Standing in line at Starbucks, airline delays, train crossings and so many other nuisances generally cause most people's blood pressure to rise while their activity is temporarily stopped. Waiting basically means you stop. Stop what? It doesn't matter. When you wait you stop for something to "start" or pass or finish. Yesterday, I had to update some software on this computer... It took over an hour to complete and I had to wait for it to finish before I could do what I wanted.
Many of you know Jamie Whitmore's surgery went well on Friday. She was taken out of ICU yesterday and put in a normal (although Courtney says it's really plush, so for a hospital I'm not so sure how normal that is) room. There she waits... for the feelings to return to normal in her leg, the pain to completely subside and the news, "You can go home now."
Waiting for some means recovery while for others it means rest and still for most of us, waiting is just wrong. The phrase, "I want it and I want it NOW!" was coined by me and about ten million other of my closest friends. I'm sure you're one of them. Whenever we find ourselves is a situation where patience is required we would rather lose the wait if it were at all possible. However, I have found waiting is crucial if not essential for a greater outcome. Instant gratification isn't all it's cracked up to be. Take chocolate chip cookie dough for instance. I have friends who love this stuff. Me! I'd rather pop it in the oven and let it become a warm, gooey cookie. Why? Because I prefer the outcome produced during the waiting period. In this context, another word for wait is "formation." While we wait, we become. This is exactly what God wants for all of us. Waiting is central to the mission of the church. We wait until the Lord returns...
Jesus told his disciples... "Wait... until the Holy Spirit comes upon you." Then before He was taken out of sight, by floating into the clouds, He told them, "You will be my witnesses telling people everywhere about me." And after He could no longer be seen, with their jaws lowered and eyes lifted they just stared into heaven... It took a couple of angels to imply... "Don't just stand there, do something." It was the beginning of the church. They were waiting and they were becoming! (loose paraphrase, Acts 1:3-11)
Here is a story of waiting from Tony and Kelsey Thompson, a young couple from our church who have saved money to literally travel around the world for the purpose of giving it away and helping people in need. Here is one of their amazing stories from Tanzania which I've abridged but not edited...
It started off like any other day. Kelsey and I walked over from our hotel room to the tour company across town. When we arrived our tour guide was late so we sat outside & waited for him. We had only been waiting about 5 minutes when we saw a group of about 25 people dragging his man into a side street/ally... they were slapping his face & kicking him... we asked some onlookers what was going on... he had stolen a cell phone & the mob was trying to get it back. Slaps turned to punches & kicks got harder. Soon the man was really beaten & bleeding... the mob size had grown to maybe 35 now... Our tour guide had arrive by now & we asked him to find out more... 5 minutes later he came back..."He doesn't have the cell phone anymore so now they are going to kill him."...at this point we knew we had to do something... We walked over with our guide as a translator &
asked the head of the mob, "How much is this cell phone worth to you?"
He quickly replied, "$40." I took out $40 & told the mob, "I am
paying this man's debt. I want your assurance that he will not be
harmed after this." ... the head mob guy nodded, took the
money & walked away. The beaten man in front of me broke down,
embraced my ankles and wept. I knelt down with him & in front of 40
people I prayed & thanked God for his grace... we prayed... we
walked him to a grocery store to get him something to eat... there was
a guy sitting next to him about our age. He introduced himself as
Julius... is a Christian and would be happy to take in the street
person for as long as he could... it turned out his name is Stephen...
a kid of 16! His parents died recently... There was a cloths market
nearby so we shopped for "all" new cloths for him... went back to
Julius' house so Stephen could have a shower...Julius thought it would be a good idea to introduce him to his pastor to see if he could help him get a job...Oh yeah, we we also paid for three months rent for the both of them ($13 a month!)... Stephen spoke up and said he knew how to cut hair... we bought all the supplies while the pastor looked for a business place nearby to keep an eye on him... Business space was $20 a month so we paid for 3 to start off with... we prayed with them and explained to Stephen that it was Christ giving him a second chance and not us. He cried tears of joy & promised that he would work hard & tell people what Christ had done for him. AMEN!
