HIDE no more!

I recently came across a verse in Proverbs that I've actually read many times before but this last time it jumped off the page and grabbed me like a staked out lion pouncing on its prey. It's Proverbs 28:12 which says, "When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves." The Spanish version says, "When the righteous triumph, se hace grande fiesta" which mean, "when the righteous triumph, there's a huge party". (I love parties!)

How blessed we are to live in a country where the righteous have ruled and triumphed. While acknowledging how incredibly blessed we are, I can't help but think about the massive majority of our Earth's population who live in hiding because the wicked have ruled/are ruling....forced to go hungry, forced into slavery and sex trade, forced to steal and kill, forced to follow man-made religions, never given chances to experience any kind of quality of life. My heart hurts for them! Our planet has an abundance of resources, enough to abundantly care for every individual alive. And never before has it been so easy and possible to leverage those resources the way it is possible today.

As the Lord continues to shake my world views as well as my views of who He is and isn't, I feel compelled to chase Him and His heart more and more! And while I continue to discover how awesome yet imperfect my earthly father is, I'm discovering how radically different and perfect my real Father is. His heart is for His people!

As we rest in Him and walk in the truth that His son desperately wants to live through us, may our hearts be for His people! May the righteous rule and may men hide no more!!

Two to Tango!

The story of Bob and Jane’s life together in the reflection of their desire to TANGO.

Author unknown…

Bob and Jane were from different parts of the world. At some point in each of their lives, they both fell in love with dancing....specifically the "tango". They had both seen people who knew how to tango REALLY well. There weren’t many people they knew that could tango well but they knew that it was possible to tango and to make it the most beautiful thing imaginable! They both actually tried the tango a few times but never really "got it". They both dreamed about doing the tango really well someday. They both secretly practiced alone in their free time. They read books about the tango. They watched other people tango.
One day Bob met a girl named Jane. They quickly discovered that they BOTH had a strong desire to someday be amazing tango dancers. They decided they wanted to learn together and their goal became to dance the tango in the most spectacular way possible. Why?...a couple of reasons; One, they both felt SO alive when they were dancing 'together' instead of dreaming alone. Two, they knew that they could be an amazing example to others as to how the tango was supposed to be. Three, a partnership that in tuned with one another is a force to be reckoned with!
SO, they both set out to learn together the tango. They both had fears because neither of them really knew each other. Bob feared stepping on Jane’s toes and making Jane mad. Could Bob trust Jane to have the grace to forgive his learning mistakes? What if Bob dropped her. Could Jane trust Bob not to hurt her? So, instead of jumping straight into the tango, Bob and Jane decided to first get coffee together. After enjoying coffee together for several weeks and they decided that they could indeed trust each other. But there were still things to figure out. Like how to encourage and challenge each other, how each other’s bodies move and work, how to connect with each other’s rhythm, etc. So Bob and Jane decided again, instead of jumping straight into the tango, they would start with the "two step". Soon they were dancing the two step and it was actually working. BUT....Jane discovered that the only way it worked was if she was communicating with Bob as to what worked and what did not work. She also found that Bob MUST have the courage to be the leader. Then as Bob “manned-up” and led, she knew she must follow. After much time, they begin attempting the tango. They worked hard. They were committed. They fell and they dropped each other but they pushed on and pushed on and they got coaching and counseling and after much work....
the most unbelievable thing happened....they were doing the TANGO. After much blood, sweat and tears, it was the most fluid, beautiful, sexy, thing ever!! …as if they were ONE on the dance floor! On lookers were amazed at such beauty! Bob and Jane went on to atonish huge crowds. Bob and Jane also went on to teach thousands of people how to enjoy this journey called the TANGO.

May we strive to tango!

Monkey in the pot everyday!

