from dearth to delight

Check Out Our New Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:57:00 +0000

We've moved!

We have a new blog that has some nice features like:

A professional, cool domain - www.dearthtodelight.com
Easier to navigate
More organized and clean-looking
Separate, easier-to-find pages for support-raising, prayer requests, update letters, and videos!

Many of you have already subscribed to receive our blog posts through email, and you can do the same thing on our new site. We will not be updating this blog anymore, so please subscribe to the new blog!

Also, if you get our posts through an RSS feed, please change the web address accordingly to make sure you stay tuned.

We hope this new site will help you to stay informed with our lives better as we prepare for Zambia and then after we are there.

Thanks for making the switch with us! See you on the flip side...

Waiting in Line for a Body

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:52:00 +0000

Some of our future teammates in Zambia, the Roberts, just posted this blog about the death and funeral of their guard's sister. It speaks powerfully and plainly about the "everyday" in Zambia and what Derek and I feel so strongly about returning to do - bring hope to the hopeless...

--------------------------------

This past weekend was a tough one, but one that is all too common in Zambia. Our guard Charles's sister Barbara Kangwa lost her brief struggle with meningitis. Her husband had previously passed away, meaning that all 5 of her children are now double-orphaned. As I was talking to Charles the morning of the funeral, he said something that really shook me. It was very non-chalaunt in delivery, but the implications were significant!

He said that they had to get to the mortuary that morning very early, before it opened, because if they didn't, they would have had to wait in line for Barbara's body for a better part of the day. Did you catch that? Wait in line for a body? The impact that poverty, malnutrition, poor healthcare, and disease has had on this country is hard to fully convey. But even after his saying this, I didn't fully grasp its implications until we arrived at the graveyard. As you can see in the picture above, when we arrived there were a bunch of people. Probably close to 500. Barbara's funeral was one of several that were to take place that day.

At the grave site, the pastor preached a small message and then they lowered the coffin into the newly dug hole. After about another half hour of shoveling dirt, the hole along with the coffin were covered and family members were invited forward to place flowers on the grave. This was the toughest part emotionally, because the first to place flowers where the orphaned children.

As I thought about this situation, I was struck with the reality that this is life in Zambia. We live in a culture where people face hopeless situations on a daily basis, where people can't find work because of 70% unemployment and where children die from treatable diseases. Where almost a quarter of the population is HIV positive, where there over 500,000 orphans, and where life expectancy peaks at 38 years, a culture where you have to wait in line for a body because there are too many deaths!

And because of this, I am convinced even more about the need of the gospel for Zambians. Jesus Christ is their only hope! Without Him, there's suffering and then there's eternal suffering. Without Him, people here die and all they have to look forward to is hell. But with Him, there is so much more. With Him, there is Joy in the midst of suffering. With him there might be some suffering, but it will be far outweighed by the eternal reward that is awaiting in heaven for those who trust Him with their lives.

Please continue to pray for the family as they mourn the loss of Barbara. They are stuck with some tough decisions that they have to make concerning who will get the children. Most likely they will be split up amongst family members. Pray that they would have wisdom in knowing who to send them with. And pray for the family members that will be accepting these children into their homes. Pray that they will be treated with love.

Thank you

The Coolest Invention Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:18:00 +0000

I'm not sure when or why, but sometime shortly after Derek and I got married, I grew some sort of a fetish for rocking chairs. We didn't have a lot of money when we first got married (oh wait...we still don't have a lot of money. But we really didn't have a lot of money back then), but Derek gave me $30 of cold, hard cash to go find myself a rocking chair for my birthday. I searched at garage sales and estate sales and found the perfect one. I think it's antique, and it has beautiful carvings all over it.

Anyways, now that we're preparing to move to Zambia, we are looking at all our earthly possessions and wondering what we want to keep and store, keep and take with us, or get rid of. I'm afraid to say it, but I think the rocking chair with the saggy seat is in the third category. So, I just started looking around online to see how much it is worth.

As I searched, I stumbled upon this - the coolest invention EVER! And no, we aren't with child...yet. But now I know what I want when we are!

If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words...

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:33:00 +0000

Then here are at least a thousand words for you...The leaders of Iran and Zimbabwe meet.

(go here to see more pictures and read article)

Weekend Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Last weekend, Derek and I traveled out to Indianapolis for my brother's wedding. We had a lot of fun with the rest of the family at our hotel going swimming and hanging out. It was great to meet the rest of Kendall's (Bjorn's wife) family and to celebrate with Bjorn and Kendall as they got married. It was also fun to see all of the nieces and nephews dressed to the hilt - they were SO cute!

It was a quick weekend, but very fun. On the way back, we stopped near Chicago to pick up a Starbuck's Chicago mug to add to our collection (so far, we just have San Jose, Seattle, Twin Cities, and now Chicago).

