tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88787982024-03-14T04:13:37.941-04:00fatherheartSee what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-79739892741003503282022-02-20T20:42:00.002-05:002022-02-20T20:43:58.630-05:00gigi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3e1YgOBGrylQYSEy4p1UNB8HYs-Synho-_2Gs8v6kIYkwEKlCw7tbP85KC1DCm1LeyFQHk_BIEUcpJUDqPiPln8Pjs4SqcAU_ope4RDVvbVVx3B6Dc5s_ci_SG0_-xRIszppBQsuVm78lO3VBSzELFMTurGg9J2JtuJJebytpCsGl7Vm6Lw=s2488" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="2488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3e1YgOBGrylQYSEy4p1UNB8HYs-Synho-_2Gs8v6kIYkwEKlCw7tbP85KC1DCm1LeyFQHk_BIEUcpJUDqPiPln8Pjs4SqcAU_ope4RDVvbVVx3B6Dc5s_ci_SG0_-xRIszppBQsuVm78lO3VBSzELFMTurGg9J2JtuJJebytpCsGl7Vm6Lw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-76292528402681832002019-11-01T18:29:00.002-04:002019-11-01T18:29:11.989-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlHLMTZptd4/Xbyxp4OMfII/AAAAAAAASEc/rt9TdhT1og86mRgTbO-6LOtgz7h12T2UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FIT%2Bbiz%2Bcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="918" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlHLMTZptd4/Xbyxp4OMfII/AAAAAAAASEc/rt9TdhT1og86mRgTbO-6LOtgz7h12T2UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FIT%2Bbiz%2Bcard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-77650555437323398482018-08-20T22:59:00.002-04:002018-08-20T23:01:04.647-04:00Honey Badgers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69PgvDj3tek/W3uAGK9ek1I/AAAAAAAAR80/mmY9g-rSVqc4YGqy8CwOkJUGKsCqPueiACLcBGAs/s1600/Honey%2BBadger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1184" height="313" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69PgvDj3tek/W3uAGK9ek1I/AAAAAAAAR80/mmY9g-rSVqc4YGqy8CwOkJUGKsCqPueiACLcBGAs/s320/Honey%2BBadger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-44047364164775520952015-05-13T12:53:00.002-04:002015-05-13T21:07:56.550-04:00Coach Guthridge Cooks Out<style>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> Coach Guthridge Cooks Out</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most anticipated events for
student managers working at Dean Smith's Carolina Basketball School in the 1970s and
80s was the “managers only” steak dinner on the last day of camp, which
always fell on a Friday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In appreciation for our work at camp,
Coach Smith and Coach Guthridge graciously treated the managers to a steak
dinner at one of Chapel Hill’s finest restaurants at the time, Slug’s at the
Pines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as Coach Guthridge checked out the
last camper and Greg “Chi Chi” Miles handed out the last blue and white camp basketball,
we made plans to tie up loose ends around Granville Towers, get a quick shower,
and head out for a thick, juicy steak with all the trimmings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the summer of 1986, the last day of
camp happened to fall on Friday, July 4. Unfortunately, this meant that none of
the area’s nicest steakhouses would be open for business. Never one to be
daunted by a challenge, Coach Guthridge came up with the ultimate “Plan B” – he
would purchase and grill steaks for each of the managers at his home in Chapel
Hill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you kidding me?! One of the most
respected basketball coaches in the land cooking up steaks for his
student managers after he’d spent the last three weeks overseeing a myriad of
details at one of the most high-profile basketball camps in the country.
Unheard of!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coach Guthridge and his wife, Leesie, made
us all feel right at home, and every detail of the steak dinner was perfect.
