Dim the lights. This one's dark. Especially on a computer. Especially on Windows. Long live the Mac!

"Somebody Special"
My latest art... merged with the art of Benjamin Del Shreve.

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I want your HONEST opinion.

"Hypocrisy"
My latest art... merged with the art of Benjamin Del Shreve.

I want you (whoever you are) to give it to me straight on this one. Don't try to flatter me or worry about hurting my feelings. The verdict is out on this and I want it to be in. What do you think about this video?

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Why most of us don't matter.

FEAR
What is it that you're not doing today because you are afraid?
One of our future's greatest enemies is odorless, invisible, has no taste, and cannot be contained. It does not respect our mood. It will not give in to our pleading. It is relentless and does not tire. It is FEAR.

Imagine with me...
...all of those things that you have been too crippled to undertake. Are they phone calls? Letters? Conversations? Maybe they're dreams that you've neglected to follow. Perhaps a word from your Creator that you have conveniently "put off."

The result?
Too many of us RISK NOTHING, DARE NEVER, and LIVE LITTLE.

Is it any wonder that our lives are so incredibly predictable? So mundane? So blasé? Are we really going to continue acting as though we don't know why we're rarely satisfied?

I was washing my hair in the shower today...
...and I decided to say a prayer. Adrian and I are in the midst of some MAJOR overhauls in our lives right now. I asked God for some sign... some indication... about where we are to live. For those who don't know, we're "losing" the house. I say "losing" with quotes because technically, we gave it up, the moment that we decided to RISK IT ALL on obedience to our God. We knew back then, it would come to this. We knew the price. Nonetheless, we are now in a position where we are considering whether or not we are to stay in Indiana or perhaps move abroad. So I was praying about that. Looking for a sign.

As I was preparing to leave...
...I heard a loud SLAP in our entryway. When I looked to see what it was, a piece of decor had fallen and split in two. It was a wooden carving that has rested on the threshold above our front door since we have had the house (a little over 2 and a half years). It has NEVER fallen in all of that time. It fell today.

One of the pieces was facing upward. It read, "There's no place like"
The other half of the plaque was facing downward. The only word on it was no longer visible as it kissed the entryway floor.

Possibly coincidence...
...but I'm not gonna fear the unknown this time. There'll be no gluing the placard together. There's no place like...
...complete and utter obedience... NO MATTER what it costs, NO MATTER who it mystifies, NO MATTER how bad it hurts.

HOME
"There's no place like"

And I wonder where it'll be tomorrow!
Buck up people. You're never gonna feel alive until you live a little.
Until then... it's your fault you're unimpressed and unimpressive, NOT God's.

Cheers!
Luke

Haiti Journals - PART 4 and "CONSTANTINE"

Back in the saddle.
First, a journal entry. After that, retrospective on that entry, through the eyes of Hollywood.

Undated - Port Au Prince - Haiti
"...A friend of mine (who happens to be a young pastor) was driving me somewhere one day.

I had been sharing my thoughts concerning God's love with him. Among those thoughts are some that allow that maybe God will save everyone. Such thinking leaves room for the possibility that there is no "Hell" (as we now know it) while also immediately challenging the inerrancy of the Bible. It is for those reasons, a bold submission.

He shared with me a genuine interest in the possibility of such a hope, but made it very clear... he would NEVER preach that from a pulpit. Moreover, he would never personally claim to believe it.

In a sense, if "salvation for all" is true, then preaching about "Hell-fire and damnation" won't hurt you in the end... because salvation would be for all... even gruff preachers of judgment. HOWEVER, if "Hell fire and damnation" are closer to actual truth, then the idea of "salvation for all" is DEADLY!

Given these two possibilities...
...the safe bet is to stick with preaching "Hell-fire and damnation." If that theology is true, then someday you will be glad to know that you got it right. If "salvation for all" is true, then it won't ultimately matter whether you got it right or wrong.

He said that he was unwilling to preach "salvation for all" because it was too great a risk. If he was wrong... it would be curtains for himself and, very likely, many of those he mislead. Makes sense.

Tonight in Haiti,
as I listen to two little mice scamper and I write only by the light of a flickering candle... it occurs to me.

There are many other religions. Among them, many claim exclusivity. That is to say, they claim that their plan for salvation is the only correct plan for salvation. If you do not adhere to their specific teachings, then each of those religions promises damnation. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are a few... but there are many more.

So to my pastor friend, I simply wish to point out... while I certainly respect your wish to play it safe... you are NOT playing it safe. You are already "picking" or "choosing" one religion from many, all of which claim exclusivity as one of their central tenets. You're already taking a big gamble.