When we met Stephen he had no food, was dirty, was being beaten to death, had no home or friends. In about 24 hours time his debt had been paid, life ad been saved, he was fed & clothed, he had a roommate, pastor & friends & at the age of 16 was the proud owner of a barber shop... All in all to change the life of Stephen it cost about $450 and it was worth every penny.
What would have happened to Stephen if Tony and Kelsey were not waiting outside for their tour guide?
When we wait... we become.
The Question... What are you becoming?
(small groups -- Discuss how this story can impact your everyday life.)
And ask yourself, "What is it your wait problem?" And what are you going to do about it? And finally, who are you telling? Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone the amazing things he does. Psalm 96:2,3
Thank you Tony and Kelsey for sharing this... thank you Dave and Robbie for your amazing family! You continually bless us.
Hang in there Jamie! You're becoming more and more of who God wants you to be as you wait.
Today Jamie is having
surgery to have a kidney transplant... her own kidney, removed and
replaced and when I say replaced, I mean her own kidney taken from her
lower back and moved around and place in her pelvic area from the
front. This will allow Jamie to return to a bit more of a normal life
as she has had to carry a drain that exited from her back to clear that
kidney. Without the drain she'll be able to swim, shower and get about
without concern of the six foot long tail.
A concern for Jamie
is whether this new placement of the kidney will hinder her active
lifestyle. So, she has asked that folks pray through this 8 hour long
surgery and she'll be able to return all the sports she loves. So,
without taking my words for it, I'll repost the words she wrote this
morning on her blog.
As I go into this next surgery I pray that all goes well.I pray that I can still go to the bathroom on my own and that there is no further damage.I also pray that the doctors can tuck my kidney in far enough that it doesn't really bother me.I will be out for at least 8 hours so most of all I hope I wake up because you never know when it is going to be your time!
Powered By God,
Jamie
Update February 24, 2009
Thank you everyone for continuing to check out this link to find prayer updates for Jamie... This started last year for the purpose of praying during the difficult uncertainties and arduous surgeries she was facing. Since those surgeries and subsequent recovery Jamie and Courtney have done quite a bit to update her own blog. So, continuing to post comments and prayer requests here seemed a bit redundant.
So, let me get back to the original intent of this blog post... Jamie, thanks you for all the prayers. These prayers have literally come from around the world to a God who is the creator of this world and who's home is out of this world. But yet this same God can make His home in you! The Bible tells us that Christ can make his home in our hearts if we trust Him (Eph. 3:17) and The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:9). As you can see Jamie has placed her trust in Christ and from this she gets her "power" and what gives her strength to finish this life of faith, our ultimate race so she can say, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing (2Tim. 4:7,8). This very life of faith, this same race is available to you. All you have to do is get in the race!
You sign up by asking... "God, I want to be the race." Your entry fee has already been paid. Christ paid it on the cross. Tell him thanks... "Jesus, thank you for paying for my sins." You will be offered the ultimate sponsor in His Spirit, who comes alongside and supports you. Tell Him your need, "Spirit of God, help me be the person you want me to become." And together, you and God will run this race! You will wear His jersey, displaying His name and racing for His glory! "Father, it's all for you!"
If you get in the "race" you'll be on a new team, needing training and encouragement. So, let me know... I invite you to email me at danp@twinoakschurch.com I would love to hear from you and see if there is anything I can offer as encouragement, support and what's next.
Again, thanks!
Update October 22, 2008
Last week I called Jamie to check in, see how things were going. "Guess what?" she says. I always hate to hear this from her because it usually means something isn't good. And sure enough she had just finished a whirl-wind turnaround to have the drain tubes removed from her backside. Unfortunately, the tubes still remain and a deflated Jamie was looking at the possibility of not traveling to Maui for Xterra Worlds.
The doctors, to their credit, tried everything but the result is the tubes must remain, and may remain for some time, until they can determine the right means to unblock the kidneys. The upside, Jamie could travel to Hawaii, the downside as she put it, I won't be able to swim in the ocean with the turtles.
All of this just a week and a half after Xterra Nationals at Tahoe which was an incredibly profound boost to her spirit and much needed reconnection with the sport that has been so much of her identity. This continued rollercoaster ride of emotions and slow progress toward an newfound understanding of wholeness would make the most resolute in life want to give up. So friends... here's what to pray for.
