We are only sheep

I remember my friend Phil telling me how much he loved how the Bible constantly compares people to sheep. His reason? Sheep are stupid! We are often stupid!! Phil said he wanted to write a book about it... I think maybe one day I actually will!

Last night I was reading John 10 where Jesus talks about sheep and shepherds. Verses 11-13 say this:
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."

I remember last year when a barn full of sheep caught on fire in Northfield, MN. One of the shepherd's ran into the burning building to save as many sheep as he could from the fire, because they are not smart animals and do need someone to lead them from danger. He stayed in the barn until the fire marshall made him leave. The man's reason for risking his life? "I'm a shepherd, it's what I do."

Just as this shepherd was willing to risk his life for his flock, Jesus laid down his life for his.

The Hiding Place

When I was in 6th grade, we did a unit on the Holocaust and I was fascinated by it and WWII. I don't know why exactly. Maybe it was the excitement involved in the stories of people who risked their lives in order to save another. In any case, I read a number of books about people like Ann Frank who lived in hiding.

It has been a long time since I have read anything about what happened in Europe during the 1930s and 40s, but I recently found a copy of Corrie TenBoom's book "Prison Letters." After I finished it, I had to read "The Hiding Place." I just finished reading that and I'm now wondering why I had never read it before.

It is a story of survival... survival and miracles based solely on God's provision. The movement of the Holy Spirit through visions, miracles, and discernment seen in the lives of Corrie and Betsy as they work in the underground and then when they are in the concentration camps is amazing. Here were two women blessed with supernatural gifts from the Reformed church where - I'm sure - such things were never taught and they're never ending faith amazes me!!

I think everyone should read this book. Like I said... I don't know why I haven't before.

True Confession

When I went to Greece with Bethel my senior year, my friend Lindsey told me about a game she played with her friends called "True Confessions" where they would tell silly secrets about themselves. Well, today my secrets aren't all very silly, but they're things that I wish people knew about me and I'm usually too afraid to say anything. Here goes...

1. I'm a "messy" and Tim usually picks up after me.
2. I love watching tv and movies and I don't think that makes me a shallow person!
3. I crochet all the time.
4. I struggled with depression throughout high school and nearly attempted suicide once. (God saved me... I can share that story later) Sometimes I still struggle with social anxiety disorder.
5. I am usually concerned about what people think about me... although I am working on loving myself for who I am.
6. I believe God has called me to be a pastor even though I am a woman and I've had people tell me I shouldn't be one because of that.
7. I'm not a Calvinist or an Arminian... somewhere in between.
8. I used to dream of being an actress on Broadway... sometimes I still dream of it.
9. I believe God has given me a special message and I want to write books and travel as a speaker and preacher.
10. I love the tv show "Friends."
11. My favorite color is yellow, but I also love the color green!
12. I love shopping for the "latest fashions"... even though we have no money to buy anything!
13. I watch Opera and read People magazine!

Any questions?