Visions

"Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what could be. Anyone who is emotionally involved - frustrated, brokenhearted, maybe even angry - about the way things are in light of the way they believe things could be, is a candidate for vision. Visions form in the hearts of those who are dissatisfied with the status quo."

- Visioneering, Andy Stanley

Andy is so eloquent with his words. He absolutely nails Vision in the above passage. I think all of us are experiencing visions arising out of the tensions we are becoming more aware of, and being frustrated by. And yeah, we want to throw them on the ground at times. That is vision. I cannot wait to see the visions God is birthing in each of us on the journey. They are in each of us right now. God is just blowing up my heart right now, and I sense the same thing in each of you. I love you guys, and I'm glad you are on the journey with me. Passion is still rising!

When Allowed To, He Still Changes Lives

Wow! The past year is difficult to put into words. I think it is because so much of the changes in us were supernatural. I would not change a single thing, even if I could. When one steps back, and allows God to take the reigns, so many cool things happen. Moving deeper into relationship with Him, my friends, and our homeless buddies is indescribable. Everyone is just so real. There are no barriers. There are no partitions. There are no programs. It is just children of the Most High God interacting with one another in love and spirit, plus nothing. Nothing else is necessary.

Thank you, Father, for leading, guiding, blessing, and pouring out buckets full of grace and mercy upon us! We have cleaned out our ears, and we are listening for that gentle voice saying "My child, ...

Reflection

re·flec·tion

   [ri-flek-shuhn]  Show IPA

–noun

1.

the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.

2.

an image; representation; counterpart.

3.

a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.

4.

a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.

5.

an unfavorable remark or observation.

6.

the casting of some imputation or reproach.

7.

Physics, Optics .

a.

the return of light, heat, sound, etc., after striking asurface.

b.

something so reflected,  as heat or especially light.

8.

Mathematics .

a.   (in plane) the replacement of each point on one side of a line by the point symmetrically placed on the other sideof the line.


b.  (in space) the replacement of each point on one side of a plane by the symmetric point on the other side of the plane.

9.

Anatomy . the bending or folding back of a part upon itself.

It's hard to believe that one year ago today was the beginning of the Ordinary Radicals blog! So much has changed along the journey ~ mostly in us! What began as an invitation to share our life stories has become so much more than possibly imagined. As we began to do what we have passion for in response to loving Jesus, a powerful wind of the Spirit, has moved us to and through places we never could have, or would have gone on our own. The deepening relationship and love for Father, Son, and Spirit has grown ever deeper and has impacted us in community with one another.

It's interesting that one of the definitions in reflection contains consider, a word that grabbed our attention in one of our earliest blogs. Today I just wanted to reflect on what's happened over this past year. Almost every definition gives insight into how life has and is changing for each of us; seen by what we've shared here. My hope is that we are reflecting more of Jesus in all of life!

Thanks for sharing the journey together!

I Love Soda Pop too!

I'm not talking about the kind of soda pop you can drink but the wonderful friend (A.K.A. Ricky) many of us Fox Trotter's have gotten to know over the past year.  He is who he is, and I love that about him. No facade with Soda Pop! He enjoys spending time with us Saturday mornings. It's the only time I ever see him smile and joke around. He gets a Coke, specially purchased for him; we don't do that for anyone else! He has a special place in our hearts.

If you haven't checked out Cassie Hammett's (The Hub Ministry director) comments about Soda Pop Ricky, just click on the title above to link there and get her beautiful perspective on their friendship.

It's great to see the wonderful things Father is doing in Bossier City ~ Shreveport!

"There can't be a movement without movement!"

"The kind of leader who makes a difference is the one who is willing to make a move, regardless of the risk. These are leaders who dare to rethink and move in radical ways to influence the next generation."

~ Reggie Joiner

How have you been "touched" today?

Kimberly Smith ~ Make Way Partners shares...

It came to me that each of us is “touched” in the mob of life every day. It’s just that we’re so focused on checking things off our to-do list, or chasing hard after the American Dream, that our spiritual skin has grown numb. We’re spiritually anesthetized, so we can’t feel that “touch.”

That “touch” may come from a story some 10,000 miles away, the grouch in the office cubicle next to yours, the angry man who cuts you off in traffic, the lazy girl behind the cash register, or even our spouse who doesn’t “understand” us. Perhaps, if we could still ourselves long enough to let that touch penetrate our agenda, we’d realize more of the joy of our unique role in His plan of “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done” through us…through me…one “touch” at a time.

Love, your sister along the journey,

k

Who are the Joneses?

I was reading the Compassion magazine this morning and found this website.
Check it out by clicking on the title above.

On Your Mark

Check out this short Andy Stanley video clip in the Catalyst Leadership ~ Digital Online Magazine by clicking on the title above.

A Prison or A Portal

Check out this short Erwin McManus video clip in the Catalyst Leadership ~ Digital Online Magazine by clicking on the title above.