Coach Guthridge proved to be quite a grill master and his willingness to serve
each of the student managers with a heartfelt appreciation for the work we’d
done spoke volumes about the kind of person he was. It was a meal I’ll never
forget prepared by a man whose imprint I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">- Lindsay Reed, Class of 1981</span></div>
Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-89578792824283525422013-02-10T17:14:00.000-05:002013-02-10T17:14:04.025-05:00Summer 2012<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=1AZt3DFk3cNLdw&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=1AZt3DFk3cNLdw&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1AZt3DFk3cNHew&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;">Create a gorgeous, high quality <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books/wedding-photo-books">wedding photo album</a> at Shutterfly.com.</div></p>Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-2106134034960673632009-11-30T13:14:00.002-05:002009-11-30T13:18:54.795-05:00An Unreasonable Faith<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SxQLsK4LR3I/AAAAAAAAAHs/aCFNxMeR19I/s1600/BothersMeMost"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SxQLsK4LR3I/AAAAAAAAAHs/aCFNxMeR19I/s320/BothersMeMost" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409961905840932722" border="0" /></a>Some folks think the notion of a superintelligent, Creator God is essentially and irredeemably irrational.<br /><br />Because they see no proof <span style="font-style: italic;">for</span> God’s existence, this group believes that science has consistently proven there is no God. They contend that people who believe in God are superstitious, obscurantist, naïve, and in denial about the advances of science. At the very least, atheists see faith in God as infantile – a childish notion that should have disappeared as soon as a person was capable of evidence-based thinking.<br /><br />Just because something is shrouded in mystery doesn’t mean it’s stupid to believe it. In fact, it’s natural and rational to believe something based on a preponderance of evidence. This natural faith is the result of a simple curiosity that examines the evidence and makes hypotheses about possibilities. This is the same sort of faith that makes a scientist explore the mysteries found in the world of nature.<br /><br />The order and complexity of the universe reasonably points to a creator or a transcendent being. But since no one caught the Creator in the act of creating, the skeptic can propose the notion that the whole concept of God is a hoax, and that would be fair as far as the rules of skepticism are concerned. Even though some people claim they know God, such claims don’t prove he exists. However, to suggest (as writers like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens do) that openness to the reality of God is evidence that one is deranged, deluded, and deceived is unfair by anyone’s rules. Belief in God’s existence is not irrational.<br /><br />Let me point out that simple belief in God does not constitute a faith that has strong conviction. It isn’t settled. Such belief is restless and longs for more information and validation. This general belief isn’t the deep faith that Scripture identifies as being “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Belief in the notion of God is only the first step down the trail to having a transformational, personal encounter with God. This type of faith is perfectly reasonable.<br /><br />However, when it comes to the deeper faith described in Scripture, the critics are right. It isn’t rational at all. At some point, faith calls for a leap past logic and reasoning. Many things have been proven through the scientific method, which rigorously studies the evidence and refuses to allow hypotheses to become beliefs until something is unquestionably demonstrated. In contrast, even though there are clues that point to the existence of God, those God clues will never <span style="font-style: italic;">prove</span> God’s existence.<br /><br />As we suggested in Chapter 1, a person investigating a belief in God will bump into one clue after another, until somewhere along the way a choice emerges. This is faith of another ilk. This kind radically leaps over the lack of empirical proof and believes what one cannot possibly prove. This is unreasonable faith, and we should call it that because it violates the rules of reason. Its roots are metaphysical; it is the stuff of the supernatural. Unreasonable faith isn’t just the result of human effort; it is the coworking of an open heart and a sprinkling of divine grace.<br /><br />- Ed Gungor, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Bothers-Most-about-Christianity/dp/1416592555/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2"><span style="font-style: italic;">What Bothers Me Most about Christianity: Honest Reflections from an Open-Minded Christ Follower</span></a>, pp. 23-27.<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affectionate love!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-81291622816688857612009-11-07T13:13:00.003-05:002009-11-07T13:23:23.204-05:00What Bothers Me Most about Christianity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SvW4xlR1dRI/AAAAAAAAAHc/yxMladn_dmc/s1600-h/bothersme"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SvW4xlR1dRI/AAAAAAAAAHc/yxMladn_dmc/s320/bothersme" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401426490060797202" border="0" /></a>I came across an intriguing book on Amazon.com this morning, <span style="font-style: italic;">What Bothers Me Most about Christianity: Honest Reflections from an Open-Minded Christ Follower</span> by Ed Gungor. Here's a particularly thought-provoking excerpt:<br /><br /> We may not like it, but the nature of faith makes it an untidy enterprise. It demands persistence in the face of uncertainty. Real faith has doubt in the mix, as the coin has two sides.<br /><br /> This makes many Christ followers nervous. They view qualms and questions as evidence of a lack of faith and insist, “Jesus is the answer!” But what if Jesus <span style="font-style: italic;">isn't</span> the answer? What if he is the <span style="font-style: italic;">question</span>? What if we aren't supposed to have all the answers? Could it be that in the discomfort of unanswered questions we are forced to face our own pride and admit we only “know in part”? Is it possible that questions cause us to face the choice to believe or not to believe?<br /><br /> There is a great story in the life of Jesus where he asked a man if he had faith. The man responded, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Notice that it is possible to believe and still be wrestling with “unbelief.” Just because you have misgivings does not mean you do not have faith. The guy in the Jesus story asked that his doubt be “overcome” so that it would not be the prevailing force in his life.