And then we got into a situation on the road in Wisconsin that made me say "T.I.A.!" (Anyone who has lived in Africa or is familiar with African life knows what T.I.A. stands for - This Is Africa. Ma

ny people use it in a variety of situations to explain to a non-African mind events that have a tendency to happen in Africa). Well, maybe you are wondering why I said "T.I.A." in Wisconsin. It occurred to me that the "A" in T.I.A. could also stand for America...so

as we got delayed in our trip home by an hour due to road construction, I found that T.I.A. can be used in more than just Africa.

HIV in Zambia video

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:30:00 +0000

The movie below is one that I made recently about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zambia, Africa. The movie is a mixture of statistics and video footage that was filmed in Lusaka, Zambia in 2005 when Kristin and I were serving in Zambia for our year and a half short-term missions work with ACTION. Many thanks to Sevelino Vasco, Blake Walburg, Steve Ripley and Kristin Dearth for all taking part and helping to get the various Lusaka footage. Hopefully, over the upcoming weeks and months I will be making some more of these short videos about life in Lusaka from the footage that was gathered back in 2005.

The song that is overlaid on these statistics and footage is by Chevelle. The song has more of an edgy feel to it, and I think it is appropriate for the death and destruction that HIV/AIDS leaves in its wake in Zambia every day. In the lyrics to the song, if you think of the “red” as being AIDS, the song touches very effectively on the denial, silence, fear, and isolation that many Zambians feel everyday that are HIV positive or in the later stages of AIDS.

Our prayer is that the Lord will work mightily in and through the Church in Zambia to break the culture of fear, denial, silence and isolation that surrounds people with HIV/AIDS; that Christ would shine forth as the mighty, merciful, all-sufficient Savior that He is, no matter what the circumstances are; and that the Body, the Church, would reach out to those suffering and care for them and love them, just as Christ loved us and loves us with the disease that we all have, sin.

ZAMBIA and HIV/AIDS from Derek and Kristin Dearth on Vimeo.

The Fate of Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:48:00 +0000

So far, I have only made it to page 100 out of 688 in the incredibly fascinating book, The Fate of Africa. The endorsement on the front cover by Sir Bob Geldof accurately sums what I have read so far, "You cannot even being to understand contemporary African politics if you have not read this fascinating book."

Many people wonder why Africa is plagued by all the wars and poverty and disease. While not all of it has a direct correlation to each country's colonization and independence, Africa has been deeply and forever affected by it.

"When marking out the boundaries of their new territories, European negotiators frequ

ently resorted to drawing straight lines on the map, taking little or no account of the myriad

of traditional monarchies, chiefdoms and other African societies that existed on the ground

.In some cases, African societies were rent apart...In other cases, Europe's new colonial territories enclosed hundreds of diverse and independent groups, with no common history, culture, language or religion."

"Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no 'Nigerians' in the same sense as there are 'English', 'Welsh', or 'French'. The word 'Nigerian' is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria and those who do not", said a Nigerian leader in 1947.

"As the haggling in Europe over African territory continued, land and peoples became little more than pieces on a chessboard. 'We have been giving away mountains and rivers and lakes to each other, only hindered by the small impediment that we never knew exactly where they were,' Britain's prime minister, Lord Salisbury, remarked."

"By the time the Scramble for Africa was over, some 10,000 African polities has been amalgamated into forty European colonies and protectorates."

If it doesn't seem so bad to you, imagine some other country in the world telling you that Mexico and the US were now one country or Scotland and Ireland becoming one. All of the sudden, it doesn't seem fair, huh?

AIDS Photo Montage by World Vision

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:26:00 +0000

AIDS Photo Montage from World Vision Video Dept. on Vimeo.

April 2010 Video Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:22:00 +0000

Addicted to a Feeling

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:02:00 +0000

As Derek and I have been preparing to return to Zambia, we have been assessing our motives for going. One of the things that I was recently convicted about was the feeling of fulfillment.

When I was in Zambia before and was working with street kids, I often had the opportunity to do basic first aid. I loved it, and that was actually what precipitated the desire to pursue becoming a nurse.

As I related to people why I loved bandaging the feet of street kids, the word I almost always used was "fulfilled." It was fulfilling to help them, because they were so appreciative. There was no charting or policies or HIPAA forms or worries about getting sued. I did what I could, and they were thankful. It was that simple.

It is always nice to feel appreciated and useful. But that is not the reason we want to go to Zambia. We are going to bring the hope of the Gospel to people dying of HIV or enslaved to cultural misconceptions or living in fear of an abusive spouse/family. And just like when Jesus brought the hope of the New Covenant to his generation and they didn't like it, so Zambians won't always like it when we bring it. And yet we go...finding our own hope in Jesus - not in a feeling.

When Forgetting Is a Sin

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Many who know me know that I often have a problem of remembering things. This has proved helpful and hurtful in my marriage with Derek. Helpful - it is difficult to hold grudges against Derek if I can't remember the offense. Hurtful - if I forget important pieces of information or things important to Derek.

