God is Sovereign

Last week, Pastor Matt Chandler of the Village church had a seizure which was due to a tumor on his brain.  He is in surgery as I write this.  Sifting through my work emails was one incredible story about how God is sovereign and at work when our world is shaking:

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Check out this story about a Village Church (Dallas, TX) and Mars Hill Church (Seattle) connection.  The story is written by one of our Mars Hill members to their community group.

Hi Everyone, I have a chilling story and would love some prayer for my dad and Matt Chandler. I don’t know if you all are familiar with a church in Dallas called The Village.  It is an acts 29 church and the lead pastor, Matt Chandler, has been up to Seattle to speak a couple of times. It was my church when I lived in Dallas and it was also the place I came to know God more deeply and grow in my faith after I was saved. Last Sunday I was in Dallas. For the first time I told my parents that since I was there visiting I should go with them to their church (the Catholic church I have refused to go back to after I was saved).  I think my mom was so surprised that I would go with her, that instead she insisted that we go to my old church The Village. My reaction to this was pure shock, although I tried to not make a big deal of it, thinking she could change her mind (I had tried to get my family to come with me for two years and had given up) My dad ended up not being able to come b/c he got called away, but My mom, youngest brother, and I ended up going to The Village for church. I was so excited for them to hear the word of God in a different way that Iprayed all the way there. 

When we got there much to my dismay Matt was not speaking.  I thought well that’s okay, God knows what he is doing. Then another pastor gets on stage and starts telling us what happened to Matt by flowing into the details with a short story/sermon about how celebration and sorrow can occur at the same time. It was supposed to be a day of celebration b/c it was the last Sunday in the church building before moving into a bigger facility (they had been turning away 100’s of people from the each service b/c there was no more room).  Instead we were told Matt had a seizure, hit his head pretty hard and passed out, was taken to the emergency room, and found out he had a tumor on the right side of his brain.  At this point they did not know any more details of what was to come. During the rest of the time that was supposed to be church we were asked to get in to small groups and pray out loud for Matt and his family. I was so nervous about how this might make my mother and brother uncomfortable.

To my surprise, my mother embraced it.  It was the first time I have ever heard my mother pray out loud for anything other than blessing the food or saying a standardized prayer.  It was one of the most beautiful moments in my walk thus far.  She and my brother were able to see what it looks like for a church body to do exactly what we are called to do, lift up our voices to God in prayer with one another. Since last Sunday I had been in prayer for Matt & Lauren and their 3 kids, but at the same time had also been praising the Lord for how he had already used it for good, exposing my mom and brother to genuine faith.  It really made me start praying for the Chandler family even more, pleading with God to bring more people to Him through this difficult trial. That is why I got chills when I found out my dad is going to be his anesthesiologist for his surgery tomorrow.  I think the Lord wants to include my Dad in all this, how blessed I feel.  My dad, like the rest of my family, believes in God, but does not KNOW God.  So I wanted to ask all of you to pray.  Prayer that Matt’s tumor is not cancerous, prayer for strength for him and his family, prayer that the love of Jesus Christ would be made known to all the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff.  And prayer that my Dad might really come to know our Lord Jesus Christ through this.

- Rachael Ramon

Early Mornings

It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose…

-Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name

sporatic thoughts

I find that my Tuesday night class is highly entertaining.  My professor is how I would picture a nerdy Christian engineer turned Theology professor from RIT.  We email him our weekly reading assignment so that he can run a script that will take the subject line and put it into an excel sheet and return us an automatic update.  That, and his ability to make amazing star wars sounds, should paint a good picture.

He pulls out little one-liners that are either funny or simple enough to foster a silent “amen” in your head.  One of my favorites has come from our jump through the history of the church and specifically about Martin Luther – “Half and half is great in coffee, not so great in a monk.”  Last class we started breaking into a study on the church and the one simple line he wants to pound into our heads is that the foundation of the church is the invisible relationship between the Redemmer and the redeemed.

Simple? Yes. But, it has taken me a loooooong time to understand that.  I love design.  Things that look good make me smile and power point presentations, like the one I saw last night, that give me a headache make my stomach churn.  Many churches have a great appearance, but many are also empty – void of any real relationship with Christ.  It’s only from a relationship with Christ that we can exude pure love for others and trust in Him.