<br /><br /> I believe God wants people of faith to question, to be bothered, to seek for tenable answers, to consider the “What if it's true?” juxtaposed against the “What if it's not true?” Faith is not the result of quelling doubt but the result of a choice after one has earnestly sought to understand. It is a venture of human consideration and divine illumination. It's hard, sometimes painful, often disorienting, and always messy - certainly not a cheery, no-conflict, refreshingly bubbly, perpetually happy place. Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist.<br /><br /> If this is a true description of faith, then faith is more like an intense mud-wrestling contest than anything else. Our role is to stay in the ring, even though we don't see God all that clearly and even though it would be easier to quit than to stay in the fray. When we hang in there, fighting through uncertainty and doubt, we are living by faith.<br /><br /> When I look at the Bible and Christian faith, I am left with some formidable, disturbing questions. And I don't have the answers. I may never have them this side of eternity. I hate that, but it is what it is. In spite of what bothers me about faith, I choose to be a God follower, and because I am, he meets me where I am, despite my questions. And that is worth it all!<br /><br /> I read a quote from notable scholar and author Dallas Willard that captures the why behind my decision to forever follow Jesus: “The issue is, what do we want? The Bible says that if you seek God with all your heart, then you will surely find him. <span style="font-style: italic;">Surely</span> find him. It's the person who wants to know God that God reveals himself to. And if a person doesn't want to know God - well, God has created the world and the human mind in such a way that he doesn't have to.”<br /><br /> I have found him. And I don't want out.<br /><br />- Ed Gungor, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Bothers-Most-about-Christianity/dp/1416592555/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2"><span style="font-style: italic;">What Bothers Me Most about Christianity: Honest Reflections from an Open-Minded Christ Follower</span></a>, pp. 217-219.<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affectionate love!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-67336609482398793232009-04-29T23:22:00.005-04:002009-04-29T23:35:25.218-04:00joyful uncertainty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SfkcbSNLlhI/AAAAAAAAAGM/B9m0yPv0qoE/s1600-h/IMG_0795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SfkcbSNLlhI/AAAAAAAAAGM/B9m0yPv0qoE/s400/IMG_0795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330322889038861842" border="0" /></a>The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.<br /><br />Jesus said, ". . . believe also in Me" (John 14:1), not, "Believe certain things about Me". Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in – but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.<br /><br />- Oswald Chambers, "The Graciousness of Uncertainty", <span style="font-style: italic;">My Utmost for His Highest</span>, April 29th<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affectionate love!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-91877244932732157672009-04-27T15:21:00.002-04:002009-04-27T15:29:32.622-04:00top priority<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SfYFz3fA5CI/AAAAAAAAAF0/LB7W37g_gqo/s1600-h/LovingKids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SfYFz3fA5CI/AAAAAAAAAF0/LB7W37g_gqo/s320/LovingKids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329453597665059874" border="0" /></a>“I want to propose to you that freedom is a top priority in Heaven, because it is what makes relationships possible. Heaven’s culture of relationships is vastly different than most everything we see on earth because God, the Father, is less interested in compliance and much more interested in love. This is the reason that He is trying to prepare us to <span style="font-style: italic;">live absolutely free lives in an environment of unlimited options</span> more than trying to keep us from sin. This is the heart of <span style="font-style: italic;">Loving Our Kids on Purpose</span>, and so I would like to show you how to love your own kids with this goal in mind.”<br /><br />- Danny Silk, <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Kids-Purpose-Danny-Silk/dp/0768427398/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240860443&sr=8-1">Loving Our Kids on Purpose</a></span>,<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>p. 36<br /><br />I just received this book from Amazon.com and I can't wait to dig in. It came highly recommended by Wayne Jacobsen.<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affectionate love!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-17287195322437905082009-04-19T23:11:00.003-04:002009-04-19T23:26:01.130-04:00boston revisited<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/Sevph6bz_cI/AAAAAAAAAFs/iD9zIXbIsxI/s1600-h/boston08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/Sevph6bz_cI/AAAAAAAAAFs/iD9zIXbIsxI/s200/boston08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326607753126608322" border="0" /></a>As I reflect on my first Boston Marathon one year ago today, several good life lessons come to mind –<br /><br />The first lesson has to do with the dreams Father drops into our hearts. Five years ago, if you’d told me I’d be running the Boston Marathon a few days before my 49th birthday, I’d have thought you were delusional. It’s amazing what can happen when we open our minds to Father’s possibilities and embrace the dreams He puts in our hearts.<br /><br />The second lesson has to do with the way Father relates to us as unique individuals, personalizing the gifts He gives and the blessings He bestows, all of which are designed to deepen our friendship with Him. The Boston Marathon was Father’s special gift to me. He gave me the vision to see it, the passion to pursue it, and the strength to finish it. The Boston Marathon was <span style="font-style: italic;">our</span> race, a shared experience between Father and son.<br /><br />The third lesson has to do with the various roles Father plays in our lives and His desire to be involved in each and every detail. Throughout my Boston Marathon experience, Father was my ever-present trainer and coach, giving me practical wisdom and encouraging me to persevere through the challenges of training and the race itself. Our partnership, working together as one, made the Boston Marathon a life-changing event.<br /><br />Thank you, Father, for such a special gift!<br /><br />- Lindsay<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy’s affectionate love!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-72399248713553383282009-01-19T22:22:00.000-05:002009-01-19T22:24:03.229-05:00atheists<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SWucEGkBbpI/AAAAAAAAAEk/MVMsZ3xk9tc/s1600-h/prodigalgod.