Kung Fu Wisdom

I arrived in Indiana two weeks ago, today. I have been fortunate to meet several great people. Tonight a few of us went to see Kung Fu Panda. The theatre* was in a little downtown area. It had the classic bright white light bulbs (flashing of course) out front and surrounding a couple upcoming feature posters. It was so tiny that the concession line backed up the entrance. There can be only one feature film at a time due to just one theatre room. Better yet, Tuesday movies are a mere $3! More than a dollar less than a gallon of gas!

Anyway, it was a great movie. I don’t always like farfetched interpretations of quotes in movies when trying to make parallels with Biblical principles, but I believe all truth is God’s truth. Kung Fu Panda had a few quotes and scenes that carried valuable truth.

Ooguay: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

Ooguay: ''The mark of a true hero is humility.''

There was also a scene between Ooguay and Shifu where the importance of letting go of control was discussed. How cool to hear lines like these and see other valuable lessons played in a lighthearted film.

I close this post with one of my favorite quotes from the movie. Nothing profound, but definitely noteworthy in my professional opinion:

Po: “There is no charge for awesomeness - or attractiveness.”

* I felt this facility was worthy of the classic British/English spelling of 'theatre' :)

Life's Crossroads

Here I am, new place and new start, it is a great opportunity to serve at a ministry this summer and scope out plans for the future. I am grateful and from a human perspective it is a logical step. It’s just for summer, but my heart pulls evermore to take me from the comfortable suburbs. All I know is I long more than ever to be inner-city now.

My prayer is for my next step. All I ask is that the Lord gives me initiative to step out the moment He reveals it. I’m not asking for a full-blown roadmap, but just enough light for me to know where to set my foot. If it is for me to be here for the next couple months I ask for peace, but my honest heart is seeking new direction today.

I know my passions don’t always scream practical. I know they are real though and they are impossible to deny. As these thoughts remain unsettled in my mind I have continued to spend quiet time reading God’s word and books full of wisdom. I have had peace from the start that God won’t direct me where He won’t provide my needs.

My Bible reading yesterday reminded me, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” (Joshua 23:14b, NIV) One may overlook the connection, but a few months ago as I trying to make ends of my longings I couldn’t help to think of Abraham. At that point I began reading His story again. God didn’t reveal His plan He just called Abraham to leave. I knew I needed to lay down my current responsibilities so I could move forward. I knew God was in a worship time I attended when that point of Abraham’s life was highlighted. I could continue through the Bible story through the end of Joshua’s life that I just finished reading to parallel my current path.

My other reading has been David Jeremiah’s book, Life Wide Open. Exactly, what I need to be reading right now. It’s all about passionate living. He printed a quote from Enrique Camarena that matches me heart, “I can’t not do this. I’m only one person, but I want to make a difference.”

Maybe God’s will is for me to stay here throughout the summer before He opens doors for me or maybe the step that got me here was just a necessary part of letting go and grasping motivation to take a bigger step. Right now my hope is tied to the second.

I analyze everything. It’s what I do. I could argue perspectives from either side of the coin within my head until I go crazy. If there is one thing I’ve been coming to the realization of it is that I don’t always need to understand my circumstances. I just need to have faith to continue following the path. I must say, as a human, it’s so hard.

Indescribable

Just after taking these shots I hit the road again for my last stretch of travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana. I was listening to Vicky Beeching's "Turn Your Eyes." I have always loved the original. As I drove the words struck a cord. Many times when I sing or hear the song I can picture all that's wrong with the world finally melting away. The thought is always an inspiration as I consider the negativity that is circulating every news worthy story today. The shape of our nation is haunting.

However, this moment was different. Taking these shots had carried my thoughts to the greatness of His creation. Hearing the words of the song as I continued driving by a grand cliff brought me to the realization that the even the beauty of this world will fade as we see His face. Nothing compares.

Beeching's version continues with lyrics that matched my already stirred thoughts:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth

Will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

In the light of His glory and grace

Isn’t He beautiful?

Isn’t He beautiful?

Outshining sun and stars

It’s indescribable

How breathtaking You are

So I turn my eyes upon You now

Look full in Your wonderful face

And the things of earth

They grow strangely dim

In the light of Your glory and grace

In the light of Your glory and grace

You are so beautiful

You are so beautiful

Outshining sun and stars

It’s indescribable

How breathtaking You are

Indescribale is so fitting because there are often times I could never put in words the glory of what I see in a sunset, the stars, or nature. And, these are things I've experienced and seen with my eyes. I can't imagine trying to put into words His glory when His is beyond all of this. This is only His creation.

Road Trip

I must confess I have not done well lately keeping my blog updated. Life's been busy.

Well, I left Florida Sunday morning and began my trip to Indiana. It's not NYC, but we'll see what unfolds. God kept me safe on the roads. I hit almost no traffic and I could not have asked for better weather. I had decided to break up the trip a little more than I usually do since I hadn't traveled this way before. It was a good thing, because if I had attempted my normal pace I probably would have hit some storms and/or flooded roads in Indiana.