And while not minimizing the ways I have hurt Derek in my forgetfulness, there is a kind of forgetting that is infinitely more serious and hurtful - forgetting God.

This morning in my devotions, I read Psalm 78, and it recounts the many times and ways Israel sinned against God during their wilderness wanderings. It begins, though, by telling how to not be like them:

"We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done" (v. 4).

"...Arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God" (v. 6-7)

But here is what Israel did...

"They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them" (v. 11).

"They did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power" (v. 22).

"...despite his wonders, they did not believe" (v. 32).

"They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe" (v. 42).

O, to remember! I don't want to be like the Israelites in their forgetfulness, although I wonder how much I really am. How often do I tell about God's glorious deed and might or recall his wonders and power? I am thankful for a merciful God who does not consume my for my short-term memory! And I am thankful for the tangible example I have in Derek, who shows me mercy on a daily basis amidst all my shortcomings.

April Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:28:00 +0000

You can see our April Newsletter here. Have a awesome Easter!

Can You Smell It?

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:32:00 +0000

Spring is in the air. Maybe one day technology will offer the ability to transfer smells through the internet. But let's just pretend for now that you can smell this blog (assuming that you have the capability of smelling in the first place...sorry, Jenni!).

Isn't that smell just glorious? The first load of sheets/clothes hanging on the line this spring - aaaahhhhhh. 80 degrees outside with a perfect breeze blowing and not a cloud in the sky. When I think of spring and summer, this is what I think of.

(And one secret that I discovered to bring a touch of midwestern summer to a cold winter is taking that last chance to hang sheets on the line and then storing them away for a couple months. Right around the first or second week of January, beat those winter blues by using these sheets. It really is amazing how such a small thing boosts one's morale!)

There are a couple other fragrant things I think of at this time of year - and you definitely want to smell these! (Unfortunately, no pics). Basil burgers* sizzling on the grill and then going inside to the smell of hot biscuits for strawberry shortcake.

*Basil Burgers*

1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound ground turkey
2/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 egg, beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and form into 3/4" patties. Grill for preferred doneness. And if you like, throw a couple slices of Farmer cheese (or some other white mild cheese) on each burger a couple minutes before removing from grill. Warning: you'll never go back to regular burgers after trying these babies!

Lusaka After the Floods

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:27:00 +0000

Posted on Friday 2 April 2010 - 10:43

By Owen Miyanza, Africanews, Lusaka - Zambia

Many houses in the capital of Zambia have been submerged due to the heavy rains being experienced compounded with poor drainage system. Lusaka is said to be built on top of a rock making it difficult for water to sink.

(Click HERE for video of the floods)

The townships are the most affected, the situation is worse in Kuku township commonly known as Blue Water Site located just one and half kilometers from the central district.

In some houses property has been damaged as residents fled their homes following the rising water levels. Some pit latrine toilets have been submerged threatening a health hazard situation because the water is contaminated with human excretion.. There have been cases of cholera in the townships.

Thieves are taking advantage of the situation by stealing from the vacated houses while cases of murder have also been recorded. Movements in the area is another hassle, gumboots is the convenient type of shoe.

The Disaster Management Unit has identified a site on the north of the city where a thousand plus floods victims have so far been relocated. The Zambia Army has erected some tents where the floods victims are accommodated. Some facilities such as water, mobile toilets have been brought to the site.

The Zambia Red Cross has set up a base to provide health care while a pre-school has been opened. The flood victims are happy with the new homes but their worry is where to since this is temporal. It may not be possible for many to go back to their houses and they are appealing to government to find a conducive permanent place.

Some sections of the society are calling on government to declare the situation as a national disaster.

The Local Authority says many affected places are settlements that were not planed for residential. Some people just occupied the area with the local authority approval. So far government is yet to come up with a lasting solution to the poor drainage system in the Lusaka.

That's My King - S.M. Lockridge

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:55:00 +0000

Zambia : Nshima, Kapenta, rape & beans (allAfrica.com)

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:56:00 +0000

"Time: 1 hour

The main meal is nshima (starch powder from maize meal). This is Zambia's staple food. It goes with any kind of relish as described in the cooking instructions. Relish can either be meat-related or vegetables. In Zambian circles there is a saying that you haven't eaten any food unless you eat nshima and it's true!

Directions

There are 4 components to this dish.

1. Nshima: Requires starch powder (preferably maize meal). Mix contents with water and simmer for 10 minutes or so and then use a wooden spoon to thicken until hard.

2. Kapenta: This is tiny dried fish can be shallow fried with oil mixed with onions and tomatoes. The less spices the better not to mess with the original taste of the fish.

3. Beans: Can be white or red. Cook freestyle.

4. Rape: Green vegetables can be cooked whichever way you like e.g.cabbages, but best if shallow fried."

Off To Michigan This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:37:00 +0000

This weekend, we are heading out to Michigan to speak at Kristin's home church (First Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant) about Zambia and the C.R.O.S.S. Project!

Please pