Voice of Truth

Today was a really relaxing day; as far as busy-ness, inexistent, pressure, illegitimate. Yet it was still a challenge to simply find that motivation to spend time with Jesus. You know, the way I did during the Bible distribution days in Alexandroupolis where I was praying over every person, doorway, gateway and house pet I saw and touched. I have not felt that close to God many times in my life besides spending a day in verbal communication and also reliance on Him.

Today I was sidetracked by Facebook when I promised a 1-day fast and then I was Skyping a friend when I made mental arrangements to grab my Bible for a bit.
All of a sudden it was about 4:15 and I needed to shower still and meet my Papa for dinner at 5pm.

It is honestly annoying to think that after an intense 6-month discipleship program that finding time to spend in the Word, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE, seems like discipleship in itself. A demonstration of Grace that I wish I didn't need and supremely unnecessary really. I mean c'mon, the first second you open your Bible up to the Psalms you're falling in love all over again and if you read more than one chapter in the Gospels you feel like Jesus just paid for you salvation all over again. So why is it that watching tv, which I swore away today, and the interest of the online social world is so...effective. Blah!

THE KICKER: Although a blessing beyond expectations, a gift really, a couple young adults at my church that are new friends to me want to evangelize in town. They are on fire for God and I would never want anything different. They certainly seem to be brave and going for it! I feel like they are a gift from Heaven, and they are. I want to spend this season of rest not being lazy but resting in the Lord. This does not mean a vacation from who I was in Hawaii and Greece but a vacation from the very typical over-busy-bee.

So, why was is so heart-stopping to answer "yes" to this question: "Hey do you want to pass out Tracts at homecoming?"

I definitely front about not caring about what people think, especially people that are here in town. Its a small place I have been away from for about 5 years now--weekend visits and intermittent working summers don't really count. All these criticisms snuck in and I began to listen to these voices of intimidation and mitigation. Thoughts that asked me if I wanted to be that person in town, poking at my "image" that would be marked by a Jesus freak label.

This old self of mine took over for a bit and I felt something start to back down. That is, until I brought this micro-fear into the light and confessed to a friend. And she said, 'Yeah, that's out of my comfort zone, too. But God's grace always seems to intensify in those moments.' HOW COULD I FORGET TO CONSIDER THAT GOD'S GRACE IS ON MY SIDE? And where was I putting my trust? In myself, all over again. Praise the Lord this didn't last.

I left my grandparent's house after the Giants kicked the Dogers out of the playoffs, woot!, and heard an old classic song on my care radio, The Voice of Truth (inserted above for your listening pleasures). It's an oldie but goodie.

It made me ask, "Really, whose voice was I listening to?"

THE VOICE OF TRUTH SAYS:

You have discovered my Love for yourself and truly want it for everyone else.
You have found your worth and your identity in Me, the King of Kings.
I am not asking you to paint a rosie picture of Christianity in the WORLD, just love those that will listen.
There are definitely not as many people watching your every move, criticizing it, and painting the town red with who you have become. And if they were, it would say "She loves Jesus and she wants you to find security in Heavenly storehouses." Is that so bad, after all??

Listen to the voice of truth, it comes from God and not from a critical place. Anything critical, throw it out the window. Especially if its coming form your own thought life!
Relax, the Father has it all taken care of. Find your identity, your backing in the Lord of the universe. Problems solved.

Gracefully and always humbled,
B

Athens: Ministry + Vacation

Athens was much on the contrary to what we were warned about: pick-pockets and trash, ugly urban is what I expected. We must have been walking in SO MUCH grace and protection from the Lord.
I did not see much trash, was never approached let alone robbed and we had a lovely time.




We were scheduled for about 5 days of ministry before our time for "debrief" began but it was really hard not to slink into a mode of vacation in our 5-star hotel with a roof-top pool and wrap-around balcony view of the Acropolis and Parthenon.




We read the entire New Testament through in a couple days, reading a few hours in the morning and a couple in the evening. I spent some time updating our team finances and making sure we were all balanced out before we shipped off a nice gift to the church back in Thessaloniki. That was fun!

The train ride was really fun although it took just as long as the non-express route was supposed to take. I had a good nap and an amazing conversation with one of my team leaders, just talking about life and stumbling upon revelations over our time of outreach. It is amazing the things that come to mind when I talk to this lady! We are so similar yet so different, but the similarities sure matter and bring us together!

Church the next morning was incredible! Just like going for coffee with a Greek is a 3 hour process, church was a 4 hour one I recall. The church was so diverse with a Greek pastor and who had an African wife. There were Asains, Africans, Greeks and some of us miscellaneous white folk all in one church. I really felt at home, like I was at church in Sacramento at BOSS. The message was wonderful- I wrote about 4 pages of notes because everything talked about was so such of cool revelation! I love when that happens.

The ladies of the church were a delight. We came to the church one day to help on their day of iCare which was a day of giving away free school supplies, children's clothes and haircuts. What a blessing to provide haircuts! That is such a personal delight to feel cared for enough for a fresh 'do. Some of the youngin's were not so keen on the loud and scary sounds of the electric clippers but then again they were not so keen on the crazy elongated sharp scissors either.

