My New French Press

This is kind of a funny story. I apologize in advance if you don't see the humor in it...

When Joel and I first started hanging out in Columbia, MO I was living with this girl Chaleece. She was my first college roommate and boy was she crazy. By crazy I mean, crazy. She would listen to Disney songs on her computer, and when I would walk in the room to talk her, she'd be sitting at her computer desk, waving her hands (and whole body really) to the song, singing, and clapping along...crazy. But I loved her anyway. Anyway, Joel and I would hang out about twice a week, and I was smitten with him. I'd come home after our non-dates and tell her all about it. From the beginning she said, "You guys are going to get married." To which I replied, "unlikely." Things went on like this for a bit until I decided I wasn't going to like Joel any more because he kept dating other girls and I couldn't handle it. After 2 years, Chaleece and I decided to move to different places in CoMO. We still chatted every now and then. She graduated and moved back to Indiana, where she now resides. I was finishing up college, and we all know what happened...Joel and I got married pretty quickly. I called her as Joel and I were heading to the B&B to tell her that I had in fact married Joel. She said, "I told you." Funny.

Anyway, back to the french press. This March when Joel and I went back to the states, mom told me that a package had come just a few weeks ago for me. It was from Chaleece, it was a congrats you got married/Happy Anniversary package. Low and behold there was a french press in it. Mom sent that package to me in Okinawa. I received yesterday. So exciting! This morning I made my first cup of coffee with it...Boy, its AMAZING! I don't think I'll even use a regular coffee pot again.

So, I think its only fair to give a shout out to Chaleece.

Resurrection

I just bought the book, "Surprised by Hope," by N.T. Wright. I am first off, amazed at this guys sheer intelligence. Sometimes I have to read a section a few times to truly understand what he's talking about. Secondly, the information in this book is vital, I think, for Christians in today's society who hold a Gnostic way of thinking, ie., the purpose of being a Christian is to go to heaven when you die. In this thinking, death isn't conquered, it is merely a spiritual thing. But the Bible, in Romans 8:18-25 and Revelation 21&22, clearly state otherwise. The Christian view should be this:

that "what the creator God has done in Jesus Christ, and in his resurrection, is what he intends to do for the while world-meaning by world, the entire cosmos with all its history."


Here are some quotes about redemption and resurrection that I really like from this book.

"Redemption doesn't mean scrapping what's there and starting again from a clean slate but rather liberating what has come to be enslaved."

"What creation needs is neither abandonment nor evolution but rather redemption and renewal; and this is both promised and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is what the whole world's waiting for."


I haven't yet finished the book. As I said above, its challenging for me to wrap my mind around some of the things he is talking about, mostly I think, because its new for me. I can't remember one sermon that I've heard about the TRUE Easter message, meaning, the implications of Jesus resurrection on the world, and more so, the implications in my life NOW.

"No Place Like Home"

Spring tradition in Okinawa is to hang up these carp banners.

Here in Okinawa the season in changing into spring. The sun shines making the temperature around 75 degrees and with every few days comes a warm gentle rain. The trees and flowers are blooming. The smell of cut grass and BBQ hangs in the air. Its truly beautiful.

Last night Joel and I walked on the beach for sunset. I am still amazed at the Japanese people. They know how to throw a party; they're always with family and friends chillin', eatin', and drinkin'. What a good life. Anyway, the sunset was gorgeous last night. There wasn't much wind so the ocean was calm. It reflected the pink and orange sunlight like a mirror, a perfect replica of the real deal. We walked almost silently in the dusk, semi-humid night thinking about life.

Joel told me how this weather, spring, reminds him of home; the fond memories of growing up and playing outside and being with people who you love. It made me too start thinking of home. Okinawa is an extraordinary place full of beauty and life, but Dorthy says it best when she says, " There's no place like home."

Hobbies

Well. Right now I am actively trying to decide what hobby I want to take up. As most know, I don't "do" much of anything during the day; I am a house wife with all that that entails. Joel has been reminding me that its not what I "do" that defines me. I usually have to remind him of this fact. Still though, I feel I need something else to do, something that shows accomplishment...I don't know. Anyway. I've kind of decided I'm going to start painting and drawing. Drawing is something that comes easy for me, so I'll probably revert to it most of the time. Painting is something that fascinates me, but I've always been to afraid to really branch out in it. I guess we'll see how this goes. I actually going to the store today to look at supplies.

Your Kingdom Come

Help us to bring your kingdom. Help us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. Guard our hearts and minds. Restore us to Yourself through Jesus.

Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
forever and ever.
Amen.

It starts with God first, seeing him rightly and as the only perfect and holy one.



YOUR kingdom come. YOUR KINGDOM come. YOUR kingdom COME. your KINGDOM come. your KINGDOM COME. your kingdom COME. YOUR KINGDOM COME.

Restoration
Newness of life
No more sorrow
No more pain
Hunger ceases
Need ceases
Justice reigns
Mercy reigns
Peace reigns
Sin is NO more
Death is NO more
Joy forever
Worship of God forever
Hearts healed

God's kingdom comes when you:
give to the poor.
stand up for righteousness and against injustice.
study hard and don't cheat on exams.
are honest at work.
work hard.
wait patiently in traffic.
befriend a neighbor
humbly ask Jesus for help.
show kindness.
forgive.
resist temptation.
tithe.
repent.
pray.
help those in need.
are generous.




Bring your kingdom to earth O God. Bring your kingdom to my continent. to my country. to my city. to my house. to my husband. to my heart.

YOUR KINGDOM COME.


COME.


COME

Back From Outer Space

Joel and I have made it back to Okinawa safely. Our journey back here wasn't as eventful as the journey going. I think we're alright with that though. Being back is an interesting thing; its good to be back at OUR home, with OUR things, and OUR space, but there just seems to be something or should I say someones missing. OUR family and friends are now so far away, which stinks. Sometimes I wish I could meld the two worlds. I mean, I LOVE living on a tropical island and having a home here, but I truly miss my family and people who know me. The Lord surely knows what He's doing though. I love that about God; he always has a purpose.

We're on our way!!

I probably should be sleeping right now. We've finally made it out of Okinawa on a Space-A flight. I really don't think Air Force planes are in a hurry to get anywhere, 21 hours layovers here, 24 hours layovers there...geesh! The good news though if that we are closer to "home" than we have been in a while. Just the thought gets me super excited. I think the best part about it is that we're doing it for minimal expense; normally flights to the states cost about $1500 per ticket. We're going to make it out at less than $1500 for the whole trip! Super exciting!

Anyway. We are in Guam for who knows how long (they say up to 21 hours), then we are onto Hawaii for 24 hours (there are worse places to be), then Travis AFB in CA, then who knows...We are still trying to figure out how we're going to get to STL. We're taking one flight at a time and trying to roll with it. As I type, Joel is curled up on the floor in the museum part of the terminal. Its probably not "legal," but as Joel said to me, "There are higher security places out there..." I guess its all part of the adventure. It still stresses me out a bit, not knowing where/when we're taking our next flight, nap, or meal, but its worth it.

By the way, the plane we just flew on was HUGE! There were 10 passengers (ourselves included) in a space about the size of a normal kitchen. Then behind the "crew bunks" there is just nothing. Our bags were on one pallet and the rest of the plane was empty and went on forever. I found this out because I forgot something in my bag so I just went to get it in the back part of the plane...more high security...not.