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 235px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SWucEGkBbpI/AAAAAAAAAEk/MVMsZ3xk9tc/s400/prodigalgod.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290493781571890834" border="0" /></a>In <span style="font-style: italic;">The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith</span>, Tim Keller makes some interesting observations about early Christianity -<br /><br />"It is hard for us to realize this today, but when Christianity first arose in the world it was not called a religion. It was the non-religion.<br /><br />"So the Romans called them 'atheists,' because what the Christians were saying about spiritual reality was unique and could not be classified with the other religions of the world.<br /><br />"The irony of this should not be lost on us, standing as we do in the midst of the modern culture wars. To most people in our society, Christianity <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>religion and moralism. The only alternative to it (besides some other world religion) is pluralistic secularism. But from the beginning it was not so. Christianity was recognized as a <span style="font-style: italic;">tertium quid</span>, something else entirely."<br /><br />- Tim Keller, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-God-Recovering-Heart-Christian/dp/0525950796/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231784940&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Prodigal God</span></a>, pages 13-14.<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-20904109668046385492009-01-12T13:08:00.004-05:002009-01-12T14:32:51.950-05:00prodigal god<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SWuHJKrIDkI/AAAAAAAAAEc/QGLmS2vyZCA/s1600-h/prodigalgod.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 235px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SWuHJKrIDkI/AAAAAAAAAEc/QGLmS2vyZCA/s400/prodigalgod.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290470778830589506" border="0" /></a>Just finished a wonderful book that expresses the nature of Father's love through an insightful analysis of the Bible story commonly known as "The Parable of the Prodigal Son". In <span style="font-style: italic;">The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith</span>, Tim Keller emphasizes the Father's loving response to both the rebellion of his younger son (the prodigal) and the resentment of his older son (the elder brother). Keller applies the parable to modern religious and secular culture, showing how Father's love transcends both to meet our deepest needs.<br /><br />Click <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-God-Recovering-Heart-Christian/dp/0525950796/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231784940&sr=8-1">The Prodigal God</a> </span>to read reviews and purchase on Amazon.<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-65972739921793658342008-11-23T16:35:00.003-05:002008-11-23T16:52:28.056-05:00culture warsWe’ve been known for boycotting Disney, decrying the Teletubbies and rallying behind pet legislation. Christianity and the culture wars have been synonymous now for a long time. When it comes to media attention, Christians most often seem to get it for something we’re against. The last few decades of the Church seem to be ones in which we’ve taken an adversarial relationship to the culture around us. We’ve spearheaded protests, boycotts and letter-writing campaigns. If Christians are against it, we’ve done a decidedly good job of making the public aware of it. It seems we have made it our mission to loudly denounce those things in society that don’t match our worldview, and find ways to pressure the culture into rejecting them. As such, evangelical Christianity has developed a reputation in society for being angry, boorish and self-righteous.<br /><br />Yet, should Christianity be engaged in these culture wars? Is it our lot to remake the world in God’s image? The answer is, of course, a resounding yes. It is absolutely our role to stand against the tide of culture and to be a clarion voice for God in the midst of darkness. The problem is, we often go about it all wrong.<br /><br />Without a doubt, we are called to stand apart from culture. Paul admonishes us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). The life Christ calls us to is one of being countercultural, and of spreading the Kingdom of God throughout the culture around us.<br /><br />What does it mean, though, to be countercultural? Does it mean that we organize protests or pen invective letters to the FCC for some sitcom’s latest grievous offense? If we follow the standard Christ set, it is a much deeper calling than that. When Christ speaks of being countercultural, it looks so much more revolutionary and bizarre than merely fighting for legalistic ideals. The picture Christ paints is of a peculiar people who confuse the culture around them by being so utterly different. Whereas our society worships status, we are to be servants to all. When the culture tells us we have to seek fortune, we hold material goods lightly and give all we have to the poor. If prevailing public opinion says that we should lie to get ahead, we cherish honesty and keep any oath we take. Where cynicism and pessimism pervade those around us, we are agents of constant hope and tireless faith.<br /><br />Ultimately, though, the absolute most countercultural role a Christian can take is that of truly loving our enemies rather than treating them to our usual show of angry saber-rattling. This is hard for a people who have spent so much time viewing those who would tear down God’s Kingdom with such vitriol. But Jesus did not suggest this—He commanded it. He told us: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:38-42).<br /><br />This is a revolution born not of anger or discord, but of unmitigated love. It is one that confounds culture by showing resilient mercy and charity at times when it makes the least sense to do so. How would society be impacted if, instead of staging counter-protests when we disagree with a group of pro-abortion demonstrators, we showed up and served them in humility and love? What kind of reputation would we gain if we quietly showed love to our homosexual neighbors instead of putting signs in our yard touting our political views on their relationship?<br /><br />Are we at war with the culture? Yes. But we’ve been fighting the wrong battle. Ours is not a war of taking shots at things we deem offensive to the public sensibility. It is one of standing against the tide of selfishness, wrath, vainglory and cynicism that surrounds us. It is a battle of refusing to be swept up in the idea of consumerism. Of fighting the concept that we should avenge every wrong done to us. Of taking up arms against our culture’s mindset that the rich, famous and powerful are to be admired and the poor despised. This is a war of loving our enemies, praying for those who persecute us and speaking God’s abiding truth with genuine compassion for those whose ears it falls upon. Now is not the time to back away from a fight. It’s time to actually engage the true enemy.