ever get the feeling you're being watched?

One of my geekiest traits is the ability to see "faces" in inanimate objects. Let me introduce you to my friends in the kitchen.


Dazed Doorman

Maniacal Microwave (tilt your head to the right!)

Dweeby Dishwasher

Ogling Oven (check out all those eyes!)



soil management

Today Pastor Harrop spoke on the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8. Parables were basically the first attempt at an object lesson - a main lesson is taught by way of a more familiar illustration. In this parable, the familiarity was in the act of sowing and harvesting a crop, something everyone did at the time and therefore understood well. Since I live in Germany's Black Forest area, I see this story come to life more in the forest landscape of hiking trails, ferns, towering trees, and other flora.

The seed that fell on the path (v11-12) represents the hard heart. Just as a path is beaten down and packed so tightly that no seed can penetrate, this person has hardened his heart to the Word of God and refuses to hear or obey.

The seed that fell on the rocks (v13) represents the shallow heart. A plant's roots serve two functions: to anchor the plant, and to absorb water. Picture a thin layer of soil covering a layer of rock. Anything planted here would fail to establish a healthy root system and eventually die because it couldn't absorb enough water. In the same way that this plant has no anchor, the person with the shallow heart has heard the Word of God superficially. When trials and tests come, this person falls away because he did not allow his belief to become his reality.


The seed that gets choked by the weeds (v14) represents the crowded heart. She has allowed riches, worries, and other idols to take God's place in her life.

Finally, the seed that falls on good soil (v15) represents the productive heart. This person has heard and responded to the Word of God.

Typically when we read this passage we interpret the soil as four different types of people. Everyone falls into one of those four categories, and you're basically stuck with it. We relinquish all responsibility and claim that we simply are the way we are (and then wonder why God lets bad things happen).

Thankfully, that's not true. We do have a choice and we can change our attitudes. If we tend to the soil of our hearts, we can go from hardened soil to the good soil that yields good crops. It's a three-step process:

1. Hear the Word. See yourself as you truly are and permit God to move into the areas that need work.
2. Retain the Word. Hold fast to the truth. Seek to live by the Word in your every day life.
3. Produce a crop. Seek out how God can engage you in serving others.

just another day?

There are days when I wonder what in the world God is doing. After reflecting on the seemingly disjointed events of my day, interactions with my students, interesting encounters at the German grocery store... I often fail to see how any of it can have any eternal significance. The day may be haphazard and random or perfectly planned; regardless, I'm left with the question, "What significance did today hold?"

Then I take a step back and am dismayed to realize I've had many more days just like this one. Wake up, go to school, teach, eat lunch, prep for tomorrow's lessons, attend back-to-back meetings, go to rehearsal/Chrysalis/the dorm, go to bed, repeat. Today was just another day.

Or was it? Suddenly, something pretty neat happens: I get a glimpse of the big picture. While I'm busy micromanaging my days away, God is working on a masterpiece to which my eyes are blinded.

Pastor David Harrop is leading BFCF through a study of Luke. A few weeks ago we covered Luke 7 and John the Baptist's questioning of Jesus. Pastor pointed out that John was sitting in prison, unable to observe all the miracles and fulfilled prophecies by Jesus. He couldn't see for himself what Jesus was doing, yet he was clinging to an unraveling thread of hope that Jesus was the Messiah. John had prepared the way for Jesus, but now he wasn't so sure... suppose he misunderstood the signs?

How often am I like John? Sitting in the prison of my daily life, going through the motions, waiting for God to reveal himself to me.  I long for fellowship with the Spirit but walk away from church feeling empty and alone. Wondering if maybe I misunderstood or made a wrong turn somewhere.

Yet there's hope in verse 21. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. In other words, "blessed is the man who perseveres even though he can't see any reason to do so." Jesus is still Lord and God holds me in His hands, even when I can't feel Him. When I can't see His purposes and can't understand His ways. When things aren't going the way I think they should be going. When the days run together and the weeks fly by without a break. In spite of all these things, I choose to worship, because I know God is moving and doing things I can't see. God has plans for me that I would never, ever, in a million years imagine. So each day, be it monotonous or momentous, I must remember the promise in Zephaniah 3:17, and trust that God is with me and working in and through me.

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.