Last night I asked God to show Himself to me in a powerful way. For the rest of the night I had memories about my life since beginning to follow Christ. Memories of teachable moments and acts of service. Memories of people who have discipled me and people I have tried to disciple. People who are still standing firm and testify to God's faithfulness, people who have fallen back into sin. I saw miraculous victories and ugly defeats.

I clearly saw God last night. I didn't see His face, but I saw His hands on my life. I must remember to look for Him in my actions and in the lives of others more often. It can be reassuring. It can beautiful.

C.S. Lewis said something to the effect of, “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”
There is a perspective of the world that is, dare I say it, often adopted by Christians that bogs down one’s vision of God, suggesting that He is about serious business only and nothing else is worthy of His attention. From this lens I cannot make heads or tails of Heaven, thinking it a rather pointless end of the adventure, a place somewhat out of character with God’s expression to humanity while on Earth? After all, isn’t He the LORD of Hosts or Lord of Armies? Is Heaven the place that better reflects His Character, or isn’t it Earth, that “real” battle-ground that has so consumed The Father’s passion and led to no-nonsense actions and stern judgments?

When I think about all of it from a Heavenly perspective, or as much as I can now muster, I begin to see Eternity differently. I no longer see it as the place of rest from our troubles, a place to recount the war stories from the good old days. I see Heaven as the Reality of which we on Earth get fleeting, intermittent glimpses. Glimpses which alone are enough to make us love our sorry lot in this place. I think our main battle is getting ourselves, and others, to see that joyful reality, Heaven.

Trivia Answer

Ok
Nobody ventured a guess for the triva question so lets just put that behind us now.

I asked, "What two love languages does Prince want to recieve?"

The love languages are taken from the popular 5 Love Languages book. The clue to Prince's preference come from his song lyrics

...I just want your extra time and your dadadadadadadadada kiss

So the love languages he recieves are Quality Time and Touch.

Maybe that's a little bit outside the box. Lesson learned.

New Life

Evangeline Grace Wikle was born on Friday, February 9 at 10:51pm. She weighed in at a trim 7lbs., 3oz for a 20 in. frame.



Beautiful.

Miraculous.

But you, beloved, building yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourself in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 20-25

Trivia Quiz!

Category: Pop Culture Marries Christian Sub-Culture (incidentally, this is something that I hope happens until there is no longer ANY Christian Sub-Culture)

Can anyone tell me what two love languages the musician Prince (I think he's back to just that name now) receives?

Who can leave a comment first with an answer to my whimsical little riddle...

I'll post the answer in a few days.

Chris

Some details about life at street level

For any interested in StreetLevel's baby steps in downtown Seattle, I'll try to mention what is going on from time to time - without noting the mundane details of a life that is both supernaturally energized, and at the same time still very boring for blog-readers who are looking for substance (conversely, if you are looking for fluff, just leave a comment to the like and I'll be sure to include what I'm listening to and take the time to find just the right emoticon for the moment!).

We are big on discipleship, believing that intentional, dogged one-on-one relationships are the best way to help people to grow more like Jesus Christ (which is the reason we are here). We have started doing discipleship - God has given us one worker, Praise the Lord. We are meeting many times throughout the week in teaching and accountability as well as evangelism - a vital part of discipleship is doing - ministry of service and proclamation.

We have interest from 3 students from Seattle Pacific University (a Christian University in Queen Anne, a couple of neighborhoods to the North)who are prayerfully considering relocation to minister with us incarnationaly. Also, one man from Zimbabwe who is beginning the Visa process.

We have begun excellent relationships with our neighbors on the street, including renouncement of drug abuse and recommitment to Christ. However, we haven't yet been successful in continuing those relationships into discipleship. While I have faith that the war for their souls isn't over, losing the battle for two men within 24 hours hurts. I am reminded how real our enemy and how important our struggle. I take heart that Christ has overcome the world.

Please pray for us. Pray also about joining us in misitry.

Chris Wikle

Yesterday, we met a guy on the street who explained to us that the best thing we as Christians could give to people in need was our ears.

That's pretty hard to disagree with, because, in turn, he gave us his ears and together we opened the Word of God. Good times.

I was glad that we didn't come to talk at that guy. We were already on the same page. God is doing good things at StreetLevel. Praise the LORD.

Chris