<br /><br />- "A Treaty To End Culture Wars", 850 Words of <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com">RELEVANT</a>, email dated Nov 17, 2008<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-47130486345394299352008-07-03T16:39:00.016-04:002008-07-05T21:02:46.915-04:00boston marathon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SG05NIZNqgI/AAAAAAAAACo/UUBeli4ydu4/s1600-h/boston08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/SG05NIZNqgI/AAAAAAAAACo/UUBeli4ydu4/s400/boston08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218890440946592258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Monday, April 21, 2008 - what a beautiful day for a marathon! The Boston Marathon more than lived up to its reputation for being a challenging course, especially the long hills beginning around Mile 19 at Newton, MA. The hills, especially the infamous "Heartbreak Hill", were almost my undoing. It took all the willpower and determination I could muster to keep pushing on to the end. I had to break the final part of the race down into 100-yard chunks to motivate myself to keep going. My thought process went something like this - "If I can just make it to that next stoplight, then maybe I can summon the strength to go another 100 yards." I finished the race at 3:49:28, completely spent, but satisfied that I had given it my all.<br /><br />One of the highlights of my first trip to Boston was the cheerleader who accompanied me - my 20 year-old daughter, Elisabeth. We arrived in Boston on Saturday evening and spent all day Sunday exploring the city. Some of our stops were Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, Copp's Hill Burial Ground, and Long Wharf. After the race on Monday, we picked up where we left off, walking from the finish line at Copley Square to Boston Common, and then to Quincy Market for a post race snack. Elisabeth and I concluded our day with dinner at one of Boston's finest seafood restaurants, Legal Sea Foods. We drove home Tuesday morning, full of fun memories from one of the nation's most historic cities.<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-5043099406149478752008-06-29T11:11:00.005-04:002009-10-18T23:11:38.827-04:00divorceOur divorce was finalized on Friday, June 27, almost three years after the process began. Talk about a marathon. Truly an incredible journey into a deeper understanding of Father's love, mercy and compassion. Two overriding themes of the past three years - grace and freedom. Grace defined as the inner revelation of the magnitude and depth of Father's affectionate love. Freedom defined as the simplicity of living as His beloved child, progressively unencumbered by fear and a sense of religious obligation. His grace has transformed suffering into glory. Today, I can honestly say that He is far more glorious and beautiful than I ever dared to imagine. Isaiah 61:3 has become my testimony - "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." I just love that last phrase, "that <span style="font-weight: bold;">he </span>might be glorified." He is truly worthy of ALL glory!<br /><br />A heartfelt thanks to all of you who have extended grace and prayed for our family over the past three years. Your lovingkindness has been a very real source of comfort and healing.<br /><br />- Lindsay<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-39045289220845796792008-02-18T21:41:00.008-05:002008-02-18T22:33:03.347-05:00surf city usa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/R7pDMwVmnDI/AAAAAAAAACg/k_XKj5dv_O0/s1600-h/SurfCityMedal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/R7pDMwVmnDI/AAAAAAAAACg/k_XKj5dv_O0/s200/SurfCityMedal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168517408774069298" border="0" /></a>On Sunday, February 3rd, I finished my second marathon - the Surf City USA Marathon in Huntington Beach, California. What an incredible experience from start to finish!<br /><br />Shortly after I completed my first marathon (the OBX Marathon on the Outer Banks of North Carolina) in November of 2006, I began looking for another marathon to run. The first marathon that caught my attention was the Surf City USA Marathon. The thought of running a marathon along the Pacific shoreline was quite compelling.<br /><br />In August of 2007, I registered online for the 2008 Surf City USA Marathon. On the registration form I was asked to put down my predicted time of finish. Based on my OBX Marathon time of 4:11:15 (4 hours, 11 minutes, 15 seconds), I nervously typed in 3:59:00, hoping that if I trained hard enough I could shave 12 minutes off my OBX time and break the four-hour barrier.<br /><br />At the end of August I began training in earnest. Having recently joined a local fitness club, I decided to incorporate weight training into my training regimen three times a week. The payoff was almost immediate. I recovered from my longer training runs much more quickly and the nagging aches and pains that had been a regular part of my OBX Marathon training were almost nonexistent. I felt great!<br /><br />As late summer turned to fall and fall headed towards winter, I had to face the prospect of doing something that seemed utterly dreadful - running indoors on a treadmill. Yuck! I had never run on a treadmill before, and I surely didn’t want to start now. But I was a man on a mission, and if achieving my goal of a 3:59 marathon meant running on a treadmill, then I was willing to bite the bullet.<br /><br />Fortunately, I found the perfect training partner to accompany me on my dreaded treadmill training runs - a purple iPod Shuffle. Armed with a collection of my favorite Motown, R&B, Disco, and Pop tunes from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, I was ready to tackle treadmill monotony head on. One advantage of using the treadmill was the ability to closely monitor my pace and mileage. This proved to be a key component of my training.<br /><br />Following several of my training runs, my thoughts would turn to Lindsay Dunn (see “lindsay dunn” post dated December 29, 2007) and I’d begin to cry. Running was one of our common bonds and this would be my first race since her death. I missed Lindsay’s kindness and encouraging words. I began to think of the Surf City USA Marathon as my “Dunn Run” - a way to honor Lindsay and her positive influence in my life.<br /><br />After playing around with the pace setting on the treadmill, I felt comfortable with 8.2 miles per hour, a pace of 7:19 per mile. As my training progressed, I was very encouraged to see that I could maintain a 7:19 pace for 4 miles, 8 miles, 12 miles, 16 miles, and finally, 20 miles. When I compared my 20-mile training time (2:26:43) to my 20-mile split time for the OBX Marathon (3:13:46), I was blown away. I had shaved 47 minutes off my 20-mile time from the OBX Marathon!