Intercession Day

One of the other weekly things we do here on campus is "base intercession".  Last week on Wed I was up on and off all night with terrible "dreams" of being attacked and muffled by what seemed to be invisible beings.  Yeah, weird I know, at least to most.

I woke up wondering what it was all about and wrote the "dreams" down.  It wasn't until I "woke" that I had any idea that it wasn't real, so vivid.  That morning, was about Buddhism.  What I thought was cool was that it wasn't about how "they" are wrong but more informative.  We have the ropes course here which includes lots of steps so at the bottom of the steps and every 10 or so steps was a piece of paper with some facts about the land, the people, the history, the morality and religion. 

I had studied Buddhism when I was a teen but much of the information felt knew and a good reminder.  What I was struck by is that those who adhere to Buddhism are very moral.  The tenants are very similar to Judaism and Christianity, tell the truth, help others, do not be concerned with material things, watch what you say and how you affect others, among many others.  Plus, most Buddhists do not worship Buddha as God, as I have so often heard in Christian circles. 

Once we were all finished on our walk, we met in the prayer chapel, which is a beautiful room with one whole wall of just windows overlooking a forest of trees.  Very cool.  There was a pile of shoes upon walking in, in tradition of the peoples from the area.  We all sat in one giant circle and shared.  One person was struck by the same thing, how moral and religious "they" are.  By contrast, how Christians in general and in America, are not so much.  In fact, Christianity has a pretty foul name among non-Christians.  I was in a meeting in Gaza before it was so volatile and the teacher, a Muslim, said "why would I want to be a Christian when your men cannot even stay faithful and have to have conferences like Promise Keepers to just do what is right?"  Wow.

I know there are lots of Christians who are moral and who do make every effort to really help the fatherless, the widows and the orphans (the definition of true religion according to james).  My brother is one.  I know also that this is across all religions, there is the few and the masses.  The devout and the occasional. 

It just caused me to think alot.  In my years in the Christian churches, there has always been an "us and them" mentality.  It bothers me.  When I read these facts, rather than consider myself more holy or a better graps on the truth, I thought of them (there it is again) as truly brothers.  Sure I prayed for "them" but this time it was no different than praying for my mom, my friend, my daughter, myself. 

On a different note, I keep the "law" of the "old" testament, I call it Tanakh and my reasonable act of worship for my love of G-d.  Typically, Christians do not adhere to any set law, the standards of morality have become pretty subjective, the standards of obedience obscure.  I imagine when other faiths read facts about Christianity, what do they think?  Would they say we're moral?  Known for helping others? Devout to our beliefs?  I don't know...

But I sure like thinking and praying about all this :-)

Slave by Choice

On Mondays we have base worship here, which is pretty much like church service...worship, a teaching, some announcements etc.  This morning, one of the leaders shared that he had been living as if God were more like his business partner than G-d.  This is so true of American Christianity today.  God is our friend, and our guide, and our help, our salvation...our, our, our...

My dad said wisely, not verbatim, "it doesn't mater what the cause or religion, eventually it becomes about the organization, not God or the cause".  I thought he was just a cynic.  I have seen this over and over again though.  How can we build "our" church to reach more people?  How can we get more property to continue "our" cause? Those are good things, they have their place. 

He asked us to commune with Him again.  No list of things we need, no quick "help me" prayers, just be with Him, just to hang.  So, we moved all the chairs and some stood and some sat and some knelt. 

I admit, I was preoccupied, Selah was not supervised but with a friend, I was resentful that others didn't go back to check on her and see my need to commune, yada yada.  Distractions.  I had maybe a minute where I really got quiet, nothing else mattered and the so oft repeated lyrics came to mind "bought with a price".  What did that mean? 

In a flash I remembered reading how many slaves were treated like family and chose to continue to be with their master even after their freedom was granted (I am talking Biblical times).  They chose to have their ear nailed to a post to show their faithfulness. 

I am doing a study of the book of James, Jacob, or Ya'akov and he refers to himself as a slave to Messiah Yeshua, Jesus.  I started to think, what does that mean.  What would it mean to really be His slave?  Purchased? 

I recalled the story of Joseph, and I admit the movie...how would I speak if I were purchased with a price by someone?  How would I think? How would I dress?  Eat? What people would I keep company with?  Who would I serve in my masters name?  How would I serve them? What honor would I give to those I was serving in my masters name?

I have alot to think about regarding this.  It would look ALOT different than this idea of business partner, or friend...

Selah
continuation...

As I have prayed more and thought about what this would mean in my life, what changes would I make, I started thinking about those who are still slaves; the women who have to throw away their girl babies simply because they are girls.  The women whose genitals are marred so they are unable to enjoy sexuality, the children who are trafficked into temple prostitution as children, only to be tossed aside when puberty hits as "tainted".  There are so many other forms, but this is the slavery I am passionate about, th reason why I came to ywam and to Oregon. 

I cannot imagine having to discard my child, or being sent by my parents, meant to keep me safe and now sending me away to prostitution or forced to work.  I cannot relate.  I have so many freedoms, so many luxuries.  Even now I am listening to the birds chirp and the breeze blowing through the trees and the whisper it speaks in my ear.  Free.  I am watching children play in the creek with their mud boots on looking for crawdads and giggling...free.  I'm listening to a group of teens work on teamwork and learning not to think of themselves first (ropes course)...free.  I see the EARS (environment and research stewardship) people toiling the soil, feeding the chicken...free. 

I have never seen real poverty (we will on our 3 month outreach), or witnessed abuse.  Yet my heart hearts and yearns to respond. 

Good things are happening

Finally!  The sun came out for more than an hour at a time!  What a difference that makes in your general attitude and outlook! Selah and I played soccer, ran, joined other adults (me) in volleyball, what a difference!  We have been inside and I have only been with children for weeks now.  11 children 3 days a week and then my own the rest of the time.

But this has been worth the wait.

Today, we had a fabulous day.  We went to Portland again and hocked around in the rain up there.  Then, we had a lunch/picnic together, just her and I.  She needs this I think because when I am teacher in preschool with her, it is hard for her to share me.  Then, we came home and went down to the park here on base.  We jumped on the trampoline together and then laid down to see if we could see any animals in the clouds.  Just us two.  Then, we rolled over (it's a big trampoline) and over and bumped into each other and giggled at when we got bonked.  It was awesome.

Then, our  congregational leader/rabbi and his wife and family came to the base for a tour.  That was a pleasant surprise as Selah LOVES the oldest daughter.   Right before that she was riding a bike with one of her new best friends.  Great day for her!

At Hebrew school I finally got some words.  I have been semi studying for years but never seem to retain it or understand.  I found just the right teacher.  This is something I have wanted to learn for at least 10 years so it is very exciting for me.  I am also learning piano after many years of lapse.

Things are different here but there is just such vibrance, such joy, such LIFE!