I Saw God Today...

"I will be with you."

2007-04-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

I was gone today. I'm home for a few days, and we spent the day in a city just north of us - taking my dad to the doctor. I got a haircut, and then we went to lunch and came home.

Upon arriving at home, I started flipping through the channels, and found the news. "30+ dead in Virginia Tech Shooting."

What? How horrific, how horrible, terrible, shocking, sad, and horrendous! I think I'm still in shock.

I began reading on one of my forums I take part in - seeing the posts as the news came in throughout the day. I just can not believe it. I had flashbacks of the Columbine shooting (I was working in our local school system at the time.)

I sit now, realizing people will wonder... Where is God in this?

I had to struggle with that answer myself, but I was reminded of the verse from Isaiah. Isaiah 43:2 - "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

I do not see God in the shooting itself. I believe God to be hurting. When I read that verse - I believe God to be with us during this tragedy. Bringing together people from around the school, the community, and across the nation.

That's where God is now. God is sitting with us - mourning the loss and healing the wounded. God is with the doctors, the families, and God will be with us in the coming days.

I pray tonight for the families and friends of those who died. I pray tonight for the community of Virginia Tech - it's students, faculty and staff - and the surrounding community. I pray for the doctors, nurses, and other emergency staff that dealt with and will be dealing with this tragedy today. I pray for all of us affected by this tragedy. I pray for all who deal with tragedy everyday. May God be with us in our times of trouble.

Looking for God

2007-04-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Looking for God, admittedly can sometimes be hard.

I resigned from my position this week. It was a mutual decision, but it's been a difficult week.

Then one place I expect find God - a forum I'm on - has a section on it that has several threads that have broken into not a discussion about current events, but rather an argument about politics and who's party is better, "big" media, etc...

How can we as Christians show God's love to the world, when we have so much dissension amongst ourselves?

So, yes - it certainly can be hard to find God somedays.

Intensive Care

2007-03-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

I saw an Intensive Care Unit nurse this week talking to a family member of a patient. The family member was having a difficult time seeing her parent following surgery. She couldn't understand what the problems were, and was full of anxiety seeing all the tubes, wires and machines hooked up to her parent.

The nurse, almost instinctively began talking - in a very calm, relaxing voice - to this family member. She explained what each machine was doing, what exactly they were watching and looking for. It immediately eased the family member's mind, putting her at ease.

I saw God in that nurse that night.

Love Thy Neighbor

2007-03-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

So I have been not posting lately. I apologize. There's been a lot going on personally, and this is a discipline I need to keep up with.

I saw a video today that reminds me how much I need to do this...

Through the Eyes of a Child...

2007-01-26T20:21:00.000-08:00

Today I was riding the "LRT" (Light Rail Transportation - Minneapolis' Public Train system) to work. A few seats in front of me, there was a father with his 2 young children, maybe 2 and 4 years old. The whole ride, the little girl (the older one) was looking through the window at all the buildings that passed. "Is that mommy's work? Where's mommy's work? What kind of building is that?"

I smiled, wondering what life would be like if were all like children. Looking at the world through curious eyes - everything new and everything exciting.

I saw God in that girl. Everything was wonderful. Life was good.

Listen Carefully to Those Songs...

2007-01-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Our youth choir sang as part of the Sunday morning worship on Christmas eve. They have been focusing this year on popular secular songs that have a Christian message. The song they sang on that Sunday was a song I've heard many times, but I guess I just haven't listened carefully enough.

"Better Days" by the Goo-Goo Dolls

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

And it's someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

2006-12-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

I was coming home last night, and was walking down the sidewalk between the houses that leads to my entrance to my apartment, and I looked up at the sky.

It was a crisp, cold night, and a perfectly clear sky. When I looked up, I saw the constellation Orion, shining brightly and clearly - perfectly framed between the 2 houses. It was amazing. I'm talking dead center, just above the garages at a perfect 45 degree angle. Not to mention the fact that I live in a big city with lots of lights, so it's not often I see stars that bright.

Sometimes we just need to look in obvious places.

Impact

2006-12-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

So during the pageant rehearsal today, one of the youth in my youth group asked the director "Why do you do this? You like 80 screaming kids running around wild?"

The director answered.

"You know, I love kids. I love this church. And, well, I just want to make an impact."

Indeed he does. That director teaches 3rd grade in the Sunday School. He's the director of the Youth Choir. He's in the choir.

I believe God is working through him.

Making an Impact.

Obvious Places...

2006-12-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

Recent events in my life led me this week to a point where I told God "I just don't see you at work in my life right now. I need to feel your presence. I believe that you are there, I'm just not seeing you right now."

Last night, I called a friend to talk about one of these events and how I'm feeling. She called back at 11 o'clock to talk. Her husband was downstairs yet, and she had just gotten ready for bed when she remembered that I had called her earlier, so she decided to call. I said "it's late, we'll talk another time." But she wanted to know...

So we talked for an hour and a half.

Sometimes we just don't look in the obvious places for God do we? Thank God for friends.

Passing the Faith

2006-12-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

As I was standing in church yesterday, singing the opening hymn... I noticed the young girl in front of me standing next to a family friend's little boy. She's in 6th grade, he's like in Kindergarten.

She had the hymnal open in front of them, and was leaning over pointing out the words, and helping him sing the hymn.

I later saw her mother do the same with the bulletin with her. How cool to see a kid wanting to pass the faith on to someone younger. She was not only involved in worship - but guiding someone younger than her in worship as well.