1. A great time this week for Jamie and Courtney to personally connect. It's just the two of them and exactly what the proverbial doctor ordered. 2. When Jamie returns preparations for chemotherapy require a strong Jamie! Pray for her strength. 3. The doctors at UCSF have a "breakthrough" understanding how to deal with the blockage in her kidney. 4. Continued provision for their expenses. They've a long way to go. 5. Courtney's work. Wisdom to balance the need of being on the job and being there for Jamie. 6. Jamie's emotional strength... while everyone attends to her then goes to attend to other things, Jamie never gets a break from the physical difficulties. 7. That those who are able bodied and use "Handicap" provisions will not take parking places, motorized shopping carts and otherwise provided help aids from Jamie... this has happened more than a few times! Finally, let's never stop praying for total healing. Our God is capable to completely, and miraculously restore her.
Thanks for praying!
Update September 5, 2008
Please continue to pray for Jamie, Courtney and her family. I want to ask you to especially pray for Jamie's dad, Biff. He has been by her side sometimes for weeks on end, literally 24 hours a day seven days a week! As a father, I know, watching a child in pain is horrible. Jamie and her dad are very close. They have a special relationship that is only defined by them and is evident to anyone who meets them. I know this has taken it's toll on Biff and when you're trying to be the strong one for someone else it's easy to forget the strength-giver needs to be strengthen too. So please pray for encouragement, rest, continued patience and attentiveness and finally Jamie's full recovery so all those around her can rejoice in some good news!
Also, noted here... I don't always write updates on this post which is linked from Jamie's blog. Occasionally, I'll write other thoughts about Jamie, her struggle with cancer and triathlon. If you just click Main above you'll be taken to the latest blog post which can be thoughts on just about anything or in the "categories" click Triathlon and scroll through the various posts and find those past Jamie articles and finally you can subscribe to this blog in a reader or enter your email in the Feedblitz box to the right and you'll be email each new post as they come. For the latest article about Jamie click HERE.
Again, thanks for stopping by and caring enough for our friend to want to pray for her.
Update August 11, 2008
A lot has happened since the last update. We said goodbye to Lindsey and have put off our difficult decision with our dog until this Thursday when we can be together as a family. But that's small stuff compared to what Jamie's been going through. Let's get up to speed... As Courtney says.
With Jamie back in the hospital she continues to find herself in a place that says, "I'm sick." People who go to stay in hospitals are people who need to get better and she is constantly facing this up and down rollercoaster of "I"m getting better, no I'm not!"
My wife and I visited her on Saturday morning and in the short half hour we were there her temperature had risen so high she began to talk incoherently. We prayed for her and throughout the weekend. Today, I spoke with a fully coherent Jamie who apologized for her "spaciness" and one who admitted last week was extremely difficult emotionally and physically. I wrote on her board, "The JOY of the LORD is MY strength!" in part because my wife's name is Joy and because we often think our joy is evidenced by feelings or we misconstrue Joy as happiness. When Paul tells the church in Philippi, "Rejoice in the Lord always... and again, I say; rejoice!" the context is unusual. Look at it this way...
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. "Text edition"--Spine. (2nd ed.) (Php 4:4-9). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.
"Father... Joy; not happiness. Healing now; not then. Peace we don't understand; not the kind we do... and all for your glory!"
So keep praying and "fixing" your thoughts... find peace and be joy full.
Update July 23, 2008
Today has been a hard day for many... When I think of how much I've prayed for Jamie and asked God to heal her and give her back the joy of her racing, physical amazement and competitive edge I am reminded of life as fragile with those who are less prominent. My wife and I are deciding that our family dog, Monet, must be "put down" because of cancer. She's twelve. She's a Rottweiler and for what ever you think about these dogs she's the best: Sweet and loving; kinder than any Golden Retriever you've met. But she's a dog. We'll deal with it. But I'll cry.
Tonight I hear Lindsey died. I'm broken. The tears keep running down my cheeks. I can hardly write this. She was so beautiful. 21 years old and full of life until she had this "thing" inside her. I am a father and have two daughters; 22 and 19 years old. Get it? I don't. My heart breaks for Steve; Lindsey's father. I get that! I'm not sure how much more I can say about this... I am spent. Truly. I love Steve and Debbie and can not bear to think about the pain they must.
