The Lost Generation

Syria. What a fucking mess. Worst humanitarian disaster of our time. This photo {quazi} woke up the world when it went viral. It's probably going to be "too much to see" but Jesus, is this what has to be seen for us to realize what's going on? The body of 3 year old, Aylan, washed up on shore, face down in the sand. He drowned trying to flee his God forsaken country in a boat with his mother and brother who also died when the boat cap-sized.

What's eve worse, is children, elderly, and people in general are dying every day in desperate need of escaping the worst civil war in our time. 7.6 million people have fled Syria since March 2011 while we sit on our ass looking at new ways to decorate the living room. What a disgrace. Are we that self absorbed?

Between Syria's civil war, and the rise of Isis, the world is in the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Over 11 million people are displaced because of it and roughly 240,000 have died.

But we don't care, do we? We'd rather browse Facebook to see what our friends are doing this weekend, and catch up on the latest drama. The bars and the beaches are flooded this Labor Day weekend with people enjoying a day off. Let's not forget about the people who haven't had a day off in over four years out of fear they will be killed. This little boy was born into the same war that killed him. His 3rd birthday was surrounded by refugees instead of friends, whatever he could find to eat instead of cake, and gunshots for candles.

May God bless what's less of that mess.

Taken from A Holy Experience, these are some of the things you can do to help: 

–> Mennonite Central Committee
–> World Relief (donate to provide backpacks for resettled children here)
–> World Vision
–> Samaritan’s Purse
–> Doctors Without Borders: Has three rescue ships in the Mediterranean, on Tuesday alone they rescued 1,658 people
–> UNICEF
–> Hand in Hand for Syria: Working within Syrian borders to provide aid. Donations are made via British currency but these are easily converted from US donations during the transaction.

If you’d like to help Syrian refugees stranded on the Greek Island of Lesvos, see the list below, and mail to:
Hellenic Postal Office of Mythymna
℅ The Captain’s Table
Molyvos 81108, Lesvos, Greece

ITEMS TO SEND for SYRIAN REFUGEES on GREEK ISLAND OF LESVOS:

Sneakers, gym shoes for men, women and children (all sizes) are a HIGH PRIORITY
Sweatpants of all sizes.
Briefs/underwear for men, women and children (all sizes)
Men’s trousers (small, medium and large) and shoes
Baby powder milk
Any non-perishables like nut butters or other long-lasting foods.
Diapers
Feminine products
Sleeping bags
Plastic to cover the floor/for shade
Tents/tarpaulin
Mats (camping or yoga mats)
Hats and caps for sunshade (adults and children/light colours because of the sun)
Electric Plug for multiple devices (european voltage)

When it's all said and done - PRAY. Pray for these children who will be lost forever in a world who won't save them. For the girl forcing a smile, for the boy who put his hands up because he thought a camera was a gun, and for the little girl who doesn't think her baby doll should see it all. Who's covering her eyes? 

Let's uncover ours. 

Make sure your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality, empathy, fidelity, and contentment. 
Hebrews 13:5 

Gaining and Giving

I've been struggling on what to "give up" for lent and found it difficult. I wanted to do something challenging and good for not just my body, but for my mind as well.

This morning, Pastor Eric posted something pretty cool about positive change for lent. Of course! Why wouldn't I add something into my life that makes a lasting change, rather than just giving up a habit for 40 days only to pick it back up again?

I thought about this and remembered Rick Warren's 40-day devotional, "Purpose Driven Life." Ironic with his time frame, and so was 40 days of Jesus fasting in the wilderness, 40 days of Moses at Mt. Sinai, 40 days and nights of Noah on the ark, and 40 years of the Israelites in the desert.

Lent is something any believer ought to consider in a time of reflection of what Jesus did for us. We do this through prayer, fasting, and willingness to love and serve others just as Jesus did while walking this earth.

So, while I'm going to give up drinking for the next 40 days because it's good for my physical health, I'm also going to add a 40-day devotional and daily random act of service for my spiritual health.

Nature's Lullaby

I haven't had much to report since I'm not traveling, but this is what came out of my pen while I was laying in my hammock watching planes fly by, wondering where they were traveling to, (and wishing my hammock and I were back in Mexico).

The hammock swings

I feel the breeze

The airplanes pass me by

I hear the train

And songs of birds

It’s nature’s lullaby.

The air is dry

The sun is bright

The sky is free of clouds

I feel the warmth

I see the sun

I praise His name aloud.

The water runs

The palms, they blow

With all these combined

For all of us to feel His love

It’s nature’s lullaby.

Those with sight

May never see

The beauty in this place

With ears to hear,

They’ll never listen

To the sound of mercy and grace.

The train gets louder

The breeze blows stronger

Planes fly high and by

The sun gets brighter

My heart beats faster

For nature’s lullaby.