I sensed God at work at that moment. God's presence was there.

Mature Youth

2006-11-29T15:06:00.000-08:00

I had an opportunity to meet with a group of people this past weekend talking about youth ministry. They had 2 youth as part of the group.

What was great was how aware of spiritual development the youth were in that group. They knew that some kids may not come to a youth group if it's too much about faith. They knew that some kids are more into their faith than others. They knew that a church should have a youth program rooted in faith.

I saw God at work there - they're aware of God's presence.

"When did we see you homeless?"

2006-11-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

There is a retired minister in our congregation with an amazing passion. His love for God, following Jesus, loving others - is clear. His passion for social justice is played out with housing issues here in the metro area, and elsewhere.

Tonight, he brought to the church council meeting, an opportunity for the church to support an alliance of many organizations statewide - that are in favor of legislation that will raise new funds to do more to help alleviate the housing crisis in Minnesota.

This brought out a wonderful discussion amongst those gathered there tonight - representatives of several of the committees of the church who gather every other month to further the ministry of the church, sharing things that are happening and coordinating the business of the church. Not legal, daily business - but rather, ministry business. Programs and such.

We spent some time sharing viewpoints and facing the issue before us. Clearly a social justice issue and a solution - or at least an aid - to the issue. Discussion was held around should the church support something political without the entire congregation sharing in that decision. It's legal - it's not a partisan issue - and something needs to be done. Pros and cons and other options were presented.

In the end - without any anger, disrespect, or bad feelings - the council decided to speak for the church and support the legislation.

How did I see God? I heard powerful words - that this is an opportunity to take action on something that we are called to do. I saw care for others feelings, both on the council and for the congregation - what if someone in the church doesn't support this surcharge?

But most of all - I saw a group of people see Jesus homeless, and they took a step towards giving him a home.

Are you sure these are 4th-6th Graders?

2006-11-15T20:21:00.000-08:00

Tonight - I stopped by to visit the 4th to 6th grade class that's part of our Wednesday program.

They were having a discussion about God. Not just any "God loves you" discussion - but an in depth, heart of who God is - discussion.

The teacher is talking about prayer with them, and was talking about how you can't alter God.

Suddenly there are questions that are very, very deep and thought out.

Questions about "if we worship God using the cross - can the cross become an idol?" and talking about if you can destroy God - by destroying the "ideal of God." That is - if someone were to wipe out all remnants of God, and/or all people who believe in God - would that destroy God.

These were amazing questions. AMAZING.

And here I thought 4th-6th graders want to play games!

okay - so maybe I didn't see God there - but I saw faith. Kids with faith and learning about that faith and who God is.

He Gets It!

2006-11-08T22:15:00.000-08:00

The Worship Chair for the youth group choir our church has, tonight led devotions after rehearsal. He had attended the Youth Council meeting this week and saw a different style of devotions - one not from scripture - but rather sharing a story from the week.

When devotions time came up, he mentioned that experience. He said "So, for devotions tonight I want people to share a time they saw God this week." He explained that it could be in a person, or some time you "felt" God.

That was cool. He gets it. He understands that God is bigger than the Bible. God is bigger than what we, as humans, make God to be.

I think he gets it.

The Air I Breathe

2006-11-04T22:13:00.000-08:00

Another moment of God at work at JUMYS...

This is one of those that I've come to recognize more easily now. I don't know if it's truly God or my reaction - but my faith and past experience says... it's God.

One of my favorite "praise and worship" songs is "This is the Air I Breathe." Now I'm not usually a fan of praise and worship songs. I like the style of music - no doubt there... but I usually don't agree theologically. Am I some great theologian? No - but it's not what I grew up - and they either leave me going "huh?" or feeling like I'm missing something.

This song does not do that. This song moves me almost every time.

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence
Living, in me.

And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm lost without you.

This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word
Spoken to me.

And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm lost without you.

This is the air I breathe.

So, we've just had communion and I'm starting my prayer... "Lord, please fill me up and let me know of your presence..." and I hear "This is the air I breathe..." start up.

That causes me to stop my prayer, open my eyes, and look up to see God.

God Sightings - 11.04.06

2006-11-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

I'm at a statewide gathering of Junior High Youth. One would think I would see God here right?

Well, yeah - you're right.

I went to a workshop with my youth group boys today. Bridging the Gap from Jr. Hi to Sr. Hi. One of the persons leading it? A Senior High youth. This kid was great. He led discussion well (a little quiet - but good job.) He engaged with each kid in the circle, he answered questions - and he did it openly and honestly. He said he'd be one of the kids on the sideline at home and school - the quiet ones with the hood on.

Yet today - he earned the respect of those kids today. It was good - he brought the message home.

I saw God in that kid today.

Welcome!

2006-11-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

This blog is here to share moments, places, or people where I saw God.

I believe that many people do not have a belief in God because when people tell them who God is, or what God is like - that does not fit their belief or view about who God would be.

I believe that many people have a belief in a higher being or spirit, but because of past experiences with or in the church - they either don't believe it to be, or won't call it God.

I think it is. I think God is bigger than any of us can describe or even imagine. I think God is made known to us in many, many ways.

I hope to share on this blog some of those times I've seen God. Maybe it was through someone, or I felt God's presence at a certain place, or God at work at a certain time.

I'll share that with you. And together - maybe we'll see God.