Lord, spare us all. Why the pain? Why the hurt? Jamie should be whole... Heal her damn it! Don't let her or anyone feel this... make life what it was a year ago. God, my love, the devotion of my life... I'm angry!
Please... do what you can do... don't be silent...
please.
Update July 1, 2008
Had a great discussion with Jamie this morning. She is happy, expectant, trusting God even greater and facing more challenges as she continues to deal with the aftermath of surgery and remaining cancer in her body. As already detailed in her blog, she has to have radiation for a few more days and then surgery on the 14th to remove the "new" tumor. Depending on timing and Jamie's trip to Japan, it seems Jamie will have to undergo chemotherapy as further preventative treatments are made to annihilate this disease inside her. Furthermore the need to upgrade the house they live in and figure out a means by which she can continue training/racing to her mental and physical potential is pressing as the need to make life easier as it seems to get harder would be a true answer to prayer.
So DoxA readers, be praying for healing, God's will to be fulfilled, skill of doctors and caregivers, favor with the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and provision for Jamie and Courtney as we remember them.
I have been so encouraged by Jamie's joy and faith in God during this time... I'm praying for you that her fate brings you faith!
blessings!
Update June 5, 2008
Continue to pray for Jamie as the recovery is long and provides new challenges daily. Today she begins a month long journey back and forth to the city for radiation treatments on her pelvis and spine. This is being done to be certain any cells that may still exist in her body will be gone and have no further affect on her. Please pray that these treatments go well and for her strength to continue as she receives these treatments.
Also, Please check out her website about the possibility of Extreme Home Makeover coming to their area. I've also posted my thoughts on how we can help. Click HERE to read how you could possibly help Jamie and Courtney get a home that will facilitate her recovery and function.
Update April 17, 2008
As you can see Jamie is now in the "getting better" mode. It's great to read the progress of her recovery and see she is going to be out at various races sharing her knowledge and experience with us average folks. She will be a huge help to so many even if she doesn't line up for the race. So, again "thanks" will be going in her direction!
But let me tell you a story...
Years ago, I was in a similar situation as Jamie. I had a severely herniated disc in my neck and had lost all feeling in my right ring and little fingers. my right pectoral and triceps muscles had completely shriveled away. I could hardly lift 5lbs over my head with a triceps press and my wife said, "I looked deformed." Our doctor told me I had to have 3 vertebrae in my neck fused and I should have the surgery within a couple of days because I was close to losing the use of my arm altogether. I had several people praying for me. One friend, told me about a bible study at this person's house on Sunday and I should come by for them to pray for me. I thanked him. On Sunday, after church we went to lunch and on the way home remembered my friends offer. As I was driving by the turn to go to the bible study I thought, "You know, I've had so many friends praying for me, I don't really need to go." But then this story popped in my mind. A story I don't think of... Ever!
When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried. Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” And the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands. Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.” Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. 2 Ki 13:14-19
When this story came to mind I turned the car around and went to my friend's bible study. They prayed for me as did others and today, I have never had that surgery. It took a while but my muscles came back (although after 12 years I'm still weaker now on the right side), I became an Ironman triathlete and I have never experienced that pain again!
You see, I believe we need to always pray... Keep praying and don't stop praying until you get the result you want. Remember the parable Jesus told about a widow who had a problem and needed the unjust judge to fix it? He sent her away but she kept on "pestering" him until he finally relented and said, "Somebody please take care of this woman!!!" (read Luke 18:1-8)
So, for Jamie... Let's keep praying; striking the ground and being a nag! God loves it when we come to him for all the right reasons and He will answer!
"Father we know you are a good and gracious God, loving toward us and wanting us to live life to our full potential. Will you please heal Jamie fully? Return the feeling in her foot and rebuild the muscles around her leg. Keep her positive and grant her favor with doctors, insurance companies, physical therapists and family and friends who need to continue to care for her. We look to you for her strength and ask you to work this miracle for your glory! Thank you for Jamie and make yourself known because of this journey. We thank you God for all you've done and trust you for all we need. In Jesus name!"
Amen!
Update April 2, 2008
Jamie continues to recover at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. The good news is the tumor is out and she has begun her recovery back to a normal life. As I've been telling folks, the surgery wasn't a grand slam home run but it was a home run! There really is no bad news to tell other than she must wait to see how well the recovery process treats her. So, DoxA readers here's what I'm asking of you: Please continue to pray for Jamie's complete healing. That her pain goes away and she is able to quickly regain her strength. Pray for normalcy and ask God to bless both her and Courtney with time that has been lost due to all the hospital stays, travel and inconvenience of these past couple of months. They are encouraged that God has been so gracious to them and much of what they know now is nothing compared to what this could have been. Personally, thank God for your health and the example Jamie has been to you as an athlete showing tenacity and grit to win at the race of Xterra and for the person she is to win at the race of life.
Well, here we are sitting in the waiting room at UCSF Medial Hospital in San Fransisco. Jamie will finally get the tumor that has caused her tremendous pain and discomfort removed from her body. Many of you have been praying for Jamie and Courtney. She is personally grateful and taped this quick video to let you know personally how much you thinking of them means to them. Keep praying!
Several weeks ago I posted the need to pray for a friend, Jamie Whitmore. Again, I'm asking that we keep Jamie in prayer.
Just a quick update. Tomorrow, Jamie will have surgery to remove the tumor that is either wrapped around or growing from her left sciatic nerve. Several things come to mind to pray about...
That this tumor is easily removed.
Will not require radiation to complete her healing.
The removal will have no adverse affects to the rest of Jamie's functions.
Wisdom, skill, unity, clarity, endurance, compassion for every attending doctor, nurse, staffer.
Patience and peace for Jamie and Courtney.
God's grace to be revealed to those who eagerly wait for Jaime to return to Xterra.
His Glory!
When I was talking with Courtney yesterday we talked about getting back out on the trails, riding through this beautiful creation God has given us. He can't wait! Jamie's most eager!!
"So, Father we ask sooner than later, as you would have the whole earth call out your praise, will you bring Jamie to a place of rest and wholeness. Heal her, whether by your hand or the hands of physicians. We ask for full healing and recovery to bring you glory and give Jamie the chance to speak your praise. We wait on you! And give praise in Christ's name! Amen."
Occasionally, I get someone asking me... "Just what is the Twitter
thing (or as someone said yesterday; "Tether" thing) all about?" I
wasn't quite so sure myself until the other day...
Saturday evening I get a call from a buddy of mine... "What are you doing right now?" "Uh, getting ready for tomorrow. You know, Sunday... Easter, me being a pastor and all. Why what's up?" "How far are you from Santa Rosa?" I could tell this was leading question. "About 90 minutes without traffic." He then tells me he got a twitter inviting anyone to a party that Gary Vaynerchuk, of the Wine Library is throwing along with several other influential tech bloggers and that he's been able to watch live streaming videos from the wineries being taken by cellphones!
Twitter is yet to develop critical mass but with events like this and SXSW, where it was not only a tool for networking geeks and nongeeks alike, it has became a topic in itself. However, you now add the ability to stream live video via Qik and using Twitter you can get immediate attention from your "followers" who have 6 degrees of connection to the whole world and viola! ...you have instant eyewitness accounting to just about anything, anywhere by anyone in the world!
Check out how this worked by reading Robert Scoble's blog and get linked to many of the videos streamed. It's the next best thing to being there, which by-the-way, I could not!
This post is my contribution to Watercooler Wednesday, a blog carnival about art and culture held every Wednesday HERE. If you have any thoughts or insights jump in with your own post and you may just win an iPod.
Having an intellectual knowledge of Jesus Christ is only a step toward having a intimate relationship with Him. Balancing the heart with the mind however, still isn't the issue. Far too many Christians struggle over the priority of knowledge versus faith. In fact, I've seen and heard well meaning folks accuse sincere followers of Jesus as being "religious" simply because their practice differs. Honestly, I think the issue somehow gets clouded by an either/or scenario. I contend faith is the result of knowledge and surrender. I've also experienced with the same crowd more surrender from the religious than the "faith" full.
