the kingdom of god.

The kingdom of God is a beautiful thing.

Honestly, there's nothing like worshiping the Creator of the Universe with several thousand people.

There's nothing like sitting in a room full of college freshmen listening to them share their stories, their dreams and aspirations, the things God has placed on their hearts.

There's nothing quite like marveling at the beauty in people as they walk to and from class.

Lately, I've found myself in awe of the way in which God's so uniquely crafted each and every one of us. How he's calling us to different roles in society, to different places around the world.

If only more people realized their potential and paid attention to that call. I feel like society impresses upon young people a pressure to become successful, to make a life for themselves. I saw this quote the other day, and I find it incredibly troublesome:

Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

On another occasion, we could talk about what exactly "finding" oneself implies. But for now, my point is that I certainly don't believe life is about "creating" ourselves. In fact, life isn't even about us - or shouldn't be about us, at least.

I worry that too many kids aren't hearing the right message.

And to them, I want to say that this life is about bringing glory to our God. This life is about humbly following his heart. Falling before his throne. Giving way to his call. Being his hands and feet. Defending the fatherless. Rescuing the oppressed.

Sure, it might bring success. It might even bring money and fame. But I hope that's not all we focus on.

On many occasions, I've found myself sitting in our twice-weekly chapels praying that the Lord would light a passion in the students here. I so desire for people to experience God in the same way I have. To understand him in the rather simple and quite incomplete way I've understood him. To grasp the fulfillment and abundance that's comes with his presence. To have a passion for following him and living their lives for him, and only him.

Ever since I've returned from Tanzania, the concept of creation returning to the Lord has been on my mind. In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how Pastor James had a unique perspective on the terrible drought there: it's God's way of renewing the land and calling the people back to him.

And the concept seems to be at the forefront of my mind once again as I read about the fall of man and the flooding of the earth in one of my classes. Since the beginning of time, or at least the fall, creation has been yearning for renewal and restoration. Paul puts it well in Romans 8:22 when he says,

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

Now, things are incomplete. Now, things are messed up. But someday, "we will see him coming on the clouds of heaven" (as Hillsong sings). Someday, all of creation will return to him.

And until then, I hope that more people will be overwhelmed by his glory, his majesty, and his beauty. So that they will come to grasp how fearfully and wonderfully they have been made. So that they will use their gifts to bring him praise with their lives.

So that justice and love can mark the work of the kingdom,

to point people to the King,

to restore the earth.

May our hope be in Yahweh, whose love is greater than all.

He shall reign forever.

the hard hours.

I'd like to share a poem with you. We had to read it for my "Literary Bible" seminar. I think it's absolutely beautiful. And once you know the background story, it's even more powerful. So here's the story:

The poet, Anthony Hecht, went through a pretty brutal divorce. After everything was finalized, his ex-wife moved halfway around the world to Israel and took both of his sons with her. Realizing he would never get to see his sons again, he wrote this:

"The Hard Hours"

"'Adam, my child, my son,

These very words you hear

Compose the fish and starlight

Of your untroubled dream.

When you awake, my child,

It shall all come true.

Know that it was for you

That all things were begun.'

"Adam, my child, my son,

Thus spoke Our Father in heaven

To his first, fabled child,

The father of us all.

And I, your father, tell

The words over again

As innumerable men

From ancient times have done.

"Tell them again in pain,

And to the empty air.

Where you are men speak

A different mother tongue.

Will you forget our games,

Our hide-and-seek and song?

Child, it will be long

Before I see you again.

"Adam, there will be

Many hard hours,

As an old poem says,

Hours of loneliness.

I cannot ease them for you;

They are our common lot.

During them, like as not,

You dream of me.

"When you are crouched away

In a strange clothes closet

Hiding from one who's "It"

And the dark crowds in,

Do not be afraid -

O, if you can, believe

In a father's love

That you shall know some day.

"Think of the summer rain

Or seedpearls of the mist;

Seeing the beaded leaf,

Try to remember me.

From far away

I send my blessing out

To circle the great globe.

It shall reach you yet."

why?

So where is it? I don't see it.

I don't get it.

The fulfillment of the promise.

I don't see it down here,

in the middle of the fear.

What hope can remain,

in the depth of this pain?

I don't see it.

The earth is groaning night and day.

A song of human slavery,

of dark disease and poverty,

of children in captivity.

God, that's the sound that comes to me...

I know about theology.

I know you gave your son for me.

I know you're wrapped in mystery.

I get invisibility.

But I still see their misery.

I hear those voices haunting me,

saying, "Who will come and set us free?"

Absolutely brilliant. Not mine, but hers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNBmNl88Pk

glow.

So many posts tonight. But I just had to share these lyrics with you.

Hillsong came out with a new album this week. I had no idea one was even in the works, so it was quite a pleasant surprise.

Here's my favorite song, "Glow"

Lost and stranded, empty-handed

Broken down and all alone

Your mercy, it entered into darkness

And enfolded us in love

Just a glimmer of your glory

And the earth falls to its knees.

You level the mountains with a whisper

And you calm the raging seas.

We give you all we are

For the glory of your name.

We give all we are

For your praise.

Let the earth come to life

In the light of heaven's glow.

And the streets sound with joy

As the shackles lose their hold.

You laid down your life

For one and all.

So we give all we are

To you alone.

This means freedom for the captive

And good news for those in need

Your message is justice and compassion

God of love, and Prince of Peace

With one voice we sing hallelujah

All the earth cry out hallelujah

With the angels sing hallelujah

Jesus Christ is King

We give everything

To you alone.

two more...

My gifts (or as they pronounce it, "jifts") from my BFF's (I taught them what that means) Idarus and Willy.

I told them I like elephants, and that I wanted a picture of Kilimanjaro to put up in my dorm room.

This beats any photograph, in my opinion.

and more pictures.

a village in Tanzania - Nameni is a precious 8-year old girl sponsored by my grandparents through Compassion International.

Arusha, Tanzania - Peace House Secondary School - Immanuel is one of the most mature 14-year olds I've ever met.

Arusha, Tanzania - Peace House Secondary School - Danielle and I with our Form One "rafikis."

Arusha, Tanzania - Peace House Secondary School - My BFF's Willy and Idarus.

more pictures.

Namanga Road - On our way to Tanzania from Kenya - The once lush foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro now look like a desert. Tanzania is experiencing one of the worst droughts in its history.

somewhere-near-Longido, Tanzania - Perhaps a little reminiscent of the Dust Bowl?

Tanzania-Kenya border - The pillar marks the border between Kenya and Tanzania. I like to say that I illegally entered Kenya...

Mto Wa Mbu, Tanzania - We woke up to trails and trails of these massive safari ants one morning. Not your typical ants: these ones will quietly crawl up your legs and start biting you. Main lesson: don't pour out the juice from a tuna can near your tents.

Tarangire National Park, Tanzania - Note to self: don't open a jar of honey to make lunch on a safari.