Why Smokey the Bear has Issues with God

Solomon’s temple got the firestorm of God’s glory. Elijah got his sopping altar lit, and eventually a chariot of fire. The early church got baptized in tongues of flame. And then there was Sodom and Gomorrah… The Israelites got a pillar of fire by night. Abraham got a firepot in God’s covenant with him. Moses got a burning bush.
I got a long trail of overlapping matchsticks…each one burns out with just enough flash to ignite the next.
Incendiary dominoes.

I’ve been asking God to reveal his will and “call” for my life since I was about thirteen. Over a decade later, I still don’t have a large or clear answer. Maybe because I am too fond of outlines and schedules. Maybe because my perfectionism would’ve used a divine directive to strangle me. Maybe because I will die soon—who knows?
Still, I have found the direction I’ve needed to get to this point in life, doing things that (so far as I know) have honored that ethereal concept of “God’s Will.” I figure I’ll get specific as soon as He does.

In general terms, a theme that stands out in my life is communication. I remember being maybe 5 years old and my dad emphasizing that “communication is the key.” He was probably trying to get me to verbalize myself instead of getting frustrated, but communication has been a common thread throughout my life. Starting in elementary school, I’ve created skits and songs and choreography, taught children’s Bible studies, developed curricula, participated in children’s ministry and theatre and mime, even preached. These activities certainly didn’t reach beyond my immediate circles, but they filled gaps. I was the oldest child, yes, and my parent’s church involvement pushed me into plentiful opportunities, but the part I liked was not the spotlight. Overall, I wanted to communicate something worthwhile in a way that was new or different so it would grab attention, and eventually, hearts. [Please don’t interpret my lack of desire for fame as some sort of humility—I just have NO desire to deal with the hazards of notoriety and publicity.]

As for specific means of communication, I’ve always loved words. This certainly intensified as high school ended. College saw me in multiple writing classes—penning words and concepts for the sake of communication, not the hope of getting published. I especially loved metaphors and symbols and allegories because they offered some sort of tangible representation of spiritual realities.

My freshman year, I made my first collage. I loved how one picture holds so many words. I loved how the disconnected pieces merged to form a glue-bound whole. It reminded me of myself, of life. Eventually, I started combining words and pictures and metaphors and symbols. Creating collages (and creating in general) is JOY for me—and a way I connected to God.

Psalm 19:1-3 states “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night, they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” I love how God is heralded by his creation, which includes me! Creation speaks of its Creator—and the creations made by the created speak of the Creator. My contributions help communicate God.

For the purposes of this small group—and for the lack of a larger command—my idea is to create a collection of at least twenty five 8.5x11 “illustrated poems” to compile into a book-ish sort of thing. Each collage will have some sort of communicative purpose—a lesson I’ve learned or a truth that God created, and an artfully written explanation. I think I’ll call it “Snippets.”

So—what do I have in my metaphorical hand to help this project materialize? A box of old National Geographic Magazines, bottles of rubber cement, newly sharpened scissors, some cardstock, and a God who is willing to create with me.

As Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” I have often ruefully noted that it does not state that God’s word is a set of eternal streetlights or a light for the map of the rest of my existence. Overstatements aside, God does not always guide through his more dramatic methods. Maybe I’ll have had an incinerating shrub yell at me by the time I’m eighty, but until then I will follow this long trail of matchsticks…
And though I follow, we walk side-by-side.

Mary's Story

Once upon a time…there was a princess who loved to be in God’s house. She was single with a job that was very flexible that allowed her to be in God’s house and volunteer a lot, but her desire was for a source of income that would no longer restrict her from being there. Even though she had lot, she knew there was more.

So she started praying for a source of income that was not a job and would not take up her time. She prayed for about a year and God gave her the idea to start a nanny agency. She procrastinated for about another year, until God kept opening doors and putting nannies and parents across her path that she could no longer procrastinate any longer. Soon a good friend told her that she had, had this idea for over a year and she needed to put some action behind it. The final push was when she went to research nanny agencies and found a ‘Nanny Agency Conference’ (who would thought those existed) right in her own city. Sooooo there began the journey…

She continued to pursue this idea, laying a foundation, learning patience and diligence, but most of learning to rest in God even in the midst of busyness. When finally the idea had come to fruition, she had more parents and nanny matches than she could process and lots of employees were hired in the office. From the beginning she was able to delegate positions in the office of the agency to bless, not only nannies, but wonderful employees she could provide with amazing jobs. These employees loved their jobs and had a heart for what they did. There was order in the business in every area spiritually and naturally. Each employee and nanny was in the right position at the right time, with the right heart.

