một, hai, ba ...

What am I missing?

As I crouched outside of Beckham's door with my forehead pasted on the floor, praying that he would stop crying and simply lay down and go back to sleep, I got to thinking about what similar desires God has for me. 

Many categories of struggle in parenting revolve around the idea that we as parents know that our little boy needs to do X, Y, or Z, but he simply does not want to. In our perspective we know that if he is completely exhausted it would be far better for him to simply sleep, regardless of what else he wishes he could be doing. If he has not eaten, we know if would be far better for him now and in the long run if he would simply eat, regardless of what else he would rather do in that moment. These are very basic needs in life, quite obvious to a parent who wants their child to thrive and grow into all they can be.

And so I can't help but wonder - what are basic things God would have me listen to Him about, things He would have me do or not do on a daily basis, actions or disciplines or even just small gestures that, if I would only listen to Him and trust that it is good for me, despite what I might rather do or not do in that moment, and would make a truly transformative impact - on my life, Beckham's life, Anthony's life, and any one else's life who is connected to mine?

I need to do a little analogy calculation, something like this:

Beckham's refusal to eat is to my desire for him to eat and grow healthy and strong as is my refusal to listen to God in ______ way is to God's desire for me to do ______ and grow healthy and strong and more of whom He has created me to be...

I've never been good at analogies... good thing this is not a standardized test but rather a grace-filled journey of sanctification. God... asking for the grace to let me hear You... and in hearing, act as You lead.

Travel travel travel.

In the middle of city #1 out of 4 in the next couple weeks. South of LA right now at Catalyst West Coast conference. Tomorrow morning I'll be sharing the stage with Naomi Zacharias - her father Ravi spoke this afternoon - and Jeannie Mai; two incredible women who are also involved in fighting sex trafficking.

On another note, some amazing things happening with a particularly violent case we've been working against in South Asia - details and prayers over at www.ijminstitute.org WIsh I could give more specifics, but we have to keep things secure so that the operation can continue to full success.

Missing my boys a ton... trying to keep the right perspective while I'm away from them multiple times over the next weeks. Be fully present where I am, trust the Lord to care for our family, and be fully present when I am home. And not fear. Fear not... my watchword. I always appreciate your prayers for us, especially as we have so much on our plate as a family right now. Hope to post some fun pics soon.

Viet Toc

Beckham attended his first Viet Toc benefit dinner this past week. Anthony's Mom has been deeply involved with this ministry to the persecuted Montagnard people in the highlands of Viet Nam, and twice yearly she coordinates a benefit dinner/concert/auction attended by 600+ people from all over the mid-atlantic region.

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Viet Toc. If you're interested in sponsoring a child's education, health, and protection through this ministry, information can be found on their website (there is both a Vietnamese language and English language section).

Beckham donned the traditional clothing of the Montagnard people for the occasion and, as usual, charmed the masses.

    

Restoration Anglican Church

My brother (David Hanke - @bikearlington on Twitter) is the Rector of Restoration Anglican Church in Arlington VA - as of, TODAY.

Restoration Arlington had its first worship service today and Anthony and I were so privileged to be a part of it... A truly remarkable morning... I am so excited for my brother and his family and the 80+ others who have committed to launching this church. The doors officially open to the public on Easter.

Below: David preparing the Eucharist (will be celebrated weekly) on the left. On the right, my nephew Bennett in the line-up of 30+ children waiting to come-in to the sanctuary for communion.

         

Fear Not.

I'm preparing for what has been feeling like a very very very intimidating next 4 days of work, beginning tomorrow. Lots and lots of speculation about all the ways it is possible for me to fail, and lots of fear. Even though it is such a wonderful opportunity that I have been looking forward to for over a year.

I just came across the following thought on John Eldredge's blog and was so encouraged and heartened. I hope you will be too, just in case you also struggle with speculation from time to time:

"“Remain in me,” Jesus says in John 15, the implication being we can not remain in him; we wander off. If God has to implore us to stay in him, then he knows it is quite possible not to. How do we wander off? I think one chief means is speculation.

We let our thoughts run out ahead of us. “What’s this going to be like? How tough will the battle be? How am I going to handle the 14 hour flight?” Stuff like that. Some of it might just be eager anticipation; some of it is apprehension. But whatever the form, speculation is not a good thing. It moves me out of Christ in this very moment. He is not leading my speculations. I am. Or my fear is.

I forget the source of the quote, but I read long ago that a coward faces his battles twice – once in his apprehensions and fears as he anticipates them, the other when he must face the battle itself. It is a very draining thing spiritually. And so I am learning to face my battles once. I’m not going to think about the 14 hour flight, the 6 hour time change, the jet lag, the battles. I am going to stay with God today, and what today is about."

