BURNING BRIDGES

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Casey Barefield is a fellow Southerner and follower of Jesus Christ. Like me, he's also just had an experience that has left him changed forever. Casey, and scores of others, just finished up a year trekking around the world with Adventures in Missions as a "world racer". He touched lives with the love of Jesus and felt his life touched in amazing lives as well. He saw things and met people that have made an eternal impact on his life. But he would have missed it all if he had let fear stop him from stepping out into the unknown that God was calling Him to. It was unknown to Casey, but never to God.

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Here's how Casey tells it:

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I want to tell you a quick story about how I got on the World Race. I picked now as the time to tell you for no good reason at all. The preface is that, at training camp in April, we had a 'Spiritual Retreat' and focused on burning bridges. Any bridge that was going to hold us back, back to the life we lived, back to anything that kept us from walking ever more closely with God, we were to burn. When Ben "I play mind games with you" Messner introduced it, I knew immediately what my bridge was.

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My bridge was fear. My story is that I was back in Hattiesburg in January when I got the email I had been accepted to the World Race. I was at a time in my life where I had no idea what was next. I grabbed my best friend, the amazing Mr. Flood, and we went to the porch to talk through it. I began talking and spend the next little while just hashing through things - pros, cons, logistics, the future - you name it, I verbalized it. The indispensible Mr. Flood took all this quietly, as he knew I was going through some important things and just needed some ears. I eventually stalled on the point that the World Race is assuredly the scariest thing I could think of, especially considering I would be going from not knowing what was next in my own backyard of life to not knowing what was next in a dozen different places around the world with 30 brand new people. Fear, I had concluded, was the one and only aspect that I wouldn't be able to rectify; and it would be my most serious obstacle.

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This is where the essential Mr. Flood, the wise mountain sage that he is, spoke his only words. "You've got to come up with something better than fear." That was it. That was all he needed to say. I had to look outside myself and into the words of the Father through a friend to finish clearing all the hurdles. That wasn't just the turning point, it was the point. After that, I had nothing. And so here I am; living out of a backpack, traveling the world, spreading the Good News of an amazing God and the Son that died for you, and learning more about myself and the God of Glory than I ever thought possible. Why am I doing this? Because I love God and He loved me first. How am I able to do this? Because His grace is new every morning and He and I burned the bridge of fear.

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To read more about Casey's year of world racing and to see where God is taking him now, visit his blog, CASEY BAREFIELD, A WORK IN PROGRESS...

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EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CHAPMAN FAMILY

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At http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/ , you can find ways to give support to the family during this tragic time of loss. Please keep praying for them as they grieve the passing of Maria Sue.

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I can't even begin to comprehend the pain they must be going through.

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TRAGIC NEWS IN STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN'S FAMILY

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I can't even imagine the pain this family is going through. Please pray for them.

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Here's the article from THE TENNESSEAN:

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One of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman's six children was killed this afternoon when she was struck by a car said to be driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home.

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The child, Maria, age 5, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

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She was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver's name.
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The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see the 5-year-old in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said."It appears to be a terrible accident,'' McPherson said.

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No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.

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Veteran singer/songwriter Chapman and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria is one of their adopted daughters.

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The couple is so active they formed an organization, Shaohannah's Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.

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The tragedy was announced during services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. The young girl had just graduated from the church preschool.

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Most of the family was at Vanderbilt children's hospital after the accident and could not be contacted.

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The long gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff's deputies.

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"The critical response team of the THP is reconstructing the accident," McPherson said. "The district attorney's office was consulted."

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Chapman was in the news in April when he was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame.

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http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080521/TUNEIN/80521174&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

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HE'LL NEVER LET GO




His perfect love will never let go.

A GRAND PRODUCTION

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"The truth and beauty of the gospel expose our idol-myths as feeble substitutes and garish counterfeits. And the power of the gospel enables us to break free from their enslaving and destructive grasp. Indeed, as our deliverer and liberator, Jesus is freeing us for the great adventure of living as characters in and carriers of God's archetypal Story of all stories. Its like being taking from starring in your own self produced, 8 mm black and white home movies to playing one of the hobbits in the grand production of The Return of the King."

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Scotty Smith, Restoring Broken Things

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Why don't you reach out to poor Americans first?

Seth Barnes, of Adventures in Missions, wrote this on his blog:

There is an implied criticism for short-term missionaries when would-be supporters sometimes ask this question:"Why do you want to go overseas? There is plenty of poverty right here in the U.S."

Give such critics their due. They may be motivated by compassion or by a sense of stewardship. Who hasn't seen the homeless on our cities' streets and felt as though something needed to be done? Going overseas can seem like a costly extravagance when the need is great right here in our backyard.

That said, anyone who has seen the great swarms of hungry children picking through the mountains of trash outside Manila or Maputo can't help but be struck by the thought, "This is a whole different level of poverty. These people are just barely surviving."


