The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden by Karen Newcomb: A Book Review

What a find!

As we're getting ready to move into our new place, where I highly anticipate creating an urban farming oasis, my delight could not be contained when I found this book as one of the options with the Blogging for Books program. I know this is a book I'll return to repeatedly in the years to come. I can foresee that it will be my faithful companion as I plant, grow, harvest and analyze pest and disease issues on my urban farm.

Postage stamp gardening is really taking off as people want to eat more local, organically grown produce. This book was originally published in 1975 and the new edition comes along perfectly timed for people like me who have small spaces and big dreams. 

The wonderful thing about gardening is that there is always something new to learn. Newcomb provides a thorough and easy-to-understand handbook for everyone from beginner to expert. She even honestly admits that when it comes to companion planting and organic pest control, there is always room for experimentation to see what works best in your climate and with the crops you grow. This book also contains a wonderful crop-by-crop analysis of planting, growing and harvesting tips. It's definitely a excellent place to begin when thinking through what you'll "experiment" with each growing season.

If you're curious about how to get started or have been growing vegetables for years and just want to increase your yield or lengthen your growing season, pick up a copy of  The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden: Grow Tons of Organic Vegetables in Tiny Spaces and Containers Like me, your copy will be dog-eared and dirt smudged in no time.

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In an attempt at full-disclosure, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review as part of the Blogging For Books Program. My reviews will always remain unbiased.

Why Serving In Our Cities Matters

Houston, Texas, February 2015

I've reached a place in my devotional reading of The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis, where he writes about why reaching our cities for Jesus should be a priority. I love how he expresses this and thought you would like to hear it too

"In cities, as opposed to the countryside, the religious dimension of life is expressed by different lifestyles, daily rhythms linked to places and people. In their daily lives people must often struggle for survival and this struggle contains within it a profound understanding of life which often includes a deep religious sense. We must examine this more closely in order to enter into a dialogue like that of our Lord and the Samaritan woman at the well where she sought to quench her thirst." 

Cities are not a "lost cause" or worthy of our fear or disdain. Cities are places the people of God should flock to in order to learn a "profound understanding of life which often includes a deep religious sense."

If the people of God will not go, someone or something else will fill the void. Do we then have the right to judge or complain about the end result?

"Love God. Love ___________ (insert your city name)." This is what the folks of Mission Year do everyday. The beautiful part is, we can too.

Love God. Love Cincinnati.

"Without You, There is No Us" by Suki Kim: A Book Review

I confess my fascination with North Korea. It is another world that is so repressed, by all modern standards, that we who reside in the "western" world cannot even begin to comprehend what daily life is like for the millions who live under their totalitarian regime. Most reports that come out of this dark corner of the globe are from dissidents, escapees or news stories that reveal how strange and bizarre is the total control of North Korea's people.

What author, Suki Kim, brings to the conversation is a rare opportunity to live, teach and build relationships with the sons of North Korea's elite. The term "elite" should be used lightly because by U.S. or European standards, these young men are far behind in their educational opportunities, technological skills and even choices regarding their future.

It took several weeks of building trust, but as Kim built rapport with her students, mild comments that revealed their awareness of their true circumstances began to be expressed by these men whose lives, vastly different to the families in concentration camps or the enslaved peasants in rural villages, are comparatively well-off. Critical, analytical and logical thinking are not skills that are encouraged, sought after or promoted by a regime that desires to have absolute control over her people. Any expression of dissent is forbidden. For these young men to have even a tiny ounce of awareness of the restrictions imposed upon them is a crack in the facade that their "Great Leader" would find a way to stomp out quickly.

Kim's anecdotes about how she endured isolation, paranoia about false steps, and the oppression living as a free person in this environment, are told compassionately by a woman whose South Korean roots compel her to see her homeland one day reunited. Ultimately, both South and North Korea desire the same thing...reunification. The South desires to see her people free and the North longs to dominate the entire land of its ancestry.

When I have watched documentaries about North Korea, I have been amazed at the absolute devotion this people have for their dictator. I've asked the question of whether it is legitimate or faked for the cameras. What I've come to realize, partly through Kim's well-written account, is that such unswerving allegiance to a dominating force cannot be fake when that is all you know, and to simply ask an opposing question results in you and your family being incarcerated in prison camps. This is brain-washing on a national scale.

One day, this country will open up. I truly feel pity for the North Koreans when it does. To have everything you've ever known and been told to be proven false will inevitably leave devastation in it's wake...as we've seen in a less drastic example for Eastern Europeans. As westerners continue to build relationships with North Koreans, we can hope that when the fall does occur, there are opportunities to come along beside this resilient people to usher them into the freedom and hope they deserve.

You should read Suki Kim's book. It is engaging, lovely and informative. Her honest emotional struggle to enlighten the elite sons of North Korea will leave you thankful for people who serve in hostile environments such as this. It will also speak to your heart of how one person can make a difference by only being able to plant the tiniest seeds of freedom.

I Am a Prodigal

When I was in Houston two weeks ago, I had a wonderful opportunity to attend church at St. John's Downtown. Pastor Steven taught from Luke 15:11-32. Most Christians know this as the story Jesus told (aka parable) called The Prodigal Son.

"I am the Prodigal Son every time I look for unconditional love where it cannot be found." That quote from Pastor Steven is something I have repeatedly returned to since I wrote it down. He asked the congregation if as sons and daughters of the King, we ever "cash in" our royalty for debauchery.

Good thoughts to ponder.

I liked what I saw and heard at St. John's. Their emphasis on loving people where they are has led them into extensive homeless ministry, AIDS activism, baptismal commitments where vows to fight injustice in ourselves and others are expected and depression/bi-polar support groups that would be taboo in some churches are promoted from the pulpit. All of this while encouraging youth to pursue academics, not athletics, as the way to escape from poverty, by providing college campus tours throughout the South.

But as I have contemplated Pastor Steven's words, perfectly timed today I read in The Joy of the Gospel, "At times we (the Church) have to be like the father of the prodigal son, who always keeps his door open so that when the son returns, he can readily pass through it...Frequently, we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators. But the Church is not a tollhouse, it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems."

As I struggled last Sunday with being judgmental and critical of many incongruities that I see in American Christians, I was ever so grateful that my Father was waiting with the door wide open. Why would I as His Prodigal Child ever close it for anyone else?

Pope Francis Quote of the Day

I have been sharing several quotes from The Joy of the Gospel on Twitter and Facebook, and today thought this one would be great to share with you.

"[A missionary heart] never closes itself off, never retreats into its own security, never opts for rigidity and defensiveness. It realizes that it has to grow in its own understanding of the Gospel and in discerning the paths of the Spirit, and so it always does what good it can, even if in the process, its shoes get soiled by the mud of the street."

The mud of the street, the dung in the horse barn, the nasty water of the laundromat, the trash of the abandoned house...where will your missionary heart lead you to get soiled this week?

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman- A Book Review

I read this book over the weekend on my trip to Houston so I could participate in the Curriculum Share time with Abbey and her housemates. Mission Year requires that all of the program participants read a series of books that speak to poverty, the inner city, injustice, love and more.

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman was reportedly carried around by Martin Luther King, Jr. everywhere he went. He found inspiration within its pages to lead a Civil Rights Movement that our country desperately needed. As I read, I had to keep reminding myself that this book was first published in 1949. Sadly, it seems that not much has changed, aside from some of the language Thurman used which was common to his day.

Abbey was surprised to see the dozens of highlighted quotes in my copy and I was thrilled to engage in this conversation with the Mission Year folks...book studies/clubs are sort of my thing. But if this book were required reading for anyone that serves alongside the "disinherited" of our culture, I believe we would approach ministry with more compassion and depth of knowledge than is often seen. The grandson of a former slave, who grew up in Jim Crow Florida, and was a highly educated, intellectual and close follower of Jesus, has much to say to us even today. 

"FEAR is one of the persistent hounds of hell that dog the footsteps of the poor, the dispossessed, the disinherited...The ever-present fear that besets the vast poor, the economically and socially insecure, is a fear of still a different breed. It is a climate closing in; it is like the fog in San Francisco or in London. It is nowhere in particular yet everywhere."

There are numerous quotes that I will return to over and over again, but the most profound image I was left with is a hypothetical story that Thurman relates in an attempt to help the reader understand the mindset of the dispossessed:  What if you were one of five children and all the children in your family received a new pair of shoes, except you? You might be upset, but you'd probably console yourself by saying, 'Well, I'll get my turn next.' But then comes the day when everyone in your family has a large slice of cake and again your are skipped over. This pattern continues time after time with no one else being denied gifts, treats and small pleasures, except you. Your indignation, anger, hatred and even shame begin to rise until you start to question if it's because you are somehow "not worthy" or possibly "less than" and you, in fact, deserve the slights and betrayals.

This is the life of the perpetually disinherited. As the third of four children, I have always had a profound (too profound, actually!) sense of fairness. In my mind, absolutely everything should always be fair and equal. This has, as you can imagine, provided me with hours and hours of frustration, lost relationship, pain, anger and hurt over the years. When someone says, "Well...life's not fair!" I want to scream, "But it should be!"

Somehow, in many of our American Christian churches, we've bought into this idea that everyone can succeed if they just pull themselves up by their bootstraps and that each person has the same opportunities as the next. My reply...and after reading Thurman's book, I think he'd agree...is always, "But you're under the assumption that everyone has a pair of boots."

"Welcoming Justice" by Loving Our Neighbors

Over the course of Abbey's Mission Year, she has required curriculum discussions with her team. My friend and I are reading as many of the books as possible because they have been carefully chosen to address issues that our under-resourced communities face:  racism, injustice, poverty, subpar educational options, and more.

Welcoming Justice by Charles Marsh and John Perkins grabbed me from the beginning simply with its subtitle, "God's Movement Toward Beloved Community". Community...it's what every dissatisfied Christian I encounter is longing for. It's what God created us to crave. God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit live in community with one another in a way that we cannot even put words to. Thus, it is hard-wired into each and every one of us. 

