Spring Break: The Week in Review

Last week was Spring Break (I know, I'm slow getting this out). For the Collins' this year, Spring Break held a variety of activities and adventures. Just to give you a glimpse into "a week in the life" I thought I'd share the snapshots of our week in review.

Movie Night: Dan in Real Life; August Rush; The Kingdom

Food: Chipotle; Trio's; BW3

Hanging Out: the Bicycle Garage on Kirkwood in Bloomington (I got my Schwinn tuned up for Spring); Greetings on Kirkwood (Jacob is "Hanging with my Gnomies"); Barnes and Noble in Bloomington (I picked up the new N.T. Wright book "Surprised by Hope" while Michaela got "Diary of Anne Frank")

Beverages: Coffee at Soma (no corporate aftertaste); Coffee at Starbucks; Coffee at The Lakehouse Coffee Shop (3 out of 4 voted "hot"); Chimay at The Fiddler's Hearth

Great Friends: The Galloways in Michigan City (thanks for hosting us - it was awesome!)

Great Church: Countryside Christian Church in Michigan City (where The Killers meet Brenton Brown!)

The contrast between getting back home and then having to get up and go back to work and school reminded me of a Red Stripe commercial: Boo, going back to Lehigh. Hooray sleeping at home!

So there you have it - nothing super-fancy, but very cool just to hang with family and friends. Sometimes we all need to remember that we're human beings, not human doings. That's what this week was for us.

Resurgam

Interestingly, the older I get, the less I realize I know about life in Christ. Sounds kinda crazy, right? You’d think that the longer you follow someone – in part, whole, or some fraction thereof – that you’d begin to think and act like the one you’re following. You’d think that.

I have come face to face with a story that Rich Mullins told once, where an interviewer asked Rich, “When were you born again?” To which he replied, “Which time?” Rich goes on to talk about summer camp, and how the kids there would rededicate their lives to Christ each year. In college, the need to give our lives to Jesus hits us about every 6 months. After college, it’s quarterly. Until, Rich said, we hit our 40’s, where we rededicate ourselves 4 times a day.

Maybe he was joking, but I think only a little.

I flat out guarantee you that I don’t have this Jesus stuff nailed. Isn’t that comforting, to read of an elder at a church admitting to being at times clueless? I think I flirt with following Jesus. I mean, there are times where I get close, but then *poof* it’s back to me being me. I cling to the idea that I now see through a glass darkly, and will one day see face to face. And yet, it is, as Paul declares in Scripture, “a mystery” most of the time. I can remember being so sure of myself, and being so very confident that I had the answers – the right answers – to any Jesus question. Today, I realize that Jesus calls me to die, daily. And in the dying, I know that I will rise again. That’s about it.

That’s what Resurgam means, that “I will rise again.” One Latin word captures for me, hope. Not in me, but in Christ. I trust “that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I may be down but I will rise,
It may be dark but God is light.

AMEN.

August Rush

Okay. Maybe it's a little corny. But August Rush is a God-haunted movie, and its a good one as well. If you know me, you've heard me say "he who has ears to hear" tons of times. That idea is a key element in this movie.

Here's a couple of lines from the movie . . .

August Rush: It's like someone's calling out to me, only some of us can hear it.
Wizard: Only some of us are listening.

- and -

Wizard: You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.

This movie also connects us to a longing that lies within most of us, which is to know that we belong.

Wizard: If you could choose any name in the world. Any! What would you want to be?
Wizard: Come on, kid. Any.
August Rush: Found.

Trust me, and give this movie a look. I think you'll find it well worth the $3 rental.

Marvelous Light

The day after Easter is huge for me. The season of Lent is over. The intense focus of Holy Week is over. Life continues, but now the question must be asked, "What do I do with the Risen Christ?"

How will my life be different now that He has risen? How will your life be different? Allow yourself to slow down a bit and consider things like how your time is spent. How your money is spent. Who are you helping today? How are you expressing joy? Expressing mercy? Compassion? Justice? Am I seeking Jesus in the scriptures and in prayer? Is He remaking me into His image, today?

How will your life's story end, because you follow Jesus?

May abundant life be yours today.

I may be down but I will rise,
It may be dark but God is light.

Sin has lost its power,
Death has lost its sting,
and from the grave You've risen victoriously!

Into Marvelous Light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame,
by the Cross You are the Truth,
You are the Life, You are the Way.

~ AMEN

(to be continued, daily . . .)

He is Risen Indeed!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Matthew 28:5-7

And from the grave You've risen victoriously!

(to be continued . . .)

Saturday is a Hard Day

Every year at Easter, I try and imagine what the original followers of Jesus experienced on the Saturday after Good Friday. The Scriptures are pretty silent concerning that day, which makes sense given the strict observance of the Sabbath. But don't you wonder what they were feeling? Jesus - who had proclaimed to them that He was the Son of God - was dead. And now they were alone. Hope had little company.

Feebly, almost in a whispering, trembling voice, I can imagine those first followers proclaiming . . .

Sin has lost its power,
death has lost its sting . . .

(to be continued . . .)

It is Finished

28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30)

"It is finished." May you consider today, Good Friday, the weight and the cost of those words as you look at your life and the part you are called to play in the Kingdom story.