<br /><br />Pretty soon I got to thinking that my goal of a 3:59 marathon wasn’t quite ambitious enough. Maybe I needed to set my sights a little higher. Out of curiosity I went to the Boston Marathon website to see what time I would need in order to qualify for the 2008 Boston Marathon. The magic number was 3:30. I now had a new goal - to qualify for the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon, the Boston Marathon!<br /><br />Towards the end of January, with the Surf City USA Marathon fast approaching, it was difficult to contain my excitement. I was so focused as I began making last-minute preparations for the trip to California. My flight from Harrisburg to Los Angeles presented some challenges, but in the end it all worked out perfectly. Thanks to a canceled flight, a delayed flight, and then a missed connection, I ended up arriving in Los Angeles almost 24 hours later than originally planned, but the upside was two solid nights of sleep - one in my own bed and one at a Holiday Inn in Kentucky.<br /><br />When I touched down in Los Angeles on Saturday, the southern California sunshine was in full effect. A short drive down the San Diego Freeway put me in Huntington Beach just in time for a beautiful afternoon along the Pacific coast. After picking up my marathon bib number and timing chip from the Expo, I met up with my brother, Peyton, for a leisurely stroll through the lively streets of Huntington Beach. We stopped for a nice pasta dinner before he headed back to LA and I headed to the hotel for an early bedtime.<br /><br />Sunday morning dawned and just as forecast, it was raining and windy. I caught a 5:30 am cab to the starting line where I spent the next hour trying to keep warm and dry. Fortunately, I brought along my disposable “poncho” - a 30-gallon trash bag. “Surfin’ U.S.A.”, the classic Beach Boys tune, signaled the start of the race at 6:50 am as the rain and wind continued unabated. Despite the adverse conditions, I was thrilled to be running along the Pacific Coast Highway with a perfect view of the storm-tossed Pacific Ocean on my left.<br /><br />My shoes were completely soaked in no time thanks to some very large, unavoidable puddles. By Mile 5, my “poncho” had become more of a hindrance than a help, so I tossed it aside. The Huntington Beach Pier, Huntington Central Park, and the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve were some of the more interesting stretches along the 26.2 mile course. Nine of the last ten miles were run on the beachfront running path right along the Pacific Ocean. I laughed out loud at the irony of running in such terrible weather at a place known for its warm, sunny climate.<br /><br />When I checked the race clock posted at Mile 25, I knew I had Boston in the bag. I ran past the Huntington Beach Pier one more time en route to the finish line. Nearing the finish line, I could hear Peyton cheering me on. As I crossed the finish line, I was completely spent. With bottled water and finishers’ medal in hand, I slowly walked across the road to a spot where Peyton could pick me up and drive me back to the hotel to recuperate.<br /><br />After a warm shower and a cold bath to help my legs recover, I was ready to roll. I checked out of the hotel and headed over to the Olive Garden with Peyton for my post race lunch. I followed Peyton back to LA after lunch and we arrived just in time to catch the kickoff of Super Bowl XLII.<br /><br />During the Super Bowl, I checked the Surf City USA Marathon website to see if the race results had been posted. I could hardly believe what I saw! I finished 44th out of 1087 runners overall and 5th out of the 95 runners in my age/gender category. My time was 3:22:01, shaving over 49 minutes off my previous marathon and qualifying me for the 2008 Boston Marathon. Needless to say, I was ecstatic.<br /><br />Several days after the marathon, I told Lindsay Dunn’s parents about my desire to honor Lindsay and how her life had given me a sense of purpose and determination I would not have otherwise had in preparing for the race. Lindsay’s mom, Diane, shared the following with me last week - “Lindsay would have been very happy for you. She had hoped to run a marathon with you one day. She shared that with me. Sounds like she did--two weekends ago.”<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-78390242394007065092008-01-21T20:43:00.000-05:002008-01-21T23:24:11.159-05:00stokedLast week as I was reading through my 2005 journal, I came across a passage that expressed the Father's heart for me during a very dark and painful time. It's so encouraging to look back and see how Father's words became life and joy and peace -<br /><br />"Patience. Patience. Patience. The Father has made EVERY provision for you to live and thrive in the midst of this dark situation. Run into His mercy! Appropriate the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fullness</span> of His grace. Tap into the resources of the Body of Christ - those brothers and sisters who are supporting you from the heart. Roll all of your burdens and worries onto Him. He is fully able to carry them without any assistance from you! Rejoice in the trial. Rejoice in the suffering. Glorify the Father violently and passionately in the midst of the fire. Remember the three Hebrew children in the furnace! Revelation comes IN the fire! Suffering begets glory. Let the glory of the Father rest upon you - trusting Him to work out ALL things concerning you in perfect accordance with His plan and purpose. HE'S GOT YOUR BACK. HE IS SO INTO YOU! HE DELIGHTS IN WHO HE'S MADE YOU TO BE! HE'S EXCITED BEYOND WORDS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. IT'S GOING TO BE GLORIOUS AND MIND-BLOWING, HOWEVER IT PLAYS OUT!<br /><br />"Don't take the easy way out. Live out of your heart. Do not fear!!! The Father's got your back.<br /><br />"Continue to wait patiently upon the Lord - allow Him to unfold His purpose in your midst. Entrust yourself into His love, care, and faithfulness. He will never let you down! Allow Him to have the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fullness</span> of His way in you and through you. Above all things - let HIS LOVE be your guiding light. The knowledge of His love for you! Be a vessel of that love for others. Love your children lavishly. Give them the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fullness</span> of your heart. Feel their pain and release love, affirmation, and healing into their lives!"<br /><br />- October 18, 2005<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-64320794057132689202007-12-29T12:34:00.000-05:002007-12-29T15:33:11.038-05:00lindsay dunn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/R3aFjf6ibhI/AAAAAAAAACA/-pWq8GOfJ3M/s1600-h/gold+key+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/R3aFjf6ibhI/AAAAAAAAACA/-pWq8GOfJ3M/s400/gold+key+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149450068853681682" border="0" /></a>As I reflect on 2007, one event stands out above all others - the death of a special young lady, Lindsay Dunn. Lindsay passed away in the arms of Josiah, my middle son, shortly after the minivan she was riding in slammed into a tree on June 23rd.