Tonight's Plan

Fire is roaring in the fire place, Anthony's home, his mom is spending the night, Beckham's snoozing snuggly in bed. Its a good night... thankful for so many of these very good nights...

I'm going to curl up with Malcolm Gladwell's new book, The Outliers. Totally fascinating from page 1. Thanks to Kelly Cotter for giving me a copy!

Stunning imagery...

I met Carmen in Atlanta - she is a missionary with YWAM (I've done a bit of teaching at YWAM bases over the past few years) and specifically serves through her photography gift... Take just one minute to view these, especially scroll down to Brazil, India, Israel - so moving...

An evening with one of my heroes...

The Call+Response screening was a great night.  The Rosslyn Spectrum was completely packed and there was a fantastic energy in the room.

I felt particularly honored to get the chance to talk at relative length with Ambassador John Miller (he brought enormously influential leadership to the State Department's Trafficking in Person's Office during its earliest, formative days and is prominently featured in the film).  He has been a great friend of IJM through the years and one of my heroes ever since I first began to learn about human trafficking.

Anthony on the priesthood of all believers...

Further along the sermon Anthony describes the Kingdom framework he seeks to apply to his day-to-day life. Anthony says:

We are sometimes challenged by a misunderstanding that there is a spiritual spectrum of careers – meaning, there are some vocations that are more human and secular…and there are other vocations that are more Christian, Divine and Spiritual.

Quoting Bo Bartholomew, "Paul Stevens , a professor of marketplace theology at Regent College/Vancouver, surveyed people worldwide and found that there is a "hierarchy of holiness" built into people’s thinking. The martyr and missionary tend to top the list, with pastors and Para church ministers in close second. Doctors, fireman and even soldiers tend to fall in the next levels. The lawyers, bankers, big business CEO’s, [IT professionals], and politicians then round out the bottom in our minds."

Anthony continues:

But Martin Luther and other Reformers had a lot to say about this when they insisted that every Christian man and woman has a divine “calling”…They were reacting to medieval teaching that bishops, priests, monks and nuns had a superior religious calling…

Luther said this:
"Those who are now called spiritual, that is, priests, bishops or popes, are neither different from other Christians nor superior to them, except that they are charged with the administration of the word of God and the sacraments.  But ‘tailors, cobblers, stone masons, carpenters, cooks, innkeepers, farmers and all the temporal craftsmen’ have also been ‘consecrated’ like priests, each to ‘the work and office of his or her trade.”

I could reread this Luther quote as in modern terms and say: therapists, doctors, IT professionals, teachers, politicians, scientists, chefs, home-makers, construction workers, fashion designers, gardeners, and all imaginable trades that one could find on CareerBuilder.com have also been "'consecrated’ like priests, each to ‘the work and office of his/her trade.'”

The purpose of taking time to understand this framework is that it helps lift me out of the day-to-day moments when I am completely focused on the work in front of me...the work on my computer screen...and instead to see my work in the same life-giving way that God sees it…as a place where the Holy Spirit can be active.  As Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, “instruct them to do good, so that they may take hold of the life that is TRULY life”…seeing our vocation in the same way that God sees it also enables you and I to take hold of the life that is truly life in the midst of our work days.  And that is not only to serve you well, but it also serves the Kingdom well and those around you well.

Anthony on John Stott...

After giving an explanation of his job (many people have sought to understand and few have suceeded... until now... You'll have to wait for the audio for that one!) Anthony opened his part of the tag-team sermon with a quotation from John Stott:

"Vocation is one of many biblical words which over the years has changed its meaning and become devalued.  In popular usage it refers to our work or career.  “What’s your vocation?” In biblical usage, however, “vocation” has a much broader and nobler connotation.  Its emphasis is not on the human (what we do) but on the divine (what God has called us to do). " - John Stott, The Contemporary Christian

Further along the message, an excerpt from Anthony's thinking:

"The time I spend at work...is not a distraction from what God wants me to do, but rather, it is what God has called me to do -- the emphasis of the word “vocation” is not on the human (what we do) but on the divine (what God has called us to do).  I know God has called me to be the best technologist that I can be at the Dept. of Homeland Security and to do everything with excellence.  I have learned more and more that he has wired me for this vocation…it’s a space where the Holy Spirit is alive in me…and I am certain that the time I spend at work is my part of cultivating goodness and beauty in this world.  Adam and Eve were called to work the Garden.  I am called to work information systems."