Love you all! Taking a little break (as should you!) Enjoy the eggnog and happy fun times.

Want to know something messed up? Whenever I get sick I tend to imagine God sitting on His throne scoffing at me saying, “He made his bed, now he can lie in it.” as though He takes pleasure when we suffer. Theologically, sickness is a byproduct of sin. That said, God has every right to kick us when we’re down or make an example of us when we are ill or reaping the consequences of our life choices (or someone elses). Yet, this week, as I’ve wished I could be the sick one instead of my little guy I’ve learned what God is really like.

Samuel has been sick for the last three days. Monday, he threw up everywhere. Tuesday, it seemed to subside – no throw ups – he seemed more like his fun little self. Today, throwing up and exhausted again. He’s falling asleep pretty much everywhere and his tummy hurts. *sigh* And I think I just heard a sigh from heaven, too.

God does not enjoy this. It’s true – He loves us too much, He would rather be the sick one and this is exactly what He became for us. In Christ, we are healed from our sickness (all sickness and all sin). He is always redeeming what doesn’t deserve redemption. That’s His work – not looking away from us in our sin and sickness or sweeping it under the rug (which would be the opposite of redemption). He looks right at us and, as I’ve heard it said, “He doesn’t blush.” His mind is made up that He will make us well again.

We become more like God when we do the things to prevent sickness (more rest, wear a coat, eat well, exercise, repentance, keep praying…) and join Him in finding the sick and helping them become well.

• Are you sick with sin?
  
• Do you trust God to make you well again?
  
• How do you stay well?
• Can the sick around you become well or do they just receive pity?

“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that dont matter.”

Tim Kizziar (via TJ Reid)

• What kind of successes don’t matter? Personally? And in work/ministry? 
• What does matter?

No! Not the stop-sign. The horse-drawn carriage!

This is what Ruth saw when she headed out on Saturday afternoon. I LOVE living in Hamtramck! Everyday is something new and my pastor wasn’t kidding when he called this city the “center of the universe”.

If you want to start something you have approach the starting line. God help us for the people who in their “maturity” don’t need to begin at the beginning! Think of one who enters a movie after the protagonist has already entered the rising action and is nearing the climax. The climax is then experienced as one who would experience life out of focus. It’s the exposition that brings the striking clarity and meaning. We must begin at the beginning! Why don’t we want the exposition, the rising action? The small, true beginning. The intense struggle before the victory. The people who become involved along the way. We want the victory but then have no idea why it matters or where to go next. Certainly not to a beginning. God wake us from lying to ourselves and humbly walk with you beginning to end.

Andrew Jump