That you are comfortable with it...
...that you have been raised in it, studied it longer, been changed by its truths, and seen evidence of its verity does not in any way increase the odds that you have chosen wisely.

Somewhere around the globe, millions of others rest convinced in an opposing doctrine of exclusivity. Each of those are equally (if not more) convinced of their creed than you are of yours. They too have felt the power, seen the signs, been changed by the teachings and grown comfortable in the embrace of those who share their heart space. But if your safety net... if their safety net is based in truth... then one of you is right and the rest of you are damned!

How can you call that "playing it safe?"
The determination to stick with the probability of "Hell-fire and damnation" is still (and in no uncertain terms) JUST AS RISKY as ditching it altogether. I didn't say it was wrong to believe in "Hell-fire and damnation." Instead, I simply cannot understand someone to saying that it's a "safe" way to think. Safe within Christianity perhaps. But still pretty exclusive and one-sided from a global perspective.

This post is not in any way meant to sell folks on the thought that God will save every person. Even I am still wrestling with that (quite a lot actually). But the reason most folks refuse to even "go there" is fear. The fear of damnation. Pure and simple.

This entry is only to say that, if damnation is a reality... then we ought to be afraid anyway. What if Christianity is wrong and Islam is Truth? We feel certain at our core that Christianity is Truth. So do Muslims concerning Islam. If any of us are right, then most of us are doomed... and THAT'S scary!

Confidence is no reason not to fear.
The "what if" that comes with any doctrine of exclusivity is reason enough to make all adherents to such doctrines... steeped in fear.

All I'm saying is... don't refuse to "go there" concerning the grace of God simply because the risk is too great.

YOU ARE ALREADY TAKING THAT RISK!
So fear is a weak excuse.

If we're not willing to consider God's grace for everyone... we're going to need a better reason than fear."
- End of journal entry.
Continue for closing thoughts.

Hooray For Hollywood.
I saw the film Constantine last night. It makes a pretty good case for fear. Man oh man! Who knew that just wanting to LOVE YOUR FATHER could be so hard? So risky? So complicated? So DANGEROUS!!!!

At the end of some very long days, I cannot honestly tell you where it is that I stand on many things (religious or otherwise)... but I can say this... I'm tired of being afraid. So, I'm trying not to be anymore. I'm daily growing more and more willing to take risks. Why? Because I suspect that, if God is truly a loving Father... the word "risk" has no meaning. It is a word we have crafted from a bold misunderstanding of God's character.

Only slowly am I stepping foot out of one old box and into another.
A shift in perspective.

Here's to hoping God loves His children half as much as I love mine!

Cheers!
Luke

Haiti Journals - PART 3

Starry, starry night...
Anytime I am lost in the "sticks" of Haiti, I become stunned at the beauty of the night sky. The Milky Way is clearly visible. Satellites can be seen floating by overhead. This section of my journal sheds some attention on that glorious moment as it happened to mix with a startling irony.

March 8 - 2005 - My first night in the village at Thomazeau
"...I wanted to see the stars. The kids wanted to see me. So MANY lessons in there.

We build SO MUCH CRAP into our lives... the light from it literally buries the lights from Heaven.

But who are we?
We CHOOSE to do without stars.

At that same moment, the kids, standing under the same glorious sky that was mesmerizing to me, were completely ignoring it and staring straight at me.

These magical lights from Heaven are drowned out tonight by a little-ol-white-guy.

How unfortunate... for ALL of us.
How sad... that this is ALL my fault."

Haiti Journals - PART 2

The saga continues...
Join me, won't you?

March 8 - 2005 - On the Airplane - Roughly Noon
"...So I am in my assigned seat, alongside Wil. This is a big plane. The international ones usually are. As I bonked my way down the aisle, toward my seat, I asked one of the flight attendants if this flight would be full. He said, "less than half."

90 people are on this flight. The craft seats 251 in coach and 16 in first class and yet, here we all are... glued to our assigned seats. Wil and I are a bit crammed. In my peripheral, I see the sprawling meadow of empty chairs; room to grow. Room to breathe. But we remain... cramped and trying to achieve contentment. It's not happening for me.

I might move pretty soon. But the doors must first seal, the plane must taxi, and we must kiss the sky. Only then will I move.

Why?

I know for certain that the seats are not going to fill. But I don't wanna make any move. Not until we're airborne.

