"Safely Home"

My cousin Sarah recommended THIS book to me right before Chris and I went to NYC & Boston. I didn't know if I would have any time to read besides on the plane, but I love to read so I got the book and figured I would get to it at some point.
Well I ended up reading it pretty quickly because it is so amazing that I could hardly put it down.

I don't want to give away the story, but EVERYONE should read it. 

It has changed my worldview in so many ways, and opened my eyes to realities that I was blind to. 

I already know a few other people who have read it and they all agree with me so you need to read it! :) It will grow you, I promise. AND it will make you cry, but that's ok. 

Do it! ;)

This stirs my passion...

I read this quote below in a blog that I really like. I think it's excitingly true. Sometimes it seems like so much of what "the church" (in America) gives so much of it's time to is fluff....nice stuff I guess, but its not the core. So much entertaining and eye catching - but no depth. It sounds weird to say its exciting that some stuff is meaningless, but it is. Because if that were where the meaning was...it would be depressing, but ITS NOT. :)!! We have so much more! We have hope and truth and love! We don't need a flashy way to share it, we just need the real thing. I love that we are creative beings, but that doesn't change what people need - we all need one thing...

"There is a place for media, for creating atmospheres for conversation and growth, for writing and being creative, for sharing what God has taught us, and for sharing food within our congregations. However we must re-orient all of it so that it is subject to the cross. Everything we do as the Bride of Christ must be done in such a way as that the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ takes prominence in all things. Unless it is telling the story of the Good News of the Kingdom of God, it is meaningless. Unless it is coming alongside people where they are at, it is meaningless. Unless it is reaching those that are not yet Christ's followers it is meaningless. Unless it is focused on maturing those who have become Christ's followers it is meaningless. But mostly if we are not cultivating mature Christian's that go out to where the hurt and lost are at it is meaningless. In other words it is all about becoming part of the ongoing Mission of God. And that is a mission too grand and wondrous to be packaged, marketed, and sold." - David Brush

I love that we can go to "where the hurt and lost are" with hope. We are all hurt at lost sometimes. And we all need the hope that Jesus gives us. And its free!! :) We don't have to trick people's eyes or minds into the real thing, it is what it is, and its good.