________________

"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." 

                                                                                      - Exodus 14:14

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." 

                                                                                                                          -Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Third Time's a Charm - Vinny {Part 3}

After last night's hour of heart break with Vinny, his anger, doubting of God, and giving up hope, I really needed a night  to catch my breathe. 

Getting onto the freeway, I looked back to the offramp to see if Vinny was there. I had red vines, cereal, and a bike lock to deliver in hopes to make up for his previous night of despair. He was there, so I was excited to catch him on the way home. 

So I went to Barnes and Noble,  picked up the book I've been meaning to for over a month, and looked for a corner to sit on the floor and read. I can spend hours at the bookstore, and I often times do, reading a book to see if I actually want to buy it. No open corners. It was crowded. I had a happy delivery to make anyway so I bought my book and headed home. 

I got off the freeway only to find empty sidewalk. Where the heck? I drove around, went to Rite Aid for a chocolate chip ice cream cone (I love solo date nights, dontjudgeme), then finally went back around full circle. I started at the 76 station and decided I'd make my way back and if I didn't see him, then maybe tomorrow. 

I drove by 76, and saw a green shirt inside the store. Jackpot!

I pulled up to Vinny, Sam (the attendant), and another guy with a van. He has just been delivered a new bike. When Vinny saw me, he yelled back to Sam, "Look! She's here! I told you she'd bring me a lock!" Sam and his friend turned around to me but I was looking at Vinny's face. Pure joy. 

I told him Stacey went straight to Target after hearing about his bike being stolen, and she bought a bike lock along with half a tub of red vines. He told Sam we were like two daughters looking after him. 

"Well," Sam said, "that's good and I'm happy you're in a better mood because last night you were so angry." Apparently I wasn't the only one who got the cold shoulder. 

But you know what Vinny said?

"Yeah I was... but hey! Today is a new day for new beginnings and I'm going to focus on that." 

This is a photo of Vinny, Sam, and Vinny's new bike (and bike lock around his neck so he wouldn't lose it.) I should really get a camera, but until then, enjoy the flip phone photo. 

 

At home opening my new book, The Irresistible Revolution, the first line caught my attention:

"While the voices of blockbuster movies and pop culture cry out for a life outside the matrix of numb efficiency, Christianity often has offered little to the world, other than the hope that things will be better in heaven."  

I dunno, why can't we make them better for people like Vinny today? 

______

"There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help." -Jan Schakowsky

"If God's love is for anybody anywhere, it's for everybody everywhere." -Edward Lawlor

Giving Up On God - Vinny {Part 2}

I wasn't going to write more than I already had regarding Vinny. Then Sis called and told me people want to follow his story, the good, and the bad. So here it is...

Monday night, I left Lauren's show in Orange County at 11pm. I got to the Blaine offramp in Riverside at 11:45pm. I was tired, but my mind was wide awake.

There he was. In the same green shirt, same black hat, same blank stare I'd seen before. Opposite of me, his body was awake, but his mind was tired.

I got the green light and drove by, waving a peace sign to him. He waved back, with a weak, "Hey Bec." Dolly was with him, the new girl on the streets, and I wanted to meet her anyway.

To the 76 station I went. Looked for the attendant to tell him I was parking to go see Vinny, but he was long gone. It was midnight by now. Not many people were out.

I had almonds, but he only has two teeth and can't eat them so I walked over empty handed, full hearted and ready to talk. He didn't even move when I got there. Just kept standing there, leaning on the guard rail, with his sign reading, "Betcha can't hit an old vet with a quarter!"

"Hi, I'm Becca. You must be Dolly," I said to the blonde lady sitting on the ground.

Vinny told me the week before about Dolly. He told me to look for her. She was blonde, late 40's, new to the streets and he was showing her the ropes. Someone stole her backpack that previous week and she was feeling low, so he wanted me to give her words of encouragement whenever I did see her.

"I am Dolly! It's nice to meet you, Becca." She gave me a light smile, then laid down, put a fleece blanket on the ground, then covered her entire body and head to keep the crickets from jumping into bed with her.

I walked over five feet to Vinny. Still staring out to an empty offramp.

"Hey Vinny," I said slowly.
"...hey"

::silence::

His eyes got teary, he wasn't looking at me yet.

"So... my bike got stolen today," he said as he slowly turned his eyes to me.
"Oh Vinny," I said, "AGAIN?"

Dolly jumped up from her bed, shaking her hair out, battle lost to the crickets, "Wait, it's already happened?"
"Yeah," I told her. "That's two times this month."
I looked to Vinny again, getting teary myself, "Vinny I'm so sorry."
"That's okay, at least they cut my bags off before taking it."

