The video, titled “Return to Hauna”, was about Wycliffe Bible translator Marilyn Laszlo.  In the video, she shared about the process of learning and documenting the Sepic Iwam language of Papua New Guinea and the 23-year process of translating the New Testament their language.

I found the first portion of the 30-minute video on YouTube:

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There were many things in the video that were encouraging, challenging, and convicting.  But the one thing that struck me was how much the Sepik Iwam people cherished and appreciated their “talk” being carved (which they saw as only limited to the white man – giving him power) and, equally as profound, the fact that “God’s carvings” was given to them in their “talk”.

Two observations:

• How often we take for granted our written language – whether we hold it in our hands or view it on a screen.
• Even more, how often we fail to cherish the fact that we have “God’s Carvings” freely available in our own language.

May we follow the example of the Sepik Iwam people:

Cherish and Appreciate.

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BTW, I found a transcript of a speech Laszlo gave a Urbana 1981.  It gives a good snapshot of her work at Hauna.

I pray I would have a passion for people as Marilyn has…

I was prepping for Sunday School this evening (Francis Chan’s Crazy Love), and two things hit me smack dab between the eyes:

First, in watching the Crazy Love Study DVD, Chan says (paraphrased for this post):

Can you imagine if the early church, having seen the Son of God tortured, die on a cross, and rise again, decided to simply to get together once a week and have services, where one of them would preach and they would have really cool music, and then they would go back to life as usual?

Wow – I quickly tweeted a paraphrase:

“Imagine if the early church only got tgthr once a week for services & then went back 2 life as usual? -F Chan / wld I be writing ths? -me”

The second, was a tweet that hit my TweetDeck at 6:15 (five minutes after the tweet above).

The tweet was a link to a blog post at shaungroves.com about a pastor in India who is doing church “wrong.”  I won’t lift any of the post…you need to read it yourself and absorb the pictures to get the whole effect.

The upshot is that we (American churches) have predominantly got it wrong – as the pastor eloquently says, “Our witness is our service.”  At times, I think we get lost in the programs, the “sound”, decor, and image at the expense of our witness.  Of course, we should do everything well for the Lord, but if we don’t have the Gospel at the heart of it all, well…

OK, I’m Listening God…may Your Holy Spirit work in and on me!

I firmly believe that God calls us to NOT be GREEN! Honest…it’s in the Bible – I have a verse!!

Now that I have your attention – let me explain!

A little over a year ago, I first heard Chris Tomlin’s God of This City and immediately liked it. As I tried to find the guitar music (it wasn’t out as it was so new), I discovered that the song was actually written and originally recorded by an Irish worship band called Bluetree. One internet search led to another and I found the music AND the Band’s CD. Ah – another little known artist to listen to…and enjoy!

Fast forward to March 2009 and Bluetree has re-released their CD – sporting a new cover and title (the original title was “Greater Things”).  Well, it’s back on my iPhone (proudly sporting my original cover and title!) and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Bluetree’s website is: http://www.givmusic.com/bluetree/ The story behind God of this City is pretty cool! [Their version of the song is quite different than Tomlin's - I like both.]

“Dennis, alright already! Get to the part about God not wanting us to be GREEN!”

WELL…It’s all in a name…and a great song! An article I read on Bluetree said that their band name comes from their belief that we (as Christians) are called to stand out in the forest of people – just as a BLUE TREE would in a forest of GREEN trees.  Pretty creative and profound as band names go!

Thus, “God Doesn’t Want Us to be Green!” We are to stand out just as Christ did!

Check it out:

• “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” – Jesus [John 17:16]
• “Do not be conformed to this world…” – Paul [Romans 12:2]

I love how the Bluetree song below talks not only about BEING a “blue tree”, but also about having an IMPACT as a “blue tree”. We are to be gathered and scattered Christ Worshippers (probably another good post topic)!

BTW, Karen and I DO recycle!  I don’t recall what we were doing at 8:30 on the 28th, but hopefully it was earth-friendly!

Standing Out

May my life, be a light
Shining out for all to see
Standing for You, standing for You

May my days, be a storm
Raining life on dry land
Standing for You, standing for You

How amazing is Your name in all the earth
How majestic are Your ways
How gracious that You let me stand for You
In all I do. I’m standing out for You

May my life, never fail
To reflect the wonders of Your name
Standing for You, Standing for You

Let my life, be a song
Ringing out, for all to hear
Standing for You, Standing for You

Lyrics by Aaron Boyd and Richard Bleakley

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Coronary does pertain to the human heart…but for a minute, look beyond the physical organ in our chest.  I stumbled upon an older blog post by pastor and author John Piper (www.desiringgod.com) last week and it has stayed with me since…convicting me.

In it, he is calling his church to be “coronary, not adrenal.”  The post was related to National Sanctity of Human Life Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Piper’s challenge to his congregation to be “coronary” in the causes of racial harmony and human life.  You can read his blog entry for yourself (the link posted below), but there are some HUGE take-aways beyond the two main (and important) causes that are his focus.

He contrasts adrenal and coronary saying that adrenaline gets us through, but our heart keeps us going and really reflects our true intentions.  It’s like what Christ said to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our outward actions (adrenal) often betray our true heart actions (coronary.)

Like Piper, I often find myself glad for adrenaline.  Sadly though, I catch myself often operating in the adrenal mode in relation to situations, issues, or even just life.  Sure if my “rights” are violated or someone “messes” with my family or friends, I can get “coronary”, but for things that don’t impact my comfort or those I care about…  Let’s just say, I can really improve here.  Quite honestly, I don’t think I am alone here.  I think many of us can improve in this area related to life in general, social issues, our relationship with God…so many areas.

Piper also provides a great real life example of coronary living through his reference to William Wilberforce – a member of the House of Commons who fought against slavery in England in the late 1700s.  What a great quote and way of living: “[May God] enable me to have a single eye and a simple heart, desiring to please God, to do good to my fellow creatures and to testify my gratitude to my adorable Redeemer.”

It reminded me of a few more real life examples:

The Apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 ^“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.”

Jesus Christ – the ultimate and perfect example of coronary living. Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!”

All this to say that I need to consciously and purposefully attempt to live more coronarily (if that is a word) for Christ…and challenge you to do the same!  Sure it is easier said than done.  The cool part is that we don’t have to do it alone.  Ponder this: I don’t have to worry about meeting God’s expectation…He will ensure my success according to His plans!

Honestly, being a coronary Christian is more than a “cause” thing (although, it is in “causes” that we can express Christ’s love tangibly) – it’s really worship of our awesome God in its purest form:

Rom 12:1 “…God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” [The Message]

So, stumbling forward I go – upheld by my kind, awesome, and loving God!

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Piper’s Blog Entry: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2002/1194_A_Call_for_Coronary_Christians/