<br /><br />During the year leading up to her death, Lindsay had become one of our dearest family friends. Her kindness, grace and sensitivity touched each one of us. She was like a daughter to me, and I cherish the memory of our driving lesson a few days before her death.<br /><br />My heart aches and the tears flow as I continue to process Lindsay's death. I miss her warm smile and wonderful sense of humor, her bright eyes and zest for life. I am so grateful for the time I had with her - a precious gift from Father's loving heart.<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-63286524222702855012007-09-01T19:25:00.000-04:002007-09-01T19:31:51.646-04:00prayerMy parents were always hosting missionaries in our home, and one very prominent missionary was staying with us when I was a boy. I was struggling with the idea of “praying right,” and I thought, <i>if anyone would know how to pray, it would be this famous man</i>. He was dozing in the hammock in [the] back of our house, and I simply asked him, “How do you pray?” Without even opening his eyes, he said, “Son, I haven’t prayed in 40 years.” This was very disconcerting! I was shocked! Here is this famous man of God, and he hasn’t prayed for 40 years? I was afraid to tell my mother. I didn’t want him lowered in her estimation.<br /><br />Years later, when I was a pastor, I saw the wisdom in what he told me. I was looking for a “How do you do it?” I was thinking that prayer was something you do in order to create a relationship with God. It’s not.<br /><br />Eugene Peterson, <i>RELEVANT</i>, May/June 2007Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-91784594936506010212007-06-01T19:10:00.000-04:002007-06-01T19:32:03.463-04:00love letter<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/RmCnr67nWdI/AAAAAAAAAB4/IpmA0lsEBy4/s1600-h/FLLheader1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/RmCnr67nWdI/AAAAAAAAAB4/IpmA0lsEBy4/s400/FLLheader1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071237553414691282" /></a>My Child,<br /><br />You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1<br /><br />I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2<br /><br />I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3<br /><br />Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31<br /><br />For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27<br /><br />In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28<br /><br />For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28<br /><br />I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5<br /><br />I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12<br /><br />You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16<br /><br />I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26<br /><br />You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14<br /><br />I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13<br /><br />And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6<br /><br />I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44<br /><br />I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16<br /><br />And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1<br /><br />Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1<br /><br />I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11<br /><br />For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48<br /><br />Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17<br /><br />For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33<br /><br />My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11<br /><br />Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3<br /><br />My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18<br /><br />And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17<br /><br />I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40<br /><br />For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5<br /><br />I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41<br /><br />And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3<br /><br />If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29<br /><br />Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4<br /><br />For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13<br /><br />I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20<br /><br />For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17<br /><br />I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4<br /><br />When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18<br /><br />As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11<br /><br />One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4<br /><br />And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4<br /><br />I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23<br /><br />For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26<br /><br />He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3<br /><br />He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31<br /><br />And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19<br /><br />Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19<br /><br />His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10<br /><br />I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32<br /><br />If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23<br /><br />And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39<br /><br />Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7<br /><br />I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15<br /><br />My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13<br /><br />I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32<br /><br />Love, Your Dad<br /><br /><br />Father's Love Letter used by permission<br />Father Heart Communications<br />Copyright 1999-2006<br /><a href="http://www.fathersloveletter.com/index.html">www.FathersLoveLetter.com</a><br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-25555537414021527822007-05-26T14:10:00.000-04:002007-05-26T14:20:58.829-04:00ever present<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6550/623/1600/divine.0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6550/623/200/divine.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>More excerpts from <em>Divine Nobodies</em> -<br /><br />Jesus was always there. Through all those years when it seemed God was absent, he was actually present - seeing, listening, caring, and hurting with me and over me. Perhaps my feelings and five senses are not always a reliable guide to the facts of God. God can be intimately present even if it feels like he's nowhere to be found. Whenever I sank down into my black hole of depression, I often felt unbearably alone and abandoned by God, but now I was seeing this wasn't true.