We also went to the church for a sort of work day where half of us re-labeled water bottles with the hotline information for reporting Human and Sex Trafficking in Athens. This is through the organization A21 that I have mentioned before (We interviewed them for a future video project on Thessaloniki and/or Greece). The other half of us emptied out a storage room that has a full wall of windows so we could cover them with paper so the outside world does not see their storeroom. It was sweaty and hot, a given in a Greek summer, but 11 additional women to the women of the church sure made the work a light load. 

Friday evening we met up with members of the church and clad ourselves in lime-green shirts with a Greek phrase on it along the lines of, 'Be her friend..." and the hotline number on the back. We handed out at least 250 water bottles with the hotline information as well as countless info cards that have a second rip-off card on them to share along with bumper stickers and another informational sheet. Let's just say, that a good amount of folks were definitely informed that day. 

Informing the general public about the existence and prevalence of Sex Trafficking, especially in Greece, is so important. I wish I was kicking the pimps in the you know where but that is unrealistic, dangerous and does not put a dent in the cycle. Stop watching porn, do not pay for a prostitute. This will change things. And many do not think it is a real problem or think it doesn't happen in their 'backyard.' America has outrageous rates and Sacramento, California is one of the biggest ports in America for Sex Tourism and Trafficking. (Google has MANY sources for this). 

On a lighter note, we were so safe in Athen I almost wonder why we had so many cautious warnings: do not take a purse out with you, do not stay out later than sunset, do not show your money, there are professional pick-pockets who will slit the bottom of your purse...I know it was God's grace. We stayed in a nice area and had lots of favor wherever we went. I did not see one sketchy scene or once feel uncomfortable. 

Finally, we made it to a GREEK ISLAND! The island of Aegina was gorgeous! It is no Santorini but being a Monday it was superbly quiet and going against the pattern of casual tourists, we asked if there was another beach within walking distance. Alas, a simple 10 minute walk to the other side of a hill opened up to a nearly private ocean front to a rocky-bottom shore line filled with turquoise water! it was immediately met by deep navy blue water and had I had goggles I could guarantee that it was the sea-floor dropping into the Mediterranean. Except for the one gal that treated our find as a nude beach, with her 5-yr-old son, we had the best near-private access to the Aegean Sea!

Checklist Ministry: A Beggar, Dignified

AUGUST 14: TUESDAY EVENING

With a new fire lit inside us after our pastoral visit from our PhotogenX school leader, Jonathan Zerkle, we set out in small groups of 2's and 3's with a hefty checklist of ministry goals. We were told not to come home for dinner and/or to the Network Community Church until we had done everything on the list. As a very goal-oriented person, I was thrilled! Sometimes you just need a little push and something particular to work towards.
So Chelsea and I set out together to get the 'job' done. We prayed for grace and fun. God spoke to Chelsea reminding her that if the opportunity for something important like a prayer of salvation or a more in-depth time of ministry to ace the check-list.
Our first item on the list completed was praying for the city from a "historical" place and then we read all of 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Philippians at a Greek Orthodox church. Then we headed up to the Rotunda to pray at our second historical place. We also met the requirement of simply talking to Thessalonians several times as we asked for directions.
On our way to the 'Needle Point' Tower, a tower 5 stories tall that over looks the entire city from hillside-to-ocean, I saw down the street from Kamara a beggar that I had seen before. So Chelsea and I headed over after nodding in agreement we should of course "minister" to him.

I asked if he spoke English, our default first question to nearly every person we meet. He did not seem to respond a lot but also seemed to understand. I pointed to the cross on his necklace and showed my hands folded in prayer, asking if we could pray for him. He was hesitant at first but with Chelsea's enthusiasm and additional hand signals he agreed to prayer. I reached for his hand to hold and we saw his face light up. You see, when we had begun talking with him he was so slouched over you could not see his face as it was pointed into his lap touching his chest, his hands stretched out to receive. But by time I held his hand he was beginning to perk up. Chelsea saw the emotion in his face stir and warm up.

I then did what I have never felt comfortable or had reason to do before: I grabbed my big camera from my purse, pointed at it, and asked to take his photo. "Click, click" and a thumbs up sign and a "OK?" were the series for permission. I took three photos and showed them to him.  This was the breaking point. He began to smile his toothless smile and sit up even straighter.

Chelsea took a turn taking photos and I continued to smile at him. I could see him returning to a state of dignity perhaps he carried long ago. I remember Susi Childers, our PhotogenX school founder and Photography 1 instructor, telling us similar stories. She pointed out how asking to take the photo of someone who is normally regarded so lowly can give a sense of worth. As people carry their cameras to historical landmarks, important events, concerts, political events, birthday parties and graduations, we photograph and keep as a memory things of value. When a homeless person, who sees a great deal of folks photographing important things, becoming the subject of interest he definitely understood we thought him important, too.
Walking away I really felt kindred to the ministry of Jesus. He would have done just what we did. Perhaps he did not have 5 euro to give back then, but as I held his hand, prayed to our Father for him, I felt the purpose of the Prince of Peace. Full of joy!