (I never knew there was a such thing) and swallowed a small piece on it. This thing got lodged in his throat and he began choking and Em couldn't get it out. We were both praying and Em called 911, after it wouldn't come out and she couldn't reach it... and somehow, he just swallowed it all. Meanwhile, I think we were both like sweating, and when they showed up, the baby was just smiling, and had fun pulling at all the wires they stuck to him to make sure everything was alright. As it is, the piece was small enough that they think it'll just pass through, but I am thankful that Jesus was there with us, and that HE protected that little one's life.

Well, tomorrow my mom shows up here... and I know Em and Jose are happy to see her again and she'll be happy to see them too.

Tonight... or tomorrow, as it's a bit late now, I need to organize my stuff back into their tubs/suitcases. The last week in Mexico, I was more interested in fitting as much as I could into those suitcases. Usually, I try to be organized about it, but I wasn't then. My main concern was: will the zippers still close?

I kinda got organized at the Briles, and right now, my stuff is all over their guest room, which I do not approve of! I like to keep everything nice and tidy, as if you could walk into the room at any moment. I don't think I even made my bed today, which is completely unlike me.

It goes with me feeling out of whack for being unorganized. And for not being on a regular kind of schedule. But I'll get home this weekend and work toward putting organization to this mess of mine.

A friend suggested this as the title of my blog, and I promised I'd use it as a title sometime. Considering I have almost all I have here with me, I guess I'm living in Oklahoma for a week, and I lived in Texas the week beforehand... and Mexico the week before that...St. Louis comes next week!

(Boy, did it feel good to write that)

Cultural Variety Pack

Oklahoma City, OK -- I keep getting closer and closer to you guys every week! Soon, I'll be there!Anyway, I'm in OKC now, and am enjoying it. I really like the varieties of ethnicities here. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant to eat the other day and ventured through the huge Asian market, which I just loved every moment of. Nothing like dried, shredded squid or green bean ice cream (discovered by Em) to make your day.

So, I'm staying with Em and her husband, Jose, who's Indian. And their adorable little baby, which I could spend SO much time talking about the sheer cuteness that is he. Did I mention I'm looking into cloning options?

And tonight, we went to the Mexican store, which is pretty large. I was so happy, smiling large and content when I walked out of those barred doors, the noise of conversation and music tumbling out behind me. We came back to the house and I made quite a few different salsas for them to try, and since they like spicy food, it was wonderful.

Last Friday I rented a car... the newest thing I've ever driven: a 2009 Camry. I loaded up all my stuff in the trunk and the back seat and drove from Texas to Oklahoma. It's the first time I've ever done a drive longer than 2 hours by myself. And it turned out to be like 7.5 hours.

Tammy had mentioned to me that you can rent audio books (which reminds me I have to take it back) from Cracker Barrel, and so I rented The Shack, and listened to it for maybe about 5 or 6 hours. I still need to finish it. But, it was a nice drive, pretty when you first get into Oklahoma, and I didn't get lost once. I thought I got lost, but I didn't. :)

One of the enjoyable things that I also did today was to go to the Christian bookstore that they have here. It's huge!! It was just so nice though to wander through (I like book stores in general though), but I found some things that I was looking for in regards to other people (birthdays are in mind here), and a Bible study for myself. I was tempted to put it back at first, and then something inside me said, No, you need to do this.

So, anyway, I'm very pleased to get started on that, and to read a Max Lucado book that I got on the Super Bargain shelf, and I'm tempted to read someone else's book that I got for them! I can just hear my mom: yeah, that's just what that girl needs: more books.

Yeah, but I'll pass them along when I finish. Although I like to reread books, this last move taught me: books are heavy!! So, on other books that I have read that I don't own, I tend to take notes on my laptop, and then give them back. I may have to do that with my own books now!

Anywho, I'll be writing again in a few days. I found this handy little tool that I can use to remind me of what I want to blog about, and so I foresee a more consistent blog for our future. :)

Happy day to you!