Lazarus

"Lord, the one you love is sick." - Lazarus' sisters.

"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going [to Judea] to wake him up." - Jesus

Jesus was returning to Judea where he was previously chased out, narrowly escaping being stoned for his friend, Lazarus.
I want to know more about Lazarus and Jesus! It sounds like they were really good friends.

This is the story that holds the well known shortest verse in the Bible.  "Jesus wept."

He was weeping for his friend Lazarus, even though he knew he was about to raise him to life. Jesus still wept for his death, for the pain that it caused Lazarus's sisters and friends. For the fact that he was out of town when Lazarus died. It says Jesus was 'deeply moved in spirit and troubled,' Jesus was overcome with emotion.
 The point is, Jesus feels for people in pain, even if the pain is something he is moments away from healing, even when there is undeniable hope, his love for us means he feels our pain and it reassures us that he is with us. He's with us for the hard yards, not just up for quick fixes.

And I love it when Jesus says, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Its just like a little picture of the gospel or salvation, or God making things right. An encouraging reminder that death was conquered.
I like this as a metaphor -- being raised to life but still having to remove the grave clothes. Being brought into a relationship with God and still learning to deal with your personal flaws and grow a godly lifestyle. Really diggin' it.

Jewishness

I already have a massive respect for Jews. Maybe mostly cos I really like Jesus. But also cos I dig Jewish history and writing. Its funny how you kinda start to inherit that stuff when you become a Christian. You learn to like Jewish poetry and culture and then you start claiming Jewish promises, too.

I recently finished reading 'Night' by Elie Wiesel. Eliezer was 15 when he went to his first concentration camp in 1944 along with his Father. They were separated from the rest of his family.

The Kaddish is a Jewish prayer for the dead. Many were saying this prayer on their own behalf at these camps.

I couldn't help but wonder exactly what Elie himself was wondering at that time. "Where was God?"
Not that I don't think God was there, but I'm really curious about how God responded to the prayers of those people. Those who were so faithful, yet who don't share a messiah with me. I can't bring myself to say that they weren't 'saved.' But I know they were not Christian and they didn't believe on Jesus.
What will their conversation with God be like at the end of our days?

People dying in the most hopeless circumstances, but still holding onto faith. Trusting in Yaweh but not in Jesus Christ. What does this mean? This is burning in my heart right now.

I hate focusing on the idea of 'who's in and who's out' because I don't think that's really a good approach to life in general, but I just wonder what people think about this. I wonder if I'm a fool for struggling with this. Is it simple? Did they all simply die without a saviour? Or was this the kind of tragedy something Jesus died for?

Weary beans

Some days you get to the end of the day and you realise you just need a hug.

Just a little thinking

Sometimes I just think, I can never be bothered with anything that's not real life. I mean, things that take away from real life are just stupid. Anything that slows down or prevents people and things from blooming.
Anything that isn't true to what it is.
Anything that has a hidden agenda.

Because the opposite is so good. How could you ever choose to give it up?

Its so good to see people bloom. To see people stay true to each other and themselves and be honest.

How do we choose lies. It happens all the time. Different lies, different times. But it always comes back to what motives are in your core. The creator, or something created. God or yourself or someone else. What is at your core?
If you went through something that peeled you to your core, what would show?

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator."

New Years

I had a very pleasant New Years. I want to write about it because there's details I just don't want to forget.

We were so privileged in everything we did. I felt so provided for, with company, with food, weather and nature and safety.

The first two days was solid chilling, with the accompaniment of our friend the sun. Han, Katie and I evicted some earwigs from their residence in the log that would become our washing line for drying togs towels and the like.

Early on I remember saying "I wish Kent was coming" to Han and then the next day Kent, Phil and Rosie were totally with us playing music pictionary, cooking microwave meals on a gas cooker and making sandwiches. Phil blessed us with his sweet yellow beach umbrella that seemed unnecessary since we had become beach creatures, but we definitely were missing it soon after they left.

There was a family already camping there when we showed up who had three boys and the mum did not stop telling them off... it was something more than discipline. My goodness.

Mum: "Merlin"
Merlin: "Yes?"
Mum: "Stop being a prat."

He was just being a bit of a character, not even being a jerk or anything and she was just like shutting him down! So stink. We were happy when they left.


Then on the 31st Saskia, Lance and Maud managed to make their way down to chill for new years, which was awesome because originally they weren't gonna make it.
We met them in Clevedon and then ushered them into our sweet beach paradise. Maud was being  super cute and missing Mike, Lance was playing Pokemon and Saskia was taking sweet photos.

Oh man so many creatures living out at Taffy (Tawhitokino). Mostly insects. But a lot of them. But also birds, cool ones, diving ones, and also a stingray.

We played so much Bananagrams, courtesy of Gloria Ward. That was definitely a highlight. Especially when Phil won. And themed B-grams! Bible/Spiritual verison and Proper Noun version. And then with Rogan and James!

Its funny, I think that 'New Years,' like the actual turn of the new year, wasn't as impressive than all the other stuff that happened.

Like going to Clevedon Presbyterian on Sunday for my first church service of the year and finding the Chapman family and being invited over for lunch. Such a beautiful and open family. Expert hospitality.  They were like first century Christians or something. Great company and great love. It was almost cheesey how sweet it was - cute kids, a dog chillin in the background and three generations of family.

Then a homeschool version of church on the hill at the beach that night. I think it was one of the best services I've been to. We even did communion. Katie was leading worship via iPod, and I think Han was on data projector or something?

There was a family that came to our campsite a couple of days before we left who were really cool. Speaking Afrikaans and giving us dinner! So sweet. And hilarious. James (6), with his catchline "Who is busy winning!?" and his sister Rogan (9), giving Han plenty of sass and helping Katie brush up on her Afrikaans.
And their Dad giving Han a bit over being an October boy instead of an April child, that was pretty funny.
Such a sweet family though. Charlotte and Laurie shared with us their story of coming to New Zealand over a fire and marshmallows. Really nice. Seems so storybook, but it wasn't lame. Just really authentic and beautiful.
And also hilarious when Amy was totally beating the heck out of a piece of coal, haha.

Then on the last night we checked out the phosphorescent creatures living in the ocean. Han pointed out how they were like the tiny version of the stars we'd been admiring every night so far. Sparkles in a great big black. I'm grateful that we've retained a sense of wonder about our universe.

It was good in the end making our packs as light as possible for the half hour hike to the carpark, having already walked some gear out. Then we had a final swim out to a floating pontoon thing to chill in the sun and then pray together as Amy was prompted.

This whole trip was good a reminder of what it is to be truly human. To pull together, share in the beauty of nature, have good laughs and be grateful to God. It was like a Sabbath from the year past.