God prospered her and allowed this business to be run so efficiently and so well by her employees that she rarely had to be there. Her nannies loved their jobs and families were coming to the Lord as a result of these nannies influences in these homes.
As a result of this idea from God, many people were blessed with wonderful jobs that they prospered from. As a result the princess was prospering not only in her finances, but also her time. This allowed to pursue her real passion to be in her Father’s house and beyond that she was finally able to take a real vacation to Italy to lay by the Mediterranean and eat lots of pasta and gelato.

And there is a happily ever after…she did finally meet her prince who was amazing. He was very prosperous himself, however this prince was not her source, her Heavenly Father was. …And this was just the beginning of one of the many billion dollar ideas God would put in their life…

Mary's Expectations

My Expectations

Myself
· My life is in order
· I am compelled by His love – I am able to receive His love
· I am moved with compassion – able to feel
· I love expansively – no walls

· I am strong and carry out great exploits because I know my Father
· I am always in the right place at the right time, serving in the right position with the right heart and motive.
· I know how to rest in God and have a quiet confidence in Him
In returning and rest you shall be saved. Quietness (rest, settle, be still) and confidence (fully trusting in Him) is my strength. Isaiah 26: 3 NKJ

My Business
Mission Statement

My business has a strategic purpose in the Kingdom of God. I have nannies who are full of Your presence who works as unto the Lord. As a result they stand before kings they do not stand before unknown men. They have great influence in these homes. As they influence these children, these children influence these parents. The little one’s will lead their parents to you. Many families are saved as a result of the strategic placement of these nannies in these homes.

· There is order to my business and God is directing my steps
· There is no confusion. I hear the voice of the Lord, saying this is the way walk in it
· I do not get overwhelmed by new challenges in my business, I listen to the voice of the Lord, keep my mind set on Him and how He is telling me to respond. My business plan is in order.

Admired Leader by Mary

Aarron Feuerstein was the CEO, of Malden Mills, a textile mill in Malden Massachusetts. His leadership as a CEO exemplified having a heart for people that went way beyond money. Feuerstein was third generation to run this textile mill, which produced polartec. The mill was a significant source of employment for many families in the town of Lawrence and the surrounding community.

On December 11th, 1995, two weeks before Christmas, a fire devastated the mills by burning it to the ground. This was the largest fire, Massachusetts had seen in centuries. In an interview with 60 minutes, Feurstein is quoted as saying, “I was proud of the family business and I wanted to keep that alive, and I wanted that to survive. But I also felt the responsibility for all my employees, to take care of them, to give them jobs.” Art Bouly, is quoted in his news letter for Quality Monitor Newsletter, as saying, ‘Feurerstein had a conviction that the employees were the most critical asset and lived by it.’

I think for myself, I see that Feurerstein never allowed money to become the motivating factor in running his business, but always saw people as his priority. It was a love for God and people that motivated him in doing the right thing in a difficult time.

In the days following the fire, Feuerstein made a choice to take care of his employees and pay ideal employees, who were literally of no profit to him at this time, there full salary for the next three months. In all he paid out 25 million dollars in salary to his employees. When asked by 60 minutes if this ‘great moral gesture, was a wise business move’, his response was, “I think it was a wise business decision, but that isn’t why I did it. I did it because it was the right thing to do.” When asked why he did not take the $300 million in insurance money and retire, Feurstein’s response was immedietly, ‘And what would I do with eat more, buy another suit, retire and die. No that did not enter my mind. It was not an option. Not for a second.’

In the end I would love to say that the mill turned, profits increased and they were able to recover from their loss. However ultimately, in 2001 and 2003, they filed for chapter 11. Feuerstein is now 82 and owns 5% of the company. In 1996, Feurerstein is quoted as saying to Parade Magazine, "I have a responsibility to the worker both blue-collar and white-collar. I have an equal responsibility to the community. It would have been unconscionable to put 3000 people on the streets and deliver a deathblow to the cities of Lawrence and Methuen. Maybe on paper our company is worthless to Wall Street, but I can tell you it's worth more."