What we wealthier Christians often don't realize is that our impoverished neighbors we condescend to "help" have much to teach us about living in community. One of the first people Abbey encountered in her new Third Ward neighborhood of Houston was a grandmotherly woman who assured her that she would look out for them and they should look out for her. 

John Perkins was on the front lines of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Reading this book (co-written with Charles Marsh) during the recent outcry coming from places like Ferguson and New York City, helped remind me exactly whom should be at the forefront leading the charge against injustice, inequality and demeaning of our fellow man. "God's movement is the most powerful source of social change in our society." (p. 23)

Marsh reflects on where the Civil Rights Movement went wrong, lost momentum and left unfinished the work it had begun. "Removed from its home in the church, the work of building beloved community withered and died." (p. 25)

"It is unlikely that anyone has ever read Nietzsche's The Antichrist or Derrida's Dissemination and been inspired to open a soup kitchen. ...Still, my research has shown me that only as long as the Civil Rights movement remained anchored in the church--in the energies, convictions and images of the biblical narrative and the worshiping community--did the movement have a vision." (Philip Yancey, Foreword, p. 13)

One of the most profound quotes to me is when Marsh refers to Martin Luther King Jr.'s prophetic vision for the future of America: "King resolved that America's only hope lay in repentance--in a repentance that took the form of willingness to be a servant nation to the poor of the earth. Sadly, King would not live to say much more." (p. 27)

Is it too much to infer that our deeply-rooted issues of reconciliation vs. racism and forgiveness vs. condemnation could be addressed if we would handle more wisely the God-given resources, blessings and abundance that undoubtedly have been given to our nation? Almost 50 years after the assassination of MLK Jr., we have never been farther from becoming "a servant nation to the poor of the earth". In fact, our spending and misallocation of natural and man-made wealth keeps more people in the world bound in the chains of slavery and unfathomable poverty now than when slavery was actually legal in our land.

"Perkins showed that the activist and organizer will only cease to patronize the poor when they live in community with them and approach them in a spirit of compassion and the willingness to serve. "Living involvement," Perkins said, "turns poor people from statistics into our friends." (p. 29)

This is what I see happening as people move outside their comfort and safety zones and serve with Tent Day and allow God to wreck their lives. We begin to smell like the sheep that we desire to lead to the Shepherd, not because they are foul-odoured, but because we begin to recognize the fragrant offering that rises from 'loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.' (see Matthew 22:36-40)

"Patronization is a worry only when outsiders fail to discern the gifts of the poor--their loyalty, fragility, creativity and holiness--and deny the importance of black leadership. When this happens, outsiders are quick to impose their own plans on the poor and slow to see the wisdom in the local story."

Wednesday afternoon I sat across the table from my friend who this week has been immersed in our Homeless Hosting ministry at First Church. As we sipped our hot tea on that very cold afternoon, she told me stories of the men, and I could see how God is growing her. 'I think some of them are angels,' she said. Since the author of Hebrews told us that in showing hospitality to strangers, in this case homeless men, we unknowingly entertain angels...she may be right.

What I do know is that loving on, giving to, and growing with our under-resourced neighbors will draw us closer to seeing those "angels" than in any other place.

WIJD: #FCCGodStories

[What Is Jesus Do-ing?]

One of the things Jesus is doing is prompting myself and others to share God's Stories with anyone who will listen. February 1st at First Church of Christ in Burlington, we begin a six week discussion of Shane Claiborne's book, Irresistible Revolution. We hope to have passionate, life-changing conversations about living out God's Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven" (see Matthew 6:9-13), but we're continuing the discussion throughout the week on our Facebook group First Church of Christ - God Stories. 

Anyone can join us in the discussion. We're keeping the group private because anyone that asks to join will have to agree to some guidelines that simply remind us to treat others with respect, grace and Love...above all else...Love...but we welcome all seekers, sojourners and saints.

I found it interesting today to come across an article that talks about how Facebook creator and billionaire Mark Zuckerberg is beginning a Facebook book discussion on his page. Zuckerberg believes that books help you explore topics and immerse yourself in ways that no other media does.

Hmm?? I think we're on to something.

My hope...my prayer...for the FCC God Stories folks is that between the pages of the stories of the lives of God's people who are living out His Kingdom, we find the courage, the passion, and the joy to join Him in His work.

WIJD

What Would (Is) Jesus Do-ing?

Most of us have heard the phrase "What would Jesus Do?" Some of us probably even still have a plastic bracelet bearing the initials WWJD thrown into the back of a junk drawer somewhere.

While the question has merit, this year I want to ask WIJD...What Is Jesus Doing? I want 2015 to be the year where God's Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven" becomes a reality that I see daily.

This Spirit-inspired task is a daunting one, it will take more discipline than I can muster in my own power, and it will challenge and perhaps shake the very core of my American-church faith.