Waiting for God's Plan

Check out this short Donald Miller video clip in the Catalyst Leadership ~ Digital Online Magazine by clicking on the title above.

Celebrating Life

This is the complete post from the CaringBridge Journal for Eric Schmidt written by his wife Laura:

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 9:25 PM, CST

Three and a half years ago, I married the most wonderful man I know and my very best friend.

Today, he went to be with his Jesus. He was ready to go.

The cancer here on earth won, but he is forever with the Lord.

While this was the most difficult day of my life, I can honestly say that I have a peace that only comes from the Lord....peace that Eric is in a place where there is no more sorrow, no more suffering, and no more pain. He no longer has to struggle with throwing up profusely, no longer has to stay up all night trying to get comfortable sleeping because he is in such pain, no longer must suffer through chemotherapy and radiation that takes away every ounce of his energy, no longer has to deal with extreme sadness because he has no strength to carry his son or even hold him in his arms. He is with Jesus, playing his guitar and worshiping his Almighty Maker who received him today with open arms. We as his loved ones all had the opportunity to cheer him on this morning to his home in heaven. I smile as I think about him there, and cry as I think about him not with me here on earth.

2 Timothy 4:7 says, "He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith!

This, I believe to be true of my dear husband who was also a dear son, brother, father, and friend. Eric demonstrated even to the end of his life here on earth, that he was honored to carry the part of the cross that Jesus asked him to bear. I can still hear him saying to himself as he was over the toilet throwing up, "Consider it all joy, consider it all joy." Never once did I hear him complain about what he was facing. I also will never forget how throughout our journey, Eric would encourage me when I was struggling, "Laura, our best days are ahead, our best days are ahead."

Thank you Eric, for pointing me and everyone else to Jesus! We ache because we don't know how to live without you here on earth with us, but we are thankful that you are in a better place!

Saturday, we will celebrate his life with a funeral here in Shreveport, Louisiana.
11:00 a.m. Barksdale Air Force Base Chapel #2

On Monday, in Enid, Oklahoma, there will be a burial at 4pm followed by a celebration of his life service at Enid MB Church at 6pm.

Friday Friends: 30 Days Homeless

Check out the story and numerous resources about this journey at Catalystspace Catablog on Feb 4, 2011 by clicking on the title above.

Being An Explorer for Jesus

"Once you are called out by God, you are called to move into mysterious, uncertain territories and to begin to live a life filled with risk and fraught with challenges."

- Erwin Raphel McManus, Wide Awake

A touch...can make the difference!

This information is from the latest Make Way Partners ~ Wednesday Report (2/2/11):

As most of you know, we have a short-term mission team on the ground at Hope for Sudan right now. I am speaking with Matt, the team leader, every day or two. He tells me the team is making the necessary adjustments which include many opportunities for practicing flexibility, and making tough decisions like “Should I eat a protein or energy bar for supper?”

Currently, we have 32 orphans at Hope for Sudan. Just a few weeks ago, these precious children were literally fighting for their lives, sleeping in the bush, drinking from mud puddles, and picking leaves to eat. In VBS on Monday, they held crayons for the first time in their lives!

Images of Michelangelo’s, The Hand of God, in the Sistine Chapel colored my mind as I listened to Matt tell me the crayon version of God’s Hand reaching down to us.

Imagine being 5 or 6 and never having slept inside a house, much less have your own bed. Now imagine having to climb trees to pick leaves so that you had something to stew on the fire you built outside using animal feces for fuel. Of course, you drink from mud puddles, if you’re lucky, and squat in the bush to relieve yourself since you don’t even have a latrine.

But then, one day your whole life changes in an instant because some preacher (our indigenous director, Romano) picks you up and carries you into the Hope for Sudan orphanage. Women bring you food, more than your tiny stomach can eat at first. Romano tells you, “Not only I love you, but Jesus does, too, and He is the one who sent me to you.” Your whole world begins to change.

But just when you think it couldn’t get any better, a whole pack of Americans get off a plane and start smiling at you, telling you that you are beautiful, hugging you, and playing games with you!

Well, you just might think, “God has surely come to earth, and She has landed right here in Hope for Sudan because She is holding my little hand so that I know how to connect the dots with this thing that makes beautiful red, blue, or even pink marks on my paper.”

In an instant, theological debates about the color, gender, race, or origin of God are reduced to love reaching down to you. You. You and God touching. Your life is forever changed because God has touched you.

That’s what being the Body of Christ is all about. Being His Hands, Feet, Breath…whatever is needed, we allow Him to flow it through our very beings, the broken alabaster jar…with all it’s worth poured out.

When the VBS teachers saw that the little ones had caught on and knew how to hold the crayon, they stood up proud and let loose the children’s hands. Immediately, every little hand flew back up…reaching for God—just for the touch.