Pack Your Bags

Think back to the last time you took a big trip. Did you spend lots of time packing and organizing? Now try and imagine fitting all you need for two months into one small suitcase...sound fun?!? Not so much. Packing has never been my specialty. Some people seem to have the gift of packing well. It always turns out so neat and compact even. My suitcase is jammed full and bulging at the sides. Who cares what the suitcase looks like, right? Now a days it is all about the weight of the bag. 50 lbs...that's it folks. So I packed my bag, zipped her up, and with a grunt and strained arm muscles I heaved my suitcase onto the scale with me...the whole time praying it would be 50 lbs or less. Not to be...60 lbs was the first result. Yikes! How do you unpack 10 lbs of stuff when you're going to Kenya for 8 weeks?!? All I know is my bag is now 10 lbs lighter and I am down to the bare essentials. Oh the joys of packing!

The Kite Runner

School is out and I am ready to read. During the school year there isn't much time for the joys of reading for entertainment purposes. After school got out, I headed to the book store and bought my first of many books to read over the summer. Have you read The Kite Runner? I know I am several years late reading this book, but it sounded intriguing so I paid for the book, headed home, and settled in for a much needed read. I must say I didn't pick the most light hearted book to begin my summer. I don't think I laughed once, cried yes...it was more than a cry actually...wept would be more like it. Although I was saddened by the content of the book, I think the most disheartening thing about the book was the lack of hope. In this book, the characters worshiped a false god, which resulted in the need to perform good works in order to find redemption. Redemption was the theme of the book...if you are seeking redemption based off your own performance then the character, in a sense, found that redemption. He did not find redemption and forgiveness in Christ. As I read this book, I stopped many times to think, pray, and just worship God. Although the book was sad, my heart rejoiced in the fact that I serve a risen Savior. This book made me so thankful for God and His desire to see me bring glory to Him. Not only was I thankful, but I was also challenged. The characters in this book were very dedicated to their god and had such a strong community among the others who believed as they did. Am I dedicated to serving my God and spending time in prayer to God? Do I really find fellowship with other believers and serve, comfort, and pray for them? I pray that I would because the Spirit is at work in me. So...read The Kite Runner...cry, weep even, but above all else rejoice and worship God knowing that redemption has come to those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ...who knows maybe you'll be challenged as well. Happy reading!