"I may be down but I will rise.
It may be dark but God is light."

(to be continued . . .)

The Most Important Fact in the Universe

Christ is the Son of God. He died to atone for men's sin, and after three days rose again. This is the most important fact in the universe. I die believing in Christ.

~ Watchman Nee, note found under his pillow, in prison, at his death.

Albert's Sidekick

It's tough being a bobblehead in my office. Albert Pujols has single-handedly manned the post for the last couple of years, but he's paid the man on occasion.

Now, Albert has a sidekick. A partner. Someone to get his back. And it's none other than Dwight K. Schrute II. So sleep easy Albert, for help has arrived. You need never to fear a bear attack again.

Thanks to Rachelle and the kids for a great birthday present!

I Am the Church

X Games, Collins Style

Last Saturday, we woke up to 9 inches of snow. And of course that meant SLEDDING!

Some did pretty good . . . Others, not so much. I can tell you that if a 43 year old guy tries to go down a hill standing up on the sled, the picture ends painfully. And it's more of a lingering pain, really.

After this motley crew sledded until we were froze, a bowl of hot chili was waiting on us.

And as the day closed, our guest photographer, Brianne Fults, grabbed some shots of an awesome sunset. Good times with good friends. Life together is good.

1 Peter 3

This morning, I was reading from 1 Peter 3 in The Message version. Verse 8 begins with the words “summing up.” I’ve learned over the years to pay really close attention to passages of scripture that begin like that, or with “therefore” or things like that – those are signals of summation where the writer is declaring, “Hey, dude. I’m about to boil all of this down, so pay attention.” At least I imagine Peter calling me dude. Anyway.

I was challenged in my reading to ask how often am I a blessing, really. Because I was a little iffy on how I responded to my own question, I dug into the word “blessing” a bit. And what I found was interesting, on several levels. First, the word originates from Old English blētsian, from blōd blood; from the use of blood in consecration. To consecrate is to dedicate to a sacred purpose. That pushed me to think of OT sacrifices, and the blood that would literally run off the altar. OT sacrifices made me think of Jesus – the one sacrificed for all. And his blood, shed for me, consecrates me for a sacred purpose when I yield my life to God.

So, now my question is this – how often do I fulfill my sacred purpose, that is God-ordained (Ephesians 2:10)? When I do that – when I live out of my sense of purpose – then I will be a blessing to others.

Here is a key point to remember from the text: “Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.” Maybe that’s the greatest blessing I can share with someone. In hearing my story, maybe theirs will end differently. Maybe they will yield to Christ and be consecrated by his blood. And then they can bless others as well. Maybe, if I am ready to speak up.

The last thing that hit me this morning was this: there is a difference between suffering and punishment. Let that verse soak in and see what you think. Maybe that verse will affect how we view life, and how we respond to what each new day holds. I’d be up for discussing your $0.02 on suffering and punishment.

To give 1 Peter 3 a read, click here.

Mighty to Save

Jesus has conquered the grave, and is Mighty to Save! May that Truth saturate your soul today.



Come, Lord Jesus. AMEN!

TSCC, How's Your Vision?

Birthday Decorations

I left work today pretty stressed out - we had an intense customer project dropped on us, and where I really wanted to be was home with my family, since today was my birthday. So I walk out the door, feeling a little beat down. And I turn the corner of my lab to find this:

When I drove through town, I felt like the commercial where the family has their own parade! It's good to be loved, even by quasi-artistic friends. I know who you are, and I know where you live. Oh yes.

Thanks for making me smile on my birthday!

One of Those Days

There are some days it seems that all I can do is hang on to the simplest of teachings from Jesus. This is one of those days.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Today is the Day

Today (March 4) is the day that Into the Wild comes out on DVD. Seriously deep movie - don't miss it!

Come and Go

Almost the first word of Our Lord’s public life was “come” (John 1:39, Mark 1:17, Matthew 4:18). The final word of his public life was “go” into the world (John 20:21, Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:18). First one must come to him to learn, to be inspired, to find the ultimate goal of life, to discover meaning, purposes, the significance of justice and liberty. Then go among the nations, go to accomplish, go to serve, to wash feet, to feed the hungry, to establish equality, to pick up the wounded like good Samaritans.

~ Fulton J. Sheen, Footprints in a Darkened Forest

Yes, I Hate Daylight Savings Time

Oh, how I loathe Daylight Savings Time. And now, there is proof to back me up.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/83073

I'm Lucky

Saturday was my wife Rachelle's birthday. To celebrate, we did something that we don't do often enough, and it's something healthy for all couples to do. [Pull your mind out of the gutter . . . Jeez!]

We went out on a date - just the two of us. No kids. No other couples. Just us. We had dinner at Friday's, coffee at Starbucks, then took in the movie "Juno." It was great to talk, hold hands, and just be together without worrying about running here, taking kids there, and working on "to do" lists.

Happy Birthday Shell Bug - I am still lucky to be married to you!

Be Kind

"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle" ~ Philo of Alexandria

How about you? What great battles are you fighting, today?

And how can I lock arms with you to stand against the enemy?

A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Let us live life, together.