The last two weeks have gotten me all charged up.
First, my family spent spring break at a friend’s house in Rocky Point. What got me embistió (charged up) was two different things:
1) our three run-ins with the policía and
2) the amazing beach views from the house we stayed in.
Although it sounds intense to have “run-ins with the policía,” they were mild and only cost a total of $138. The house, however, was intense. It was away from the hustle and bustle of the tourism and spring breakers. It was right on the beach.
Because of the enormous tidal variance of the Sea of Cortés, at one part of each day the water reached the sea wall attached to the house, and another part of the day the water was 100 yards away. Each hour, as the water receded, the beach scene would change. Different patterns and textures of sand would appear due to wind and underwater currents. Pools and estuaries would form due to the contours of the sea-floor-now-turned-beach. Rocks, coral and sea shells would appear, revealing hidden treasures such as sand dollars, sea creatures, and even carcasses of crab or fish. Everything looked clean and the angle of the sun would artistically shade and highlight each hour of the day.
Somehow, watching the work of the tide and waves on the shore made me aware of my own soul being washed as God’s Spirit artistically uses both the shade and light realities to reveal treasures of His goodness and mercy all over the landscape of my life.
Second, March Madness NCAA Men’s basketball tournament has me all charged up.
Since we were in Mexico, none of our US television or streaming subscriptions allowed us to view the games. Luckily, we know some Belizeans who have discovered creative ways of navigating US systems in order to make possible what others have tried to make impossible. Thanks to them, we were able to watch some of the games.
The exhilaration of the little “Cinderella schools” taking down the “Goliath blue blood schools,” the last second buzzer beaters and overtimes, and the fact that there are four channels playing games for 12 hours is enough to charge up any basketball fan. And it is so fun to watch my wife watch these games. She gets so wrapped up in them, even screaming at the top of her lungs at times. We have been longtime University of Arizona fans, and their games nearly gave us a heart attack. Each Monday, after four days of games, my adrenaline withdrawals made it clear I had been all charged up.
Lastly, some things at Living Streams Church have me all fired up.
I came to all three services on Sunday, March 20 and watched 11 people get baptized. The short testimony stories and professions of faith filled my tank way past the brim. The diversity display was wonderful: some younger, some older, some from homeless backgrounds, some fleeing persecution in Iran, some just getting to know Jesus, and some who have been wrestling with Jesus for a while. I felt honored to be part of a community where God saw fit to add these precious people to our family.
Then, on Tuesday, March 22, we had a little ceremony wherein we licensed six members of our staff as pastors. We stepped into the longstanding apostolic tradition of Jesus’ Church by laying on hands and calling as pastors those who have shown themselves called by God to serve in a pastoral way, committed to lay down their life for Jesus’ kingdom, full of good character, and competent to steward God’s people and resources well. Again, I felt honored and privileged to be a part of a community so rich in spiritual maturity, resilient in the face of the devil’s schemes, and full of one-another-type love and grace.
I hope and pray you are finding moments that charge you up and are also finding moments to recharge.
David