repentance

Many of you know that I'm in the process of picking up my life here in Bellingham in order to move to the Seattle area, roughly 100 miles south of my current home. This means a lot of things -- not only has this meant I'm away from the blogs while I get things ready for the big move, but I'm also in the process of preparing myself for my new home. Part of that is checking out new churches.

While I still intend to remain committed to Christ the King church in Bellingham, I am in the process of checking out churches in my new area. I am aware that the day will likely come when commuting to Bellingham no longer makes sense and God calls me to become more fully integrated into church life in my new community. I've been listening to sermons online from Mars Hill Church, which has several campuses in the greater Seattle area and have gotten hooked on the most recent sermon series on the Song of Songs.

While there's only so much you can tell about a church from a podcast, I can tell you that if this is the teaching I can count on every week, then I can count on teaching that is solid, biblical, and aims straight for the heart (and maybe sometimes the jugular). It's straight from the word of God and is as convicting as ... well, you know.

This is the most recent sermon in the series on the Song of Songs that talks about confession and repentance in the context of relationships (specifically the marriage relationship). I cannot begin to describe how this series has taught me, convicted me, dug to the bottom of my soul, and inspired me to check this place out in person soon.

Note: the video is about 70 minutes, but worth every bit of it.

compassion. laughter. holiness.

Recently, both His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa Desmond Tutu were in Seattle for Seeds of Compassion, a 5-day event centering on working toward cross-cultural communication and addressing differences through collaborative problem-solving.

"All of us have this gift," said Tutu, facing the Dalai Lama. "We see here an incarnation of goodness. How can you be 50 years into exile and still maintain this bubbly joyousness?"

The message they brought with them to Seattle runs deep. Words like compassion and communication and understanding and collaboration are not just words with them. I think their lives and their friendship prove that.

There's something inspiring in their message and in their playful friendship. One man has been in exile for over fifty years. The other dealt first hand with the reality and the aftermath of apartheid. Neither has been dealt an easy hand.

And I guess what has me thinking on this and posting this here is that I think there's plenty I can learn from that. Though from very divergent spiritual beliefs, there is something potent and powerful about witnessing true respect for the dignity and humanity of another, about enduring hardship with joy, and about loving across political, cultural, and religious divides.

It's humbling. And it sounds like Jesus.

For a short (and funny) video clip of the two in action, click here. For a good article, click here.

Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu: AP Photo

did somebody say it was spring?

Because I'm not convinced.

I suppose there are many areas of the country where it's normal to have snow this late in the year. Bellingham, Washington is not one of those places.

I suppose that strictly speaking, this is not about following Yahweh through the wilds of faith. But believe me, I was praying as I attempted to navigate my way home through the wild and wooly streets of Bellingham while simultaenously suppressing the urge to shake my fist and curse wildly at the heavens because I had to forgo my post-gym latte this morning. You just don't take chances with the snow around here, especially when you live at the top of a very large hill. And if you know me at all, I have all kinds of ire toward anything that would stand between me and my latte.

I was like a very cute, female version of Captain Ahab obsessed with his pursuit of the white whale: "Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee."

Yeah, it was something like that. So in some sense, it is a very spiritual matter indeed.

Enjoy the change of pace!! :o)

seasonal confusion photo by kirsten.michelle