by their fruits...

"So then, you will know them by their fruits." Matthew 7:20
"Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right." Proverbs 20:11

Since coming to seminary, we have had many eye opening experiences. I'm going to be honest here and say what I've said many times to Paul that if this (meaning the people here) is the "body of Christ" then I'm not so certain I want to be part of it.
Of course thoughts like these tend to isolate me, because on the surface everyone wants to come across as being the epitome of spiritual maturity and Christian love. No wonder Gandhi said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." I have to admit that I feel much the same as him.
It is difficult to try to teach your children to act with integrity and to be conscious of the testimony that they are living out when we are living in a place that is shrouded in self serving and self promoting politics.
But we haven't lost faith. There are a few folks we've come across that are living out genuine faith right in front of us. They are quiet. They are struggling. They are raising their children by their examples; to "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
To those of you who are doing just that, thank you.

Trust...

Whenever I start to think that I know best what to do, all I have to do is look at my little girl. She is the epitome of answered prayer... despite all of my worries, fears, and doubts. She is God's way of saying to me, "I know better than you. Trust me."

Regarding miracles...

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. -Job 5:9

Some say that God no longer performs miracles. I disagree. I look around my life and see miracles every day. Among them:

• I can look forward to an eternity in heaven thanks to the miracle of God's amazing grace.
• I am the lucky wife of an incredible man who has changed my life forever and who loves me more than I sometimes deserve.
• Tucker - our firstborn, ultra-intelligent, funny, sensitive son.
  
• Griffin - the funniest, laziest, most athletic child you'll ever meet.
  
• Anne Claire - a true miracle to have a baby girl after 2 of the most Y chromosome bearing children ever born. She is beautiful, funny, and so girly it's almost ridiculous.
  
• the city of New Orleans. It's a miracle that it has survived post Katrina. The people that have chosen to stay and make it their home are true survivors.
  
• Tricia Lawrenson - I mean, the girl's sporting new lungs! If that isn't miracle enough, she married into a wonderful family that we love.

There are more, of course. Those are just the ones off the top of my head. My point is that God is still in the miracle business. Just look around and see for yourself...

Praying

On Sunday, the Duke transplant team found the set of lungs unsuitable for Tricia, but today is another story altogether!

As I write this, Tricia is getting ready for her double lung transplant this evening. Please pray for her, for her husband Nathan, for her parents and the rest of the Kirschner & Lawrenson families as they get ready for this miraculous and monumental event. Pray for the doctors, the nurses, the entire OR staff. Pray for the donor family, for their grief as they mourn the loss of their loved one, and for their generosity in choosing organ donation. What a tremendous gift it is.
And to top it all off, today is Nathan's birthday.
Like I've said before, isn't God amazing?