Shane Claiborne writes, "Few things have more transformative power than people and stories." (Irresistible Revolution). If you'll join me as I dig into God's Story, read the stories of God's faithful and interview those who are already on the frontlines of His Kingdom work, and begin to join God in places where He is already working, I promise you will be transformed too. (12/24/14)

Today as I reflect on these words that poured out of me as I sat in my car and waited for Abbey to complete her gift shopping in Target on Christmas Eve, I cannot begin to relay to you all of the various affirmations that God has used to confirm that this is the theme for me in 2015. I haven't made a New Year's resolution in a few decades...and I've never kept one...but God's Holy Spirit is faithful to often direct me into themes that He wants to explore in my heart, mind, body and soul.

2014 was a year of attempting to become chemical free and I think I'm about 75%+ there. It's involved making homemade alternatives to shampoo, conditioners, toothpastes and using essential oils, herbs and teas for stress and pain relief. Did it take time? Yes. Did it take effort? Yes. Did it cost additional money? Sometimes yes...but often it was less expensive or free.

Wouldn't it be amazing if at this time next year I could share with you that I see God actively working in 75%+ of each and every day? Call it a resolution, a goal, a theme or the impossible...but He has me chomping at the bit...ready for the challenge.

While I can't possibly convey every situation that has brought me to this place...because some of them extend back in time over a decade...I can share a few highlights that I hope encourage you to join me on this leg of the Journey:

• Our church (2000+ members) is presently reading through The Story together. This version of the Bible tells God's Story and how it has prevailed throughout history.
• In a series of meetings with our Serve Ministry Leader at First Church of Christ, I had the "idea" that people learn best through and are inspired by the stories of others, so why don't we create short videos showing where God is already working and trust Him to inspire others to join in.
• During this same set of meetings, we chose to begin reading Irresistible Revolution as a Serve Team to dig into a narrative of how Jesus is fleshing out His work in others.
• While contemplating how to educate people in our congregation about needs in our community and how we can meet those needs, this idea of sharing a book discussion to the whole church arose and we began sifting through a lengthy list of what book to start with because Irresistible Revolution might be too challenging for most...yet this book rose to the surface and that's where we'll begin.
• The paragraphs at the beginning of this post poured out of me on Christmas Eve, because I read that amazing quote from Shane Claiborne while I waited.
• What is the title of my blog for pete's sake?
• Too many more to relate here.

So we're diving in...we've created a private Facebook group for church and online participants who want to read Irresistible Revolution and join in the conversation. I'll also be posting quotes from books, sharing videos of God's Kingdom work and trying to engage you in this Journey. Follow me on Twitter (link above), find me on Facebook, come to our Sunday morning book discussions (message me for details), join us in our LifeGroup or at Thursday morning Bible study at FCC, message me to meet for coffee, join us in serving at Tent Day, the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, homeless hosting this winter at FCC or any of the other possibilities that will arise throughout the year...but most of all fall on your knees and implore the Almighty, the Savior of your soul and His Holy Spirit that is alive, active and living in you to show you where He is already bringing His Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven."

I am so ready! Aren't you??

p.s. I almost forgot!! We'll be using the hashtag #FCCGodStories for Kingdom-work inspiration. What better way to show how God is "trending" everyday??!

Vegan Holiday Cooking from Candle Cafe': A Book Review

One of the great dilemmas of embracing a Vegan lifestyle is what to feed company when you're entertaining. The chefs of Candle Cafe' have eliminated the guesswork and have provided recipes even picky guests will enjoy.

The photos look delicious. The ingredients are healthy. The chefs are known for their Vegan recipes that impress New York patrons throughout the year. Thus, this book is a must-have for every Vegan entertainer.

I stopped counting at 20. That was the number of sticky notes I'd placed between the pages of this book before I stopped keeping track of what recipes I wanted to try. With every major U.S. holiday included, even Super Bowl and Chinese New Year, there are several recipes I will be cooking before the appropriate holiday arrives.

Grilled bok choy with sesame-ginger sauce; lemongrass-infused celeriac soup with matzo balls; flourless chocolate cake with macaroon crust; chickpea crepes with berries and vanilla-lavender cream; crispy black bean tacos; baked maple pinto beans; roasted squash soup with almond cream and spice pumpkin seeds; snowball cookies; and pecan pie with cinnamon ice cream...this is just a sample of the delicious recipes you'll find among the pages. There are also multiple cocktail options for each occasion.

Ten different holidays are represented and between them all they cover game day foods, Chinese, Mexican, Kosher, summer grilling and traditional holiday comfort foods. Even if you're not entertaining a crowd, there are enough options here to use for family dinners throughout the week too.

Last year I scanned recipes for hours on Pinterest to find healthy, vegan options for our Thanksgiving dinner. Not so this year, the chefs of Candle Cafe' have already taken the guesswork out of my preparation. Instead of my Kindle propped up on the counter, this year, you'll find this wonderful recipe book in its place.

Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott: A Book Review

Anne Lamott just has a way with words. This is my third or fourth time reading her work. I've lost track of exactly how many in the same way you lose count of number of times you've met a dear friend over a great cup of coffee.

If you've never read or even heard of Lamott, I'll caution any ultra-conservatives, she may be an affront to your perception of how a Christian should think, speak and behave. I believe her salvation is just as true as mine though. We may not agree on every theological point but the essentials are non-negotiable: Love the Lord your God with everything in you and Love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus said these were the two greatest commandments and that everything else could be summed up by them. Lamott's authentic, raw and candid disclosures of her path to live out grace and Love is nothing short of beautiful.