When You're Down in the Dumps from Brady on Vimeo.

At least in America there is a safety net. There is food. Any large city has multiple homeless shelters [Though our metro area only has one, small shelter for families with children]. Emergency rooms will take you in if you are desperately sick. The poverty line for a family of four is defined as $21,201. Contrast that with the 1.2 billion people in the world living on less than a dollar a day or the 2.5 billion classified as living in extreme poverty. That is a standard of living that is more than twenty times poorer than those classified as poor in America.

At its worst, someone asking the question, "Why don't you reach out to poor Americans first?" is parochial or nationalistic. They value a poor human being in America more than a poor human living elsewhere. Because you're American, you belong to some sort of really big club of special people.

God classifies the poor not by nationality, but by their ability to care for themselves - widows and orphans being first in line for help.

Perhaps the best response to someone who is just looking for an excuse to not support you is to assume the best and challenge them: "I absolutely agree, we should be doing something about poor Americans first. Let's start here in our hometown. Let's find a family and make a difference in their lives - waddya say?"

For more of Seth's writings, visit his blog at: http://www.sethbarnes.com/

GREAT NEWS ABOUT INDIE!

Super Dad and two of the kids are on their way to now go pick up Indie from the emergency vet clinic. She is doing really well. The x-rays revealed no fractures...praise God!

Thank you again for all your prayers and emails of love and support.

With a grateful heart,
Elysa

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR PUPPY

Our puppy Indie followed a cat out into the paddock and got hurt by one of the horses. We don't know if she was stepped on or kicked but she's hurt and it looks like it could be very serious. I'm about to leave now and take her to the emergency vet.

The kids and us grown-ups surely would appreciate your prayers.

Thanks in advance,
Elysa

Matthew 10:29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

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Go See PRINCE CASPIAN!

I don't have time for a full review this morning, but I can say this much, PRINCE CASPIAN affected me in deeper ways than I ever expected. I never cease to be amazed at how God can speak to me in such surprising ways.


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SOMEONE'S BABY
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Lisa-Marie Black and her family have been living in Swaziland ministering primarily to orphans and widows affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and discipling short-term Adventures in Missions missionaries. They've just returned to America and Lisa-Marie wrote a blog post that in so many ways communicates what I've been struggling with since I left Swaziland nearly 4 months ago.
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"Ever left your crying toddler in the Church nursery, or your Kindergarten student on the first day of school, or even a pre-teen at a summer camp? They look up at you with "Please don't leave me, Mommy" tears brimming, lower lip protruding, arms reaching out to for you to pick them up. You know there is nothing you can do; the time has come and you have to leave, but you feel a little nauseated. And the second you get to your car, you let the hot tears flow.
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My last week in Nsoko felt just like that. I did not have a choice; I had to leave these precious little ones. They didn't understand, and in many ways, neither did I. They tried to crawl in my car after my final goodbye. I kept explaining over and over, that I was coming back, but everyone says that to them, and most never do. Maternal instinct is a powerful thing; I still check on my all my kids in the middle of the night (even the ones that are taller than me!), and I think about the Children of the Dirt all the time.

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I will be back with them in the middle of June, with a group of people broken for them and willing to give up time and finances to come and see them.

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In the meantime, the Nsoko Project fund has run dry, and my mothers' heart is racing for these little ones. I know God will not let them starve; I know He will provide like He always does, but they are so far away. The same way I awaken with a start, wondering who in my home has kicked off their covers and might be cold, I awaken several times a night, and wonder what the community of Nsoko is facing today.

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I wonder if Pastor Gift feels alone and overwhelmed. I wonder if Jumbo is beside himself with work, all of us knowing he will never give up, because he truly loves the kids. I wonder if the children are getting cold at night now that it is nearing winter in Africa. I wonder if anyone will check to see if they even have covers to kick off. I am counting the days to be with them, and praying for the floodgates of Heaven to open up over them.

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My last meeting with the GoGo's, the elders, the Chiefs, and the teachers were also filled with tears and goodbyes. The one thing they all asked before Gary and I left was: "Please, don't forget us."

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Back in America, I see the economy feels less than booming. I feel the stress as people strive to maintain the American dream, and I know that "giving" is down more than ever. I also understand that people feel overwhelmed. I am struggling with that myself since returning to this great and wonderful nation. I know my feelings are stronger for these little ones because I have held them, and I know their names.

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I am blessed, I know. I am also selfish. I do believe that what we reap is what we sow. I often think we are so arrogant to think that our children would never be in that situation. Sometimes, I think "what if..." What if something did happen in our country: a plague, a war, a catastrophic event. What if we were all gone, except Noah, the baby of our family, or the baby or your family? What if our five year-old prince was suddenly alone on this earth? No parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters, just little Noah walking around vulnerable, alone, searching for food, exposed to the elements, scared, and prey for predators. Would someone who didn't know him take him in, feed him, love him and protect him, simply because God commanded them to? Would a stranger make a sacrifice to save my baby?