In Aarron Feuerstein's inheritance to his children may not be handing them down a fortune 500 company, however he is passing to them an inheritance of love for people and integrity that will be passed down through generations to come and in eternity the only thing that lasts forever is love.

hey folks! i just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your kindness and support and smallgroupness during inspire smallgroup. i loved every second of it.

...and here is the fruit!:
my first show as lluminer! you are all invited as my personal vips!
it is saturday, december 6, 11:00 am - 4 pm.
located at "the mercer" condominium / retail bldg 7650 se 27th st mercer island, 98040. it's a benefit show, hosted by sherry-anne coleman and our very own karie! each artist donates proceeds of their sales to different charities. i will be highlighting the need to support the children of northern uganda.
please feel free to visit my website for any more info www.lluminer.com.

i just love ya, therese

Admired Leader...Joseph Mohr, Author of "Silent Night, Holy Night" - JP

A leader that I greatly admire in history is Joseph Mohr, the author of the famous Christmas Carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night".

Joseph grew up in a mountain Alpine town (think Sound of Music type of town), and thier family was incredibly poor. The priest of the town recognized Josephs giftings for music and passion for God at a young age and offered to give Joseph a scholarship for schooling. During that time he was trained in the word and music. Joseph journaled often and enjoyed writing poetry.

During his service in the Alpine village, Joseph produced a poem, "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!".

Due to poor health, he was sent to Salzburg for hospitalization and when he recovered, was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf (1817). It was there that the assistant pastor met and became friends with the Arnsdorf schoolmaster and church verger, Franz Xaver Gruber, who also served as organist at St. Nicholas. On December 24, 1818, Fr. Joseph Mohr, took a 20 minute walk to Arnsdorf and changed the tenor of Christmas musical celebrations forever.

On Christmas Eve of 1818, the unfortunate situation happened...the church organ would not play. The reason for this was unkown, but in a Catholic Church, the church organ is the main instrument of accompanyment. Upon hearing the grave news, Father Joseph Mohr took his little acoustic guitar over to the house of Franz Xaver Gruber and together they added music to the beloved poem.

That evening, as families from all over the town gathered for evening mass, the first public performance of "Silent Night, Holy Night" was made...

It took a few years for the popularity to grow, but as we all know, it grew and grew and grew. A few years later, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber were assigned to various parishes, faithfully serving in ministry. Thier friendship is said to have continued through the years. Joseph spent all he had in time, energy, and resources, pouring into the youth of his region, just as one man poured into him as a young child.

I admire Joseph Mohr for his lifelong dedication to the Lord, his humility in collaborating with Franz Gruber, for his church planting heart and for his committment to raising up the next generation.

Burning Bush - JP

From the moment I became a disciple of Jesus Christ, worship was everything to me. My revelation in moving from a “follower” to a disciple happened at the Gorge Amphitheatre during Creation Festival while worship music was being played, and from then on worship seemed to be a hallmark in my relationship with God. I would often come home as a young bachelor (beyond broke), eat my top-ramen and just pace in the living room of my little apartment praying and worshiping God for hours. Then the day came when I decided to pick up the guitar. I sat down to learn how to play the song “Jesus Lover of My Soul”. It was an anthem to me at the time that fully depicted my new found life in Christ. I remember getting so frustrated that my fingers couldn’t communicate to the guitar the correct notes that needed to be played. I prayed in the spirit and begged the Holy Spirit to help me learn this one song. Once I calmed down, I was able to play the song. Beyond that, I was able to sing and play at the same time.

Fast forward a few years, and doors began to open up to assist with worship for church services, small groups, and minister in a few churches around the US. Then during a Sunday morning service at The City Church in Belltown in 2007, while Pastor Wendell was preaching, God told me that there was a Worship Revolution that would spring from the Northwest and flood the world with fresh anthems of praise and worship. This revolution would bring incredible unity to the Body of Christ, which in turn would bring about the blessings of Signs, Miracles, and Wonders. God specifically spoke to me that I was to be part of the “fore-runners” for this movement and that I would also assist in raising up the future generations in worship.