God is working this out in each of us at the pace only He knows best. Lamott makes absolutely no pretense of "having it all together". She doubts, she frets, she stews, she slips and falls, but between the pages of her honest and witty glimpses into her life, you will find grace...eventually.

Books By the Banks- Cincinnati, Ohio

My friend Sarah shares an amazing calendar of events around our area that homeschoolers may find interesting. I am always thankful for her diligence and dedication to continually update the calendar...especially today.

Once the sky went from gray to blue this morning, I was determined to get out of the house during the pause between rainstorms. One glance at Sarah's calendar and the decision to check out the free "Books By the Banks" event was an easy one.

A large convention room full of authors, books and extra freebies available from libraries, arts organizations and more? Yeah...no question about going again in the future from me.

See this man? See the engagement in his face with the toddler you can't see because his mom with the red purse is blocking the camera's view? That man is Marc Brown, author of the Arthur series of books that spawned a PBS franchise that along with the books, provided my children (and myself!) hours of amusement and life lessons.

Speaking of kids...mine were a little too old for the Kids' Zone full of crafts, face painting, balloon animals, story time and games...but that did not stop us from having a photo shoot with The Snow Queen, courtesy of  Cincinnati Children's Theatre.

The only "bad" part about the festival? I absolutely spent too much money. Local authors are evidently my weak spot. This is not surprising if you know me. Evidently, I have my reading workload mapped out for the rest of the year.

But seriously though, you should keep Books By the Banks website "book"marked and reserve time on your calendar for next year's event. If you're book nerds like us, you'll be glad you did.

Vegan Ice Cream by Jeff Rogers- A Book Review

There is no reason why those who avoid dairy should never enjoy the sweet and creamy deliciousness of ice cream. With that in mind, Jeff Rogers has created a wonderful book for vegans and those with dairy sensitivities. I will forewarn you that many of the recipes contain cashews. For those with nut allergies though, there are several options that are nut-free.

I tried out the Fresh Lemon recipe (page 53) and decided to soak the cashews prior to blending since I don't have a high-speed blender such as a VitaMix. For the first time, I created a beautiful, creamy vegan ice cream. Even though I didn't achieve perfection with the recipe, a quick rereading, showed me what I can improve the next time.

If, like me, you don't have a VitaMix-type blender, Rogers' suggestions on blending are priceless for avoiding the dreaded it-didn't-turn-out-so-I-have-to-throw-away-all-of-these-expensive-ingredients! Rogers' book offers several hints as to how to mimic the same smooth texture of dairy-laden ice cream. These are tricks that had eluded me, causing a lot of frustration in the past when I would make vegan ice cream. 

Rogers has several pages dedicated to "The Basics". These are the helpful hints that made churning optimal creaminess possible. I think this book would be a great tool for someone new to vegan recipes and also an old pro. I fall somewhere in between and felt like this read made me more confident and knowledgeable in regards to vegan staples and ingredients.

The photos are beautifully shot and definitely enticing. Until obtaining this book, I've never seen vegan ice cream like this...especially any made by me. I would contend that even store bought coconut, almond or rice milk brands don't compare. Besides, having control over all of the ingredients helps me avoid some of the nasty things that are still added to commercial "healthy" brands. And at sometimes over $5.00 a pint from my local grocery, an investment of roughly $10 for this book saves me at least that much by the time I've made my second quart of ice cream.

If you're a vegan, I don't think I could give this book any higher recommendation than Vegan Ice Cream: Over 90 Sinfully Delicious Dairy-Free Delights should be a staple on your recipe bookshelf.

"The Way of the Heart" by Henri Nouwen- A Book Review

Abbey had recently been sent a book list for her to read while participating in her Mission Year. Most of the books looked intriguing and I hope to read most of them in the coming months. The first one I could locate at our local library is this small book by Henri Nouwen. I've read a few of Nouwen's works, The Return of the Prodigal Son, and Adam: God's Beloved. Both books were small, insightful, and gathered me into a deeper place with God.

The Way of the Heart follows suit with the aforementioned works. Nouwen doesn't take up a lot of space to say with profound simplicity what should naturally come to us, but we have lost along the way.

By turning to the Desert Fathers, Nouwen delves into three "lost practices" of Christianity...solitude, silence and prayer. This book is easy to read yet I'm not sure you could ever plumb the depths of living out these three disciplines, particularly in our crazy, busy, obnoxiously loud world.

But a heart who sought to live like Jesus, may just be the tool to point us onto the path of finding Him through solitude, silence and prayer. This book could easily be read over a latte' at Starbucks, and yet the vast expanse of the spiritual life that will be opened to you through these concepts will take a lifetime to live.

I Am Annoyed with Jen Hatmaker

Many, many months ago, my friend shared that she wanted to start a book club using Jen Hatmaker's book, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. I signed up without having read the book and smugly knowing that God's Spirit has already been working in me in regards to the prevalent excess of our U.S. culture. I am downright radical compared to many. It's easy to live with less when you have less to live with, right?