Yesterday, having made an argument for knowing a God as a historical and logical deity in the person of Jesus Christ, who did what no human has ever done, is not enough to cause our God to call you one of his own. It is easy to confuse knowledge with faith and assume they're one in the same. Just to be clear that real faith reveals evidence of its nature James argues...
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:19,20
... I'm not saying however, works are required. Personal surrender is the ardent discipline of letting one's own will subordinate to the commands and calling of the God we claim. This is the culmination of our faith as we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, many of us find this a struggle rather than desire and is why we must, as Paul tells us to, "die daily." The more we lay down our control the easier it becomes to do it again and again.
Yes, we had a lot of people yesterday in church "hearing" and even nodding in agreement with the reality of the resurrection but was it enough to personally change them even if they believe? Surrender, or making Christ the Lord of your life is, to me, crucial. It goes beyond the mind and the emotions and is expressed in the will. But you don't have to go it alone. God helps us...
May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a
godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one
who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and
excellence. And because
of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious
promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine
nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:2-4
Here are your, "Hmmm, I hadn't thought about that." Questions...
Is surrender a decision or an action? Why?
Is it possible to have faith in something you don't believe? Why?
Is it possible to believe in something but have no faith in it? Why?
Take a look at Romans 10:16-18 and discuss its importance to our faith and with our culture today.
List what makes you doubt whether you really know God. Compare your list.
If you could define your surrender to Christ what would it be?
I love this quote...
The word religion is extremely rare in the New Testament and
the writings of mystics. The reason is simple. Those attitudes
and practices to which we give the collective name of religion
are themselves concerned with religion hardly at all. To be religious
is to have one's attention fixed on God and on one's neighbour
in relation to God. Therefore, almost by definition, a religious
man, or a man when he is being religious, is not thinking about
religion; he hasn't the time. Religion is what we (or he himself
at a later moment) call his activity from outside. C. S. Lewis, Lilies that Fester
Without a doubt my favorite dish is braised lamb shanks. I look forward to this ultra comfort food every fall when my wife begins to regularly make it and we then usually stop enjoying it around Easter. This habit started mainly because the flavors, preparation and calorie consumption lends it self to colder weather. So Joy, my dear wife, is preparing lamb shanks and trying new recipes for a dinner we'll be sharing with good friends next week. In the last 24 hours I've sampled 3 new variations of lamb shank and there is a distinct winner that I must share with you.
Joy took a recipe from another braised dish (short ribs... again, another favorite) and substituted lamb shanks. This recipe is a variation that comes from the amazing chef Brett Maddock from Arnold Palmer's Restaurant in La Quinta, California. Thanks Brett for you culinary brilliance! I have modified it for the change of meat and different type of potatoes.
Braised Lamb Shank with Gruyere Mashed Potatoes, Braised Vegetables and Red Wine Bacon Sauce
For the shanks 4 1pound lamb shanks 2 Tblsp vegetable oil 1 Tblsp butter 1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped 1 cup onions, peeled and chopped 1 cup celery, copped 2 cloves garlic 1 oz fresh thyme 1 cup quality red wine 2 quarts beef stock
For the potatoes 4 large russet potatoes, peeled 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, shreeded 1/4 cup soft butter (one stick) 1/4 cup half and half 4 Tblsp chives, chopped
For the red wine sauce 1 quart of the braising liquid 1/3 cup double smoked bacon, chopped 2 fresh basil sprigs
Season the lamb liberally with salt and pepper. With moderate heat in the braising pan add the oil and brown the shanks (about 10 minutes). Transfer lamb to a plate and cover. Add the butter to the drippings in the pan and add mirepiox (onion, carrots, celery), garlic, thyme and cook until vegetables turn brown. Deglaze with red wine and reduce by half. Place lamb back into pan and add enough beef stock to cover lamb bring to a boil and then place in oven preheated to 375 degrees for 21/2 to 3 hours (meat should be extremely tender and easily pull away from the bone).
Boil potatoes until tender and place in bowl. Add butter and half and half. With firm whisk, whip potatoes until smooth. Add cheese, chives, salt and pepper and continue to mix. Taste and add salt and pepper until you're happy.
Remove fat from the braising liquid and pour into a sauce pan. Reduce by half with the bacon and the basil. Strain remaining fat.
Place potatoes in center of plate. Place shank on top and generously drizzle sauce over all.