Last night I was at Starbucks for what would make another exciting story and met a guy who knew a friend I was with.  A quick string of conversation and I find out that he is from Essex, Vermont, went to my high school, goes to DTS, and plans to move there and plant a church in downtown Burlington with his wife.  I’ve been praying for this and walked out slightly in shock and feeling incredibly encouraged.  He wants the people of Vermont to know their Redeemer.  I’m pumped.

God loves us so much.  So much.

side note: I realized that Fall has some essential ingredients: apple cider in various forms, pumpkin muffins, colored leaves, sweatshirts & rain boots, and nice long walks…

Managua

At 430 this morning, my watched beeped me awake and I headed to the airport with two of the girls who were taking off early.  Since then I´ve been relaxing in the lobby, mooching off of the internet, and watching CNN in Spanish.  Something about traveling makes me feel uneasy, but then I remember how interesting it is to look around and observe people…like the old man cursing at the computer next to me because it is in Chinese.

NICARAGUA.  So much to say, but that will probably have to come in pieces.  My mind hasn´t processed much of anything yet.  Jonathan asked if I felt like I had the whole Nicaraguan experience and I think I´ve just hit the tip of the iceberg.  Every where I go there are so many faces and stories that I learn so much from.  We spent the week doing work projects at camp and doing a children´s camp on the weekend.  My prayer for the kids is that they will remember the camp years from now and take away from it fond memories and a better understanding of God´s loving grace. 

Thanks again for praying.  I arrive in Dallas tonight at 1040pm and will hopefully roll out of bed with enough energy to be somewhat productive at work tomorrow.  I´ll load up some pictures on facebook soon!

NICA

Nicaragua tomorrow!

Thanks for praying!

Visitors

I was reminded how much I love people from NY when Allison, Belinda, Drew, Johnny, Mark & Adria made a weekend trip out to Vermont.  It is such a gift from God to be able to sit around, talk, and laugh until my stomach hurts.  Lovely, lovely friends.

Move

–verb (used without object)
1. to pass from one place or position to another.

The month of July is the focal point of my summer.  The next three weeks involves a lot of traveling…Vermont–>Nicaragua–>Florida.  On Saturday, I head to Vermont to spend time with my family.  This, I’m sure, will involve dinner out to Hoagies, a ridiculous amount of bowls of lucky charms in the morning, a hippie venture with Erin, some rain here or there, and plenty of trips to the most loved VT-DeCapua places.  Johnny, Drew, Allison, Belinda, Mark & Adria are stopping by Saturday night, which certainly creates a perfect homecoming. 

2. to go from one place of residence to another: They moved from Tennessee to Texas. 

A lot, almost too much, has been new the past week or so.  With a new apartment comes new sounds, new roommates, new issues with internet, new driving paths to work…etc.  I take regular jogs at the lake and hope to utilize my bike more.  Two days ago I accidently joined a cross-country race and quickly turned around when I realized the finish line was just ahead. 

3. to advance or progress: The red racing car moved into the lead. 

The month of July has and will involve a lot of progress.  I’m heading to Nicaragua!  I think this will be stretching and an opportunity to energize me more for my program at DTS.   Moving away from my on campus housing and my roommate was/is difficult.  But, I feel like it was the right thing to do.  I’m excited for what this new apartment will be for me and my friends.  Nate is getting married!  Abby, Sarita, and I are heading to Orlando to see him and Ali tie the knot.  Lucky for us they will be our neighbors at the new apartment complex. 

4. to have a regular motion, as an implement or a machine; turn; revolve.

For the past 5 years, I’ve moved completely out and into a dorm/apartment each year.  I’ve come to grips that life right now is pretty transient.  Moving and change can be frustrating, but God has been able to use me in each new place, each apartment, and alongside the people I know and love wherever I end up.

Prayer Request

If you read this and could spend some time in prayer, that would be appreciated.  My grandma has been at the hospital for a few weeks and is not doing well.  Prayer would be for her comfort, her health, and for my family (especially my dad – she’s his mom)….thanks!

Nicaragua!

I’m going on a missions trip to Nicaragua!  June 21st-28th.

Read more on the “Nicaragua Mission Trip” page.

Memorial Day Weekend

Reading at the lake.  Sunburn.  Bandanas.  No shoes.  Sonic Strawberry Limemade during happy hour. 

 

Ah – summer is here.