I was on a trip with Steve Saint back in the fall and I heard him tell a story that I can’t seem to shake. Several years ago Steve was in Ecuador having dinner with Grandfather Mincaye and some of the other Waodani people. That day a monkey had been killed which meant only one thing….feast! Absolute feast! Killing a monkey down in the Ecuadorian jungle is not exactly an easy thing to do. Especially when the population is not exactly booming with the critters. Sometimes it may be several months before any monkeys are even sighted. So this night, everyone was stoked to be eating a high protein, energy filled substance. Around the fire, discussion of heaven began. I’m not sure exactly what that conversation looked like but I’m guessing it was Steve explaining to the people his best interpretation of heaven. I’ve always loved the sound of heaven; gold streets, pearly white gates, mansions, but how do you explain all that to people who have never walked on streets before, people who have never passed through gates and people who enjoy the simplicity of sleeping in a hand made hammock made from hand picked raw materials. I actually would have loved to been there to hear how that conversation progressed. But progress it did and with Mincaye’s wisdom, he finally explained to everyone, “heaven is going to be like monkey in the pot everyday”. Wow! Monkey in the pot everyday!! Imagine something that you long for, something that you really need, something that makes you feel so good yet it’s so hard to find and when you find it you know in just a short time it will be gone again. And then imagine having that something everyday for the rest of eternity. It’s actually kind of hard to imagine because we, as Americans, have so much at our finger tips. But in it’s most simple form; heaven is going to be eternal fulfillment! Heaven is going to be amazing! Heaven is going to be everything we hope it to be and probably nothing like we think it to be!

Dave Votemann, who was riding with Steve and I, made another point that also had a lasting impression. As he was listening to Steve’s story that day, he spoke up and said, “I was having lunch with Mother Teresa one day”. You gotta love a story that starts like that! He went on to explain how much Mother Teresa loved the thought of spending eternity in heaven. She went on and on about how amazing it’s going to be to actually see our Creator, to actually be reunited with our Creator, to know that we are finally back home where we belong. She went on and on about heaven but ended by saying, “Heaven will be amazing, but there’s a part of me that wishes our Creator would have never disclosed to us just how awesome heaven will be. So many people serve out of obligation, striving to reach this perfect place called heaven”. Mother Teresa went on to say, “I wish we all would serve one another out of a genuine love and not out of religion/duty and obligation”.

Personally, I hope heaven is “monkey in the pot everyday”! It’s going to be a party I’m sure! But, whatever heaven turns out to be, may we live each and every day knowing that we are loved by the creator of the universe and he has called us to the greatest task of all time….LOVE!

Peace!?

Is peace a feeling? We spend so much time thinking, talking and worrying about how we 'feel'. I recently realized that Jesus rarely talked (talks) about feelings. He rarely told stories about how we should feel. He, himself, rarely spoke about how he felt.

Instead, He spoke about truth. We're asked to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds" (Rom 12:2). In the book of Proverbs it says "...as a man thinketh, so is he". We're asked to 'think on whatever is true' (Phil 4:8). Just before we're asked to 'think on whatever is true', we're promised that a peace that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds (Phil 4:7).

I'm convinced that that peace that passes all understanding is not a feeling but a knowing. It's a knowing that God is who He promises. It's a knowing that God is in 100% control. It's a knowing that God is writing our stories and the next chapter is already planned. I'm convinced that as we rest in the knowledge of our perfect Father, a feeling of true peace will rest in us.

I love the chapter of life I'm in right now! It's by no means the easiest. It's a chapter that's forcing me to engage every aspect of who I am....especially my mind. "As a man thinketh, so is he. If a man has stopped thinking, he is less than a man. He becomes material for the thoughts of other men." (Richard Pearcey)

May we hold firm to who we are in Christ. May we trust God as we walk when there seems to be no light. May we believe that our Creator is in complete control. May we come to realize that peace is not a feeling, but a knowing!


Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Phil 4:8)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom 12:2)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)

My first bit of jive

So I'm long past due on the blog thing! If somehow I can transfer all my journal entries over the past ten years to blog post....

As I fall deeper and deeper in love with coffee, it seems only natural to incorporate it somehow in my blog name. The "jive" part....umm, not sure where that came from. Probably from a file in that part of the brain that's not really ever used! ...so "coffee jive" it is!

My ambition here is to keep you guys, my friends and family, up-to-date without boring you out of your gord! As my Creator has brought me to an interesting place in life, I feel challenged and stretched more than possibly ever. In this interesting time, my ambition is to also pass along some of the things I'm being taught.

Feel free to agree, disagree or even challenge my jive!

Viva la coffee (jive)!