First, I don't wanna risk the humiliation of opting for the one seat that some latecomer will demand. Second, I don't wanna waste the effort of going somewhere if I am only going to have to move. Third, I don't want to offend the person that I would leave behind.

What are we NOT doing?
It's obvious that this life of servant hood is an empty flight. It is clear that there is room to breathe and try new seats.

- Are we afraid that someone else will come along and belong there more than we?

- Are we unwilling to exert the effort if there is a chance we will have to move somewhere else at one point?

- Or are we worried about offending the one that we are presently seated next to?

By now, we are kissing the sky. The wheels are tucked away and no one else will be boarding. So get comfortable. Try a new seat. For crying out loud! Live a little.

Haiti Journals - PART 1

Join me... won't you?
I wrote A LOT while I was living in villages on my recent trip to Haiti. I read a lot too. Anyway, I thought that I would share some of my journal entries with you, a little at a time.

Let's begin right now...

March 8 - 2005 - Miami International Airport - 10:58am
"...I count 12 skirt-wearing, bun-loving, holiness folk off to my left. Most of them are white as tissue though one just arrived, glowing a golden-brown. Her hair seems shorter than the others. Her clothes are more appealing and stylish. She has color. She has life. She has music about her. A tone of sorts. When she arrived, it was as though she had not seen her peers in quite some time; a reunion of sorts. Perhaps that is the case.

I wonder why they are going to Haiti? Is it to love? Is it to evangelize? Is it to indoctrinate? Is it to run from authority back home? Who could know without asking?

I sometimes wonder about we missionaries. Are we truly selfless creatures? Or are we perhaps power mongers instead? Haiti is a country that is relatively free of law. In her most rural parts, it is a potential Island Of Doctor Moreau. An American could saunter in, set up shop, feed a few people, and claim to be Christ Almighty. In Haiti, where desperation is the base experience, you could sell a lit stick of dynamite if it came with a scrap of bread. And that's nearly the gospel truth.

In this sense, if there is not a genuine passion to sweat and toil one's self into obsoletion, then perhaps the goal is more sinister. Perhaps the inner motivation is to own slaves. And we control them by what they may and may not have. And they act predictably, as desperate people do. And we yo-yo them closer... then yo-yo them further.

I don't care what a missionary tells you... we own our consorts... if only by their hope. They gladly give themselves and then... we enslave them with hope, or at least... we may.

Call a man a pagan while dangling his only hope for food in front of his face and he will repent and be baptized. He will sing in the choir. He will adopt your precious doctrines.

But let us be warned... no man can truly own another.
And if we behave as though we do... then by any of our lofty doctrines... we will be damned.

Oh and, by the way, those folks I was observing... they're apostolic in persuasion; here to hop a plane and hug orphans for a week. Pretty cool. May there be no strings attached.

Who could have known without asking?
So I asked."

Back home again in Indiana.

Thanks are in order.
First of all, several of you fine folks (you know who you are) made financial contributions toward the purchase of gifts for Wil's family. A few others made contributions toward the cost of getting those gifts to his family. So to all of you, I say a great big THANK YOU. The folks who received those items were greatly blessed.

As for the rest...
I have some serious work to catch up on.
I hope to post some thoughts here later.
Prepare yourself folks!

Cheers!
Luke

Leaving on my mind.

Really, I should be packing...
...but I just can't right now. In a matter of only about 3 hours, I will accompany my dear friend, Wilsage Sagesse, on a trip back to his home... in Thomazeau, Haiti. He hasn't seen his family in two years.

He just informed me...
...that he hasn't exactly told his parents that he is bringing a white friend home with him. He told them that a friend was coming... but said nothing about me being white. He was laughing like a young boy as he told me this. It is going to be his little surprise. WHAT FUN!

Then he told me...
...no white man had lived in his village for 15 years! I guess I will be breaking that stride.

This stunned me...
...but it honored me at the same time. It truly will be a magical moment when we come rolling into town. Only this year did they get electricity in Thomazeau... and only then, at night (and only then, sometimes). I'll be living right smack dab in the middle of a Haitian community. A village. A place where white men only come and then go, never smelling the night amid the huts and smoldering embers of a dying charcoal fire. I am SO EXCITED.

So I told Wilsage...
...how completely honored I am to be doing this. I shared my deepest pangs. My feelings of excitement about what lies ahead. My anticipation.

When I looked up, he was asleep. Wow. I must have really moved him with my eloquence! So that's why I'm blogging right now... to tell YOU. I am SO EXCITED.

Hey... WAKE UP!
I will fill you in when I return. Cheers!
Luke

This one's a gas!

ENJOY.