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See, my motives here? They are all someone's babies; they could be yours.

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We can all do something, no matter how big or how small.

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It matters to them..."

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Click HERE to give to the Nsoko fund.

NEVER BECOME BARREN

"The true secret to all ministry is spiritual power. It is not man's genius, or man's intellect, or man's energy; but simply the power of the Spirit of the God of the Gospel. 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zech.iv.6) It is well for all ministers (and believers) to bear this ever in mind. It will sustain the heart and give constant freshness to their ministry (and lives). A ministry which flows from abiding dependence upon the Holy Spirit can never become barren. If a man is drawing on his own resources, he will soon run dry. It matters not what his powers may be, or how extensive his reading, or how vast his stores of information; if the Holy Spirit be not the spring and power of his ministry, it must, sooner or later, lose its freshness and its effectiveness. How important then, that all who minister (and live) in the gospel, should lean continually and exclusively on the power of the Holy Spirit. He knows what souls need, and He can supply it. But he must be trusted and used. It will not do to lean partly on self and partly on the Spirit."

C H Macintosh, Notes on the Book of Numbers, 1861

ELEMENTS OF THE DAY...

...planting watermelon seedlings
...numerous sinus/allergy OTCs and natural remedies
...facebook frustrations
...praying for friends and family
...piles of laundry and loads of dishes
...making job lists
...emails, forums, and blogs
...too much stuff and too many piles
...sparkly blue toenail polish
...searching for a babysitter
...fruit flies
...a new air conditioner in the master bedroom
...history with the oldest four
...hummus, salsa, and blue corn tortilla chips
...losing my patience
...asking forgiveness
...dark chocolate M&M's
...B's sprained ankle
...afternoon naps (for me and the babies)
...missing Swaziland
...not making it to a friend's child's graduation
...taking the kids swimming and walking laps around the pool for nearly an hour
...Latin prayer said before our supper
...honey mustard pork loin and a neighbor's homegrown turnip greens
...no complaints about afore mentioned greens
...kids cleaning the kitchen
...enjoying time with our neighbor Lillie
...loading the much-appreciated dishwasher
...introducing my husband to Coldplay
...snuggling with the little ones and relaxing with hubby under the flip-flop groovy lights

NASTY, NO-GOOD CRUD

I feel awful. Friday, a sinus/allergy attack hit me full-force. I fluctuate from just feeling mildy turr'ble to downright barely functioning. Right now, I'm just a little above the barely functioning mode. I'm not going to try to be funny or insightful or creative here, because if I keep on typing, I'm just going to slip into the "my life is so terrible and I feel awful and don't you just feel sorry for me" and I know that a seasonal sinus attack is not really that wretched in relation to truly tragic things going on in the world today.

I'm stopping.

This is getting mauldlin....or however that's spelled. Who can spell with their ears hurting and nose dripping and children actually demanding their mother take care of them.

As I said. I'm stopping....

Oh, if you think about it, I'd appreciate your prayers.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY...



...to all my mom friends and most of all, to my precious, incredible mom.

I love you.

MYSTERY OF GRACE

"I do not at all understand the mystery of grace --- only tht it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us."

Anne Lamott

UPDATE ON LAST NIGHT'S PRAYER REQUEST

Yesterday I was really feeling bad. I absolutely did NOT feel like leading children's worship and teaching my preschool class at our church. But, since I wasn't contagious, I just had to go. I couldn't wimp out of this one.

On the way there, I had the family pray for me in the van and then I put on some amazing praise music by the Kevin Prosch band. I just let myself totally get into praising God, lifting Him up, and letting Him strengthen me. That had an incredible impact on my spirit and my physical state of being.

Then once I was at church, I had the children pray for me and let them take turns helping me lead worship. They enjoyed it and it gave them the chance to not just receive, but give back to God and to each other.

After we split up into smaller groups according to ages, I ended up with a very small class, only 4 kids (2 of them were mine), so it was very manageable. We talked about Naomi and Ruth, Mother's Day, caring for their mother's ...especially when they're old and hungry ;D , and I helped them decorate candles I got from Kroger's for a quarter a piece.

God is faithful all the time. He really will make it possible for me to do whatever He's called me to do....especially where His little ones are concerned. After all, He told us so clearly to let the little children come to Him, do not hold them back. In no way should we do anything to cause them to stumble. And we must become like children to truly understand and receive His grace and love and walk a life of faith.

I praise God for the chances He gives me daily to minister not only to my children but other children as well.

But I have to ask His forgiveness for the times that I treat this as a chore, a burden, instead of a blessed privilege and calling.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME TONIGHT

I'm leading the children's church in worship then teaching the 4, 5, and 6 year old class all by myself for about an hour and a half. I'm feeling completely out of it right now. All I want to do is eat chocolate and get in the bed. Please pray for me. I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and I really need that strength right now.

Thanks.