{God, please give me the words to say to this man. Or send either Pastor Eric or Johannes to come save me with their words;  however I know that's impossible at this hour for either one of them to be conveniently coming off this ramp. Back to my original prayer. Please give me the words to say. Please. Amen}

::silence::

"Ya know, all we gotta do in this world is live and die. Sometimes, I just wish it would hurry up."
{What is he saying, why is he saying this... Ohhhhh God where are you?}
"I just don't want to keep on living like this. I think Jesus loves to pick on the miserable because I am absolutely miserable. Why does He keep doing this to me?"
"Vinny..."
"No, you know what, I think Jesus is running from the battle He has with Satan. He's a COWARD! Why doesn't He just end it all? End it all right now."

::silence::

"Vinny... He won't give you more than you can handle. He picks on the strong, not the weak."
"Yeah well, what's the point of me praying anymore anyway. I ask, he never answers."
"He always answers, it's just not always what you want to hear."
"I don't want to be here anymore."

::silence::

"I tell you what, I didn't pray for that man to steal my bike, nope. I'm a good man, and bad shit just keeps happening to me and I'm tired of it."

::silence::

"And no one gives a shit about me. You think my family is out there looking for me? Hell no, I wouldn't want to see them anyway even if they did."

::silence::

"And why do the rich have everything? They're evil, all of them. I have nothing, and keep being thrown to the ground."
"Blessed are the-"
"I don't give a rat's ass. Jesus wants to keep making my life miserable. He's a coward. So one man sinned, and we're all sinners living in misery for the rest of time? That sounds selfish if you ask me."
"Vinny, I wish I had words."

He stopped, looked at me with tearful eyes, and he smiled.
"That's okay. Sometimes the best listeners are just that. You don't have to say anything. I'm thankful you're here."

{Thank you}

"That's the spirit. Hold on to the good in life. Look at Dolly. You have a companion now. Look at your stuff, you still have that. Look at Stacey and I, we love you. And whether or not you believe it, Jesus hasn't left you."
"...yeah I guess so. I'm just tired of it sometimes. I'm okay though, and I'll get another bike tomorrow from a friend."
"Then I'd better get you a bike lock," I said jokingly trying to lighten the mood.

We both laughed, but inside we were both desperate for a change. I left that night, feeling defeated and totally heart broken. I was afraid to leave him, in fear he might take his life. I prayed for words, and God gave me silence. Maybe there was a reason for that.

Hopefully we'll find out soon.

_____

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." -Phillippians 4:6

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." -Psalm 4:1

"Some of God's greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers." -Garth Brooks

Praise You In This Storm - Part Two

I've written about this here a while back, and I think it's important to be reminded of the events shaping this world. Media insists on highlighting the tragedies, and I think it's just as crucial to see the beauty we're holding on to. I pray for both; thanking God for my abundance of undeserved blessings, and that He would bless those less fortunate than I am.

Below are just a few of many events going on today.

The Ugly:
Syria continues to be volatile, with at least 93,000 deaths as of 2011 (The Independent).
More than two dozen wild fires are burning from Alaska to New Mexico (US News). 
Egyptian Civil War growing with hate (Aljazeera).

The Beautiful: 
Plane crash with 307 passengers, miraculously only took two lives (fortunately for them, they were believers in Christ) (China Daily).
Equality for all in the state of California (ABC).
Human waste turning into help for Haiti (Positive News). - If you're tired of depressing news like I am, check this page out.

Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Praise You in This Storm

I can't take credit for the title of this blog but I also can't think of a better one. I've always been one to stay away from the news because it's depressing and frankly when I see that the "breaking news" on CNN reads "Britain's Prince William marries his college sweetheart," I get really angry. When Stace called me this morning and she said "pray for Alabama," I had no idea what she was talking about.

After her reaction that made me feel like the worst person on earth, I started to re-think my perspective on watching the news. Yes, it's depressing. Yes, there is nothing but crime, death and negativity, but instead of turning it off, I should be praying for these events and people effected by it. Prayer is a powerful thing and sometimes all it takes is a reminder from your younger yet wiser sister of what our job here on earth is really about.

Scenario in Haiti today: As they sort through the rubble, Emmanuel is stunned to find a card amongst the broken bricks: “it was someone’s birthday”.
It’s a poem, in French:
Yesterday has passed
Tomorrow is mystery
Today is a gift
This is why we call it present
The biggest day of your life is today
You future is based on today
enjoy your gift of today
for success and flawless joy
may the master and architect of the universe
show you the path to follow
Happy birthday

It was from a fellow student, to the principal of the school.

Haiti is still rebuilding and trying to find pure drinking water.
Japan's death toll climbs, leaving half a million homeless.
The middle east has become one huge war zone taking lives of everyone including women and children.
Alabama has the largest death toll by tornado.
We are turning unemployed into homeless.
World hunger reaches 925 million.
US Soldiers fighting and dying 10 years later.
Terrorism keeps striking.
....the list goes on


John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”