I can honestly say that I have not judged anyone or their comments. I am mature enough in my faith to know that we are all in different places in our Journey and I don't believe anyone needs to live out their spiritual life exactly like mine. Thus, my smugness has never been geared toward anyone else, just a tool to make myself feel better. 

And I was quite content.

Until last Monday when I read the chapter on spending.

Somehow, I knew this chapter was going to get touchy for me. I mean, the chapter about media was hard enough, given my addiction to all forms of media, but that is my struggle and I can quickly convince myself that it harms no one else. (Yes, I am greatly deceived!) But spending affects many more than just little ol' me. My comfort and convenience exact a toll on the poor, marginalized and needy in my culture and around the world. This is not a new concept for me and one that God has been refining in me for many years now.

I readily highlighted shareable quotes like, "While it is easy to become paralyzed by the world's suffering and the inequalities created by corruption and greed, we actually hold immense power for change, simply by virtue of our wealth and economic independence."

That's good stuff. This truth is reflected in my desire to buy Fair Trade, spend less and tip big. We sponsor an impoverished family in Ethiopia; help the homeless as much as God allows; buy a lot of organic, sustainable and ethically harvested food; and although recycling in an apartment is very difficult, we attempt to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle as much as possible. I can certainly pat myself on the back at how God has changed and molded me to be more in His image.

But then Hatmaker had to go and mess with a good thing. Almost a week later, I'm still a little annoyed with her to be honest. I mean what do you do with this?

"We don't see the New Testament church hoarding the feast for themselves, gorging, getting fatter and fatter and asking for more; [Amen...preach it Jen!] more Bible studies, [Huh?] more sermons, more programs, classes, [What the?] training, conferences, [Now...hold on one stinkin' minute!] information, more feasting for us."

When I read that, my first thought was: Jen Hatmaker, I don't think I like you right now.

Oh...but she continued to accuse me (or at least the Church, of which I am part) of ceasing to live the Bible and instead "just to study it". She drew some correlations between a buffet and my spiritual life that I won't even repeat here...it is just that crazy! There's also a plethora of my, my, my, my, my's in there that would make any 2 year old toy-fighting tantrum seem downright cute.

So what did I do? Well...I quickly skimmed through to the next section telling myself I'd come back to this disturbing portion when the time was right. Frankly, I got a little angry with this eccentric woman and her little rant about my feasting.

Six days later, and three attempts to read it again and I am still annoyed. How could she be all funny and authentic about her own failings and then start to point out mine? I feel like she set me up. But the truth is...she called me out.

Or rather, the Holy Spirit did. 

And He's not finished.

There's a lesson in all of this, and I'm still sorting out what it is. One thing I know is to stop being smug with myself about how God has changed me. Hah! Just when I think I'm making some progress, He reminds me that humility is always a good thing.

Another thing I just can't shake free of is this question that the Spirit is still formulating in my heart and mind: In the same way that when I spend limited money and resources on my own comfort and pleasure, it leaves less for the underprivileged and marginalized of our world...how does spending my finite energy and time on filling up my own spiritual "tank" keep me from filling up someone else's? Okay, I can't quite figure out the most eloquent way to verbalize this yet, but there it is. 

God's Spirit has already been awakening me to the gifts, talents and the Vision He has for me. He has not brought me through so many trials and so much pain simply for me to hoard the gift of His wisdom and discernment for myself. There are literally billions who do not know this amazing God or His Son, my Savior, nor the power of the Holy Spirit that He jealously desires to have reside inside them. 

How can I keep pulling myself up to the table and not actively extend an offer for them to join me? I still don't know how this will all play out. But I do know that it wouldn't irritate me this much unless the Spirit had a way to work it out in me and through me to share with others.

So thanks a lot Jen Hatmaker [yes, sarcasm is intentional!]. You've sort of messed up my Bible study feasting, and to be honest, I'm not very happy about it. It was much easier to blindly pull up to the table and pour on another heap of self-serving discipleship.

Okay, Holy Spirit...

now what?

The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken: A Book Review

I've been thinking a lot about the persecution of the Church lately. Syria, Iraq, Pastor Saeed Abedini, reports out of North Korea and this book have all combined to illuminate my soul to the undeniable conclusion that evil, persecution of the Church and God's covering mercy are all alive and active in our physical world.

But that's where I keep getting tripped up:  this physical world. 

You see, there is more...so much more than we can ever see or imagine. There are very real spiritual forces of darkness and Light in this world and there is a very real war being waged for which team we will choose to align our souls with. In places I will never see, and in lives I will not know until I meet them in Heaven, there is daily suffering, persecution and death taking place.

All of this begs me to ask the question: Why not here?

Ripken (a pseudonym for the author) asks the same question. I don't want to spoil his conclusion, but I think if we search our hearts and our culture with the discernment of the Holy Spirit, we'll find the same answer.

Why would our Enemy mess with a good thing?

We in the West are asleep to the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and our Enemy knows it. The phrase that keeps coming to mind is waking a sleeping giant. Why would our Enemy, that is perfectly content with our complacency, awaken us to the resurrection power of Christ within us, when he (Satan) can accomplish much more by keep us pacified with our phones, activities, social media, dining out, shopping, and whatever else we spend our time and resources on instead of saving souls for the Kingdom of the One that saved us?

