I just finished an e-mail Anda Brown sent and I am completely inspired by what Rich Mullins called “This reckless ranging fury that we call the love of God.” I cried as I read her e-mail and continue tearing up as I write this. Most of you know Anda, but for those who do not let me give you a little blip about her life. Anda is married to one of my favorite people presently still breathing, Randy Brown. The decision by Anda to say yes to marry Randy has resulted in a wonderful and intense marriage (aren’t they all), 5 kids (I don’t know about the intensity level of this but I now have a ton of family members that I can ask. By the way we are at 20 nieces and nephews now thanks to these family members. Hmmm…I think I remember all their names), a change of churches, and a number of moves all closer and closer to “the hood” in Ft. Worth. Oh, and the last move was into “The Hood.” Now Randy works as a doctor in the public clinic nearby and they are reaching out to their neighborhood by discipling young men and teaching them how to read. They are also taking steps to bring pastors and leaders from the community together in order to see the community changed.
So why the tears when I read her email? Yes, I am inspired by what they do, but that is not what brought me to tears. The tears are when I hear that people steal from them, try to throw a brick at them, “borrow” money that they know will not be paid back, etc. and this is all from the people they are in the process of loving. Don’t hear me wrong; the tears are not out of concern or sadness about their suffering or difficulties. My tears come when I get a taste of Jesus in their life. I use the word “taste” here very purposefully because their story is giving me an experience of Jesus that cannot be described by my “knowing.” When I see how Jesus takes a normal person like Anda or Randy and makes them “reckless” and “raging” in their love for those God has called them to, that love becomes much more than my mind can process. In her writing, I can smell, taste, and feel their love for the people of Como. This love is so raging and reckless that the processing of it overwhelms my emotions, and I must tear up.
When the Psalmist says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” (Psalm 34) the Psalmist is not just using these words as a nice way to describe the process of acquiring more info about God. We are not only to know but also to taste that the Lord is good. God is much more that your mind can process and He is gracious to allow us to experience him deeply through our senses. Tim Keller (church planter in New York) asks why does Jesus continue to characterize His salvation as wine? Why does the Bible continually talk about Christianity as a feast? These terms are chosen with great purpose. Randy and Anda understand that what they are inviting the people of Como to is the greatest draught of wine ever and the tastiest morsel ever prepared. Were I to ask them to describe what has brought them to this love for their people, they would fail miserably if their descriptions did not include sensual words like Jesus uses all the time in the New Testament.
So I read the stories Anda writes, and I leave the table full. Satisfied. Can I go as far as to say intoxicated? But it is not Anda. And it is definitely not Randy (he is kinda dorky when it comes right down to it:o)) “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” You also were made to hunger and thirst for Him. Our job here in Thailand is to find a few Thai people who will taste this and be changed forever, hungry for His feast forever. Thirsty for this cup that only His sacrificial love could provide. This country will be changed by wine and feasting. I am convinced of this. Please pray for hungry people.
So why the tears when I read her email? Yes, I am inspired by what they do, but that is not what brought me to tears. The tears are when I hear that people steal from them, try to throw a brick at them, “borrow” money that they know will not be paid back, etc. and this is all from the people they are in the process of loving. Don’t hear me wrong; the tears are not out of concern or sadness about their suffering or difficulties. My tears come when I get a taste of Jesus in their life. I use the word “taste” here very purposefully because their story is giving me an experience of Jesus that cannot be described by my “knowing.” When I see how Jesus takes a normal person like Anda or Randy and makes them “reckless” and “raging” in their love for those God has called them to, that love becomes much more than my mind can process. In her writing, I can smell, taste, and feel their love for the people of Como. This love is so raging and reckless that the processing of it overwhelms my emotions, and I must tear up.
When the Psalmist says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” (Psalm 34) the Psalmist is not just using these words as a nice way to describe the process of acquiring more info about God. We are not only to know but also to taste that the Lord is good. God is much more that your mind can process and He is gracious to allow us to experience him deeply through our senses. Tim Keller (church planter in New York) asks why does Jesus continue to characterize His salvation as wine? Why does the Bible continually talk about Christianity as a feast? These terms are chosen with great purpose. Randy and Anda understand that what they are inviting the people of Como to is the greatest draught of wine ever and the tastiest morsel ever prepared. Were I to ask them to describe what has brought them to this love for their people, they would fail miserably if their descriptions did not include sensual words like Jesus uses all the time in the New Testament.
So I read the stories Anda writes, and I leave the table full. Satisfied. Can I go as far as to say intoxicated? But it is not Anda. And it is definitely not Randy (he is kinda dorky when it comes right down to it:o)) “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” You also were made to hunger and thirst for Him. Our job here in Thailand is to find a few Thai people who will taste this and be changed forever, hungry for His feast forever. Thirsty for this cup that only His sacrificial love could provide. This country will be changed by wine and feasting. I am convinced of this. Please pray for hungry people.
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