<br /><br />God longs for my awareness that his divine love holds me, and that awareness brings healing and a sense of wholeness. God's love is there in the darkness of depression with me, there next to me in my little locked house, sharing my pain, holding me closely, and offering the light of his love.<br /><br />- Jim Palmer, <em>Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God (and the unlikely people who help you)</em>, pp. 74-75<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Nobodies-Shedding-Religion-unlikely/dp/0849913985/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3191331-1218457?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179971688&sr=8-1"><em>Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God</em></a> to order<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-35456167079528364992007-05-23T22:14:00.000-04:002007-05-24T19:38:48.938-04:00ministry<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6550/623/1600/divine.0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6550/623/200/divine.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Here's an excerpt from a book I'm reading -<br /><br />God has been trying to free me from the burden of doing something spectacular for him. It has a way of distracting you from the opportunities to be salt and light right where you are. I'm starting to see that the "cup of cold water given in Jesus's name" sometimes means running the register by yourself during lunch so your heartbroken coworker can cry in the break room, or volunteering to reshelf all the returns in your area so a worn-out coworker twice your age won't have to. A kindness shown here, a listening ear offered there, a caring hug as you go might be the case for Christ a cynical waitress most needs. I'm starting to recognize that I am immersed in a sea of hurting people every day. If I simply pay attention and follow the promptings of the Spirit in all these little ways, my life is "ministry."<br /><br />- Jim Palmer, <em>Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God (and the unlikely people who help you)</em>, p. 43<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Nobodies-Shedding-Religion-unlikely/dp/0849913985/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3191331-1218457?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179971688&sr=8-1"><em>Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God</em></a> to order<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-4042902478920702212007-05-16T22:02:00.000-04:002007-05-19T22:30:13.826-04:00the shack<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/Rku39Sh9wTI/AAAAAAAAABo/l_eNa3fDj6s/s1600-h/shackover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/Rku39Sh9wTI/AAAAAAAAABo/l_eNa3fDj6s/s400/shackover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065344469482455346" /></a>Tonight I finished one of the most incredible works of literature I have ever read. <em>The Shack</em> unveils the heart and nature of God like few books I’ve ever read. It elicits tears and laughter, wonder and worship. It faces the hard questions of life head-on, and challenges the reader to go beyond conventional religious thinking. It beautifully captures the tender, loving heart of God in the midst of tragedy and suffering. The sweet breath of God emanates from its pages. I came away from <em>The Shack</em> with a very real sense that I had been privy to some of the most intimate moments between Father, Son, and Spirit. If you are longing to know God in a deeper way, this book is a must!<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.theshackbook.com/"><em>The Shack</em></a> to order<br /><br />- Lindsay<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy’s affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-74705368001841904752007-05-01T22:44:00.001-04:002009-08-05T07:15:28.271-04:00an angel<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/Rjf7LctD8QI/AAAAAAAAABg/faReBCYbFcg/s1600-h/bonnie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OBVR2NWmZQc/Rjf7LctD8QI/AAAAAAAAABg/faReBCYbFcg/s200/bonnie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059788880476369154" border="0" /></a>One thing I love about Father is how He works in our lives in the most creative and unexpected ways. Several weeks ago my brother invited me to visit him in New York where he was directing a television pilot for ABC. I arrived in New York on Tuesday evening, March 20, and he took me to an underground Mexican restaurant for dinner with some of the cast and producers. One member of the cast, a young lady from Brooklyn, showered me with warmth and kindness throughout the evening. Father touched my heart through her sweetness and awakened me to the possibilities that lie ahead in Him. As winter turned to spring in that busy New York restaurant, Father began to melt away the rejection and doubt I've felt in seeing my marriage dissolve. If I didn't know better, I'd say I was touched by an angel.<br /><br />- Lindsay<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878798.post-69660594812295786142007-04-30T21:44:00.000-04:002007-05-26T14:27:34.202-04:00who am IOne of Father's purposes in leading me through the pain of a broken marriage has been to show me my true identity. Who am I? What defines me? My physical appearance? My ethnicity and nationality? My family and friends? My religion and politics? My career? My balance sheet? People's opinions of me? Although all of the preceding categories can be used to describe me, there is one answer that supersedes them all in defining who I am - <em>I am His!</em> The song below illustrates this in a beautiful way -<br /><br />Who Am I<br /><br />Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth<br />Would care to know my name<br />Would care to feel my hurt<br />Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star<br />Would choose to light the way<br />For my ever wandering heart<br /><br />Not because of who I am<br />But because of what You've done<br />Not because of what I've done<br />But because of who You are <br /><br />Chorus: <br />I am a flower quickly fading<br />Here today and gone tomorrow<br />A wave tossed in the ocean<br />A vapor in the wind<br />Still You hear me when I'm calling<br />Lord, You catch me when I'm falling<br />And You've told me who I am<br />I am Yours, I am Yours<br /><br />Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin<br />Would look on me with love and watch me rise again<br />Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea<br />Would call out through the rain<br />And calm the storm in me<br /><br />I am Yours<br />Whom shall I fear<br />Whom shall I fear<br />'Cause I am Yours<br />I am Yours<br /><br />Written by Mark Hall<br />Music by Casting Crowns<br />Song based on Psalms 52 and 139 and Ephesians 2<br /><br />Live free! Live in Daddy's affection!Lindsay Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18155168373351874584noreply@blogger.com2