I recommend a sturdy Cabernet for this meal. Most recent favorite... 2004 Rutherford Grove Winery, Howell Mountain District.
Finally, to get this recipe in it's original form and to enjoy many other excellent chef's recipes, like Brett's; click to the right on the Chef's Secrets logo and order a copy from the Pendleton Foundation. The money goes to help people fund uninsured expenses for rare forms of cancer.
At re:create this year we experienced a very moving communion service this Mike Lewis, also known as the Jesus Painter. He painted several canvases while Mark Lee of Third Day and Word artist Mark Roach led the worship. The images, the total context sitting among fellow worship leaders - who lead congregations to the Lord's Table and the very elements in hand were alone moving. But having the freedom to partake and not feel the pressure to lead gave me a freshness to communion I hadn't felt in a while.
We call it Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified, but the only good in this day remains latent until Sunday.
I don't know if you have plans to get out tonight to a Good Friday service to partake in the sacred practice of communion. It is special.
It always moves me.
If it's not convenient or even a desire for you... will you just consider it? Or grab a friend, your husband or wife, your child and talk about the sacrifice of Christ; His life for yours. Take some bread, wine, juice; the symbols of His love and share them.
Okay granted, it's a busy week. Meetings, extra speaking assignments... trying to get Logos to load on the mac AND work! I'm still in my sweats watching the morning sky brighten and I can here the muffled sound of my bike in the garage whining like our dog wanting to come inside on a rainy day. There are days all I can think of is getting out there and then there are days that my saddle actually feels like it looks (people ask me all the time about how painful it is to sit for hours on such a tiny space). This, of course, is just a head game. The road, the bike, the hours in the day are all neutral. The factors of swimming, riding and running are only affected by weather, attitude and priorities. Fitness is only a determination of how long you'll be out there and how hard you'll go. So, what's my problem?
It's hard to go it alone! Even though triathlon is an individual sport; I like training with partners. It's social and it helps with passing the time but most importantly, training partners keep you accountable.
This concept is true in life as well. Many of us just lack motivation when it comes to doing things right, doing things well or doing things period. There are a lot of people I meet who are depressed, hopeless and defeated. Most common among these folks is their loneliness. This is why Solomon in all his wisdom said,
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing. Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Ec 4:7-12
This is a post about triathlon and training but often we need to step away from the sport and ask ourselves, "What are we doing this for?" Triathlon is a friendly sport, filled with cordiality and good will but it can be somewhat myopic. That's why we need to look around and encourage fellow human beings like we would those wearing spandex.
So, I'm off to put on my gear and get out the door. I need to ride. There's more fear in me about showing up raceday unprepared than my desire for comfort right now. So, I'll be out there with iPod plugged into my head and peddling for the hills soon. But before I do... there's a phone call I need to make. I know someone who's hurting right now and can use a little motivation.
This morning as my body was running my mind was racing. Considering what things in culture and art are presently moving me, I was reflecting on my youngest daughter, Aubrey. Last weekend we were with her and had a chance to see a lot of her new work after a semester or so as an art major. Wow! She's really improved and we told her so. Then she thanked us! But not for the kind words. She thanked us as we departed for giving her the chance to express, to be whatever she wanted to be; and she listed off a dozen or so activities or personal pursuits. "You guys always let me do what I wanted to do... you've been great parents." Chaching! That's payday baby!
So many years creating lingering memories of sidewalk chalk, refrigerator art and tempera hand prints.
This reminded me of a little girl I saw a while ago on the Today show who paints amazing abstracts. Her name (it took me a while to recall... thank goodness for google) is Marla Olmstead. Some controversy has risen as to whether she is a prodigy or simply a little girl doodling with paint. To me it doesn't matter. For one, her art is demanding a pretty hefty price tag and secondly, what purer form could there be than the innocent and pure that issues forth from the heart of a child.
For those around the watercooler many of you know John and Tahni Voelz and their daughter Kasidy. If you haven't gone to her poetry blog do so by clicking HERE. I love John's enthusiasm for seeing Kasidy create. It's apparent their home values expression and and their hearts nurture value. I love the fact that we grown up, as artists (and parents are the rawest form of artists if you think about it) have the responsibility to call forth the simple and pure from our little prodigies. Likewise, we should be calling forth the simple and pure from within ourselves.
This post is part of Watercooler Wednesday, a discussion of art and culture among fellow artists and thinkers. To be apart of this discussion leave a comment here then visit the Watercooler to join in or to see what others are talking about.
May we create like a child and ponder like a sage.
The other day I got to thinking about that old John Denver song about Toledo, Ohio. He said he spent a week there one day... that line has stuck with me and is often recalled when I find myself in odd or boring places, of which I'm sure Toledo is none of them. I've only spent an hour or so once traveling through having lunch. But there are those times when we find ourselves wondering how do people live here? or What do this people do for fun?
This week, in western Christianity, is known as "Holy Week." We call it this because it is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. Most Christians don't even realize that there is a Holy Week or a Triduum or a Maundy Thursday or Lent. These practices or traditions are becoming less and less part of the Christian culture as postmodernism becomes more prevailing among believers. To be honest with you I'm okay with it... to a degree. Most of these things we did growing up lost their meaning and value and became nothing more than another "thing" to do to prove you were religious. What does bother me, however, is the loss of beauty and discipline in these practices. That Lent was established as a means to make our salvation more real and to remind us of its worth! To help us understand the lowliness of Christ and to share in his sufferings, Lent takes us from our ordinary everyday existence and grants opportunity for the heart to express gratitude. But we've balanced it's beauty with the ugliness of Fat Tuesday and insisted that living sacrificially is an anomaly and living daily for one's self is to be expected.
Many of us could use a little less religious activity in our lives... but we all could stand to exercise the disciplines of the Spirit more often. So, without sounding like we've demanded a bit of legalism upon our people, we have asked our folks at Twin Oaks to consider a Holy Week for themselves following the final days of Christ. In other words, it looks like this.
Palm Sunday... Nisan 10, the day the family Passover sacrifices were to be brought to the priests for inspection. For you and me; what would be presented before God as a sacrifice to Him this week: What do you have that could be brought before God that needs to be His?
Monday... Jesus clears the temple in the spirit of Hezekiah (2Chron. 29). So, we've asked, what is in our temples that should be removed or cleansed? If you're uncertain or even sure speak the words of the David,
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 139:23,24
Tuesday... As Jesus began the morning without food and ends his public ministry sitting down watching the widow toss in her mites, we're asking our folks to fast out of their abundance! Consider what God would do in them if there focus was actually directed to how much their comfort or abundance keeps them from seeking God and praying continuously.
Wednesday... Jesus is anointed with perfumed oil that, for most of us, we'd hawk on ebay. Jesus was being prepared for the burial that is to come but the significance of His feet being anointed is remarkable when those anointed in the Old Testament were set aside for God's use... they became His priests or servants... What are we doing to set ourselves apart for God's use?
Thursday... the day of the last supper or Passover meal. Jesus, listens to his beloved followers bicker among themselves as to who is the greatest. So, Jesus has his boys line up and begins to wash their feet. It humbles them and Christ later follows up with a statement that becomes the exclamation to the point.
"A new
commandment I give to you, That you love one another; just as I have loved
you" John 13:34.
The latin reads, "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos." It is from this phrase we get the word Maundy. Mandatum... the same word from which we get, mandate. We are to not only present ourselves to God, clear and clean out our temples, understand our ability to give from within ourselves and set ourselves apart for Gods use... but we are to serve each other and it's not an options. How you say?
Friday...
Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be bumble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for you won interests, but take an interest in others, too/ you must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had... Though he was God,he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges , hi took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminals death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8
So, ask yourself and discuss on these areas of life and Christian living; Are you doing enough? If you do these things will you be more religious and just going through the motions or will you practically proving your love for God? And finally,
What are you presenting to God as His?
What needs to be cleaned out of your Temple... or even your house for that matter?
What can you give out of your abundance that would make the widow proud?
How can your life be set apart for Gods use?
What are you going to do to love others as Christ has loved you?
This is Holy Week. We should make it holy and the only way we can do that is to be holy. If you do this... I promise Easter is a much bigger celebration and unlike Toledo; your day will feel like a week!
I don't think anyone likes to wait. 