Scary thoughts, right?

Believe me. This book has not been a joy ride...but one I very much needed to remind me of exactly what is at stake. Is it easy to sacrifice? No. Is it comfortable to intercede for others? No. Is it tangibly rewarding to be vulnerable and "different" than others you know. No. Do I care what others think? Yes...far too much.

Here's what I just can not get around:

• I have too much stuff.
• I have too many gifts and talents not being used extensively.
• I have too many friends, neighbors and fellow church-goers that also have not awakened to the God who jealously wants His Holy Spirit to come alive in them.

When Chinese Christians will commit to arising an hour earlier to pray for their Middle Eastern brothers and sisters in Christ whose suffering they view to be even worse than their own imprisonments, how...how can I grimace at the mere thought of losing a little sleep to spend some time in prayer for those I know and love?

What I am about to pray is a very risky thing. I recognize exactly what I am asking and that the only way to achieve it is for trials and sufferings to come. As Ripken points out, "Suffering is one of God's ordained means for the growth of his church." He wisely adds later, "[Believers] know that following Jesus, in so many ways, actually increases suffering instead of lessening it. But they also know that Jesus is better than all the pleasures, possessions, and pursuits of this world put together."

Here is my prayer:

Wake the sleeping giant, Lord! Wake us up! May Your Holy Fire ignite our very souls and the possessions and pastimes with which we have numbed ourselves fall away and pale in comparison with the joy of abiding in Your Presence.

Do you long to be fully alive to the Spirit? Do you believe, as Augustine is credited with saying, "The glory of God is man fully alive"? Do you desire a closeness with the Spirit that is indescribable?

Awaken and arise to the One that is miraculously at work in our world. Embrace the sufferings of His servants as our own and delight in nothing more than Him.

I'm ready. I want so much more than this culture has convinced me I should be content with. Don't you?

A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman: A Book Review

I don't really know if I can give this book a "final" review. I've been taking small doses of Emily Freeman's life-affirming words since December. Sometimes all I could process was a paragraph or two. You're probably tired of reading about all the lessons I've learned along the way. [If not, go back over these four posts: Living the Vision, part 5, Pride, Making Mediocre Art, and yesterday's Back to the Playground]

There is no better assessment I can give than when an author's words linger of my heart, my mind and even my soul for hours and days at a time. The next highest praise I can give is that I know it will be a book I return to time and time again. Lastly, I know it's a book I will pass along and possibly even purchase copies to give to other women I know. 

It is not a book only for women, I just happen to know a lot of women who are asking if their life matters. Our Enemy knows that to keep us paralyzed, we must see our God-given gifts as futile, unappreciated or underwhelming. Knowing his strategy, a book like Freeman's is dangerous in the hands of a Beloved Seeker ready to explode with God's art being lived out in her life.

You matter.

You art (being a wife, mother, caregiver, baker, teacher, nurse, engineer, author, etc.) matters.

No one in all of space and time was ever pieced together by the hand of God exactly like you.

You are loved.

Now we just need to live like it!

Amen!

Back To the Playground

Do you ever get to a place in your Journey when you think you've settled something unattractive in your life, packed it away, shipped it off to God's sea of forgetfulness, only to have it rear its ugly, green-eyed, scaly-horned head again in the most unlikely place?

Such was a bit of my morning yesterday.

It was no one's fault but my own insecurities and my Enemy's adept ability to know my weaknesses. I take full responsibility for letting him have a toehold. 24 hours later, I'm thankful to be humbled, but really never want it to happen again.

It's been just under two years since I wrote about how grateful I was that God chooses us because of our weaknesses. Yet, yesterday I felt like the fat kid on the playground again who just wants more than anything to not be the last one chosen. 

We will be leading a Lifegroup this fall and I'm also part of a reconfiguring of small group leaders on our Bible study morning. Both of these have been prayed for, prayed through, led entirely by the Holy Spirit and are amazing, wonderful blessings as to how He has worked them out every step of the way. His hand has been obvious, comforting and there is not one negative in regards to either.

It's me.

I confess. It's me.

I am apparently still that 10 year old girl, insecure and afraid of not being chosen. I will add that I was completely disregarding that no one was signing up for the other two Lifegroups represented either. Apparently, I'm still ego-centric enough to not care about that part of the tale...but I did later take some comfort when Holy Spirit (and my husband) brought this to my attention.

Okay, so now you know just how pitiful I am. Let me give you the wonderful way Holy Spirit turned this around (of course He did!) for me just a short time later and has still been working it out in me on this beautiful morning. 

First He reminded me of that blog post I referenced above. God chose me because of my weaknesses, in spite of them, and because then He can demonstrate His power more perfectly! My weaknesses also shine a massive spot light on just how needy I stand in His Presence.

That's beautiful right there.

But...in case there was any lingering doubt...this morning I read in A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live

"Sometimes don't we just want to be picked? It's true God picks me. But there is sometimes a disconnect for me between God picking me as a child he loves and God empowering me to make an impact in the world around me.

Seth Godin hosted a day gathering in Tribecca last summer and it had a simple, two-word theme for attendees. Pick Yourself.

"Once you understand that there are problems just waiting to be solved, once you realize that you have all the tools and all the permission you need, then opportunities to contribute abound. No one is going to pick you. Pick yourself."

It's an important message to me. Because even though I know my identity as a believer is solid in Christ, if I don't decide to believe it for myself, then it won't impact the way I love, the way I live, or the way I work. I may be able to be effective and even successful in the world's eyes but until I pick myself, I'm not sure I will be truly making art with my life.

When I filter that statement through the reality of my life in Christ, it becomes even more powerful. Have I been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind? Am I an image bearer? Do I have a job to do? Then what else could I possibly be waiting for?"

In the past, I have often been paralyzed by my insecurity of not being "picked", my fear of not being useful and living a wasted life and my ever-present self-talk of "why would anyone want to hear what I have to say?" I can't live in the Land of Self-Pity though...I need to be about my Father's business.

I am not surprised at the timing of these battles because my Enemy has pulled out all the stops. Holy Spirit has been leading my thoughts and desires into new, unexplored territories and it's going to be a roller coaster of emotions, scheduling, focus and determination. But I know I have a God that simply wants me to say "Yes!" when He calls. The results are left up to Him.

As I keep saying my timid and terrified yeses, my Enemy is ramping up his tactical arsenal of obliteration. I am not surprised by this, just confounded at how easily I slip and skin my knee on the asphalt of my playground nightmare. How do I keep from slipping on the same well-worn patch of fears and regrets? 

I already have my "team" of praying friends surrounding me on one project and I'm getting ready to gather up a new "team" for the next one. It's also no coincidence that right before heading into uncharted waters, God's Spirit called me to a committed time of prayer each morning. If you, reading this post, want to pray for my focus, obedience and listening to the Spirit's leading too, I would not turn down that amazing gift...ever. 

Mark Batterson writes that as we intercede for others, we need people interceding for us. I have humbly acknowledged that I can't intercede, write or do anything else without people I know and love praying for me. The same goes for you. 

So gather your "team". Sign them up to pray as you seek the discernment of the Spirit and break loose of the chains our Enemy uses to bind us and keep us quiet. My God is faithful and true. He is leading an all-out assault on the Gates of Hades and I need to stop sitting on the bench and waiting for someone to pick me.

I pick myself.

And...

I pick you!

Join my team (which is actually God's team!) and together we will find the Voice God gave us, the mission He has prepared for us, and the unending joy of a life well-lived for His glory.

Amen!

Salsa Verde

"Waste not, want not."

I am certain that phrase can originally be credited to a farmer. [Don't spoil my illusion by googling it.] I simply know that there are times when a gardener has enough tomatoes, hot peppers, onions and such to overwhelm the most savvy of all fresh-food connoisseurs. To be honest, there are also some days when the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few that the thought of blanching just one more vegetable and packing it into the freezer may actually cause mental duress.

I am grateful though. Absolutely grateful. 

The harvest has been abundant enough to share. Although it seems there is either not enough rain or far too much (as evidenced by the beautiful, non-edible mushrooms growing in my pots!)...

and because of the extreme wetness and the cramped quarters on my patio, some of my plants haven't fared well. Spending two plus hours in the hot, sticky sun today pulling up old plants, amending soil for planting new ones and pruning the non-productive tomato, cucumber and lima bean vines was I felt, enough of an accomplishment for the day.

A quick walk through the kitchen verified that my work was not done.

What to you do with tomatoes that won't ripen or were knocked off the vine during your pruning endeavors? You make salsa verde of course!

I don't have an actual recipe. I am certain there are plenty available with a quick internet search. I just tossed in the same things I would to make my yummy fresh salsa:

• tomatoes
• hot pepper
•  a little lime juice
• one minced garlic clove
• some chopped onion
• a little sea salt

No measurements, just yummy goodness. 

But, this salsa must be cooked. So it all went into a pot, I put the lid on, turned it onto medium heat, and stirred it every few minutes. Once it cooked down and everything was softened, I turned off the heat, took off the lid and threw in some chopped cilantro. [Don't miss the cilantro!]

Taste it. Does it need more salt, garlic, lime juice or cilantro? No problem. Just add a little more.

The unpredictability of a garden explosion with one vegetable and an absolute dearth of another, warrants some creativity each year. Almost two decades ago, Dale bought a book for me that has been priceless for this very reason.

Marian K. Townes' A Midwest Gardener's Cookbook  provides multiple recipes listed first by season of harvest and then by specific midwestern grown vegetables. Have more eggplants than you could ever use or give away? Just look under summer and alphabetically you'll find several uses for your bountiful harvest. [I know you can now do the same thing on Pinterest. I still like my book though.]

Whatever the answer...eating as much as you can, sharing the wealth, giving it to a food bank, utilizing the ingredients of creative recipes, freezing, canning or dehydrating...it all makes for a very busy gardening season.

**Question to self: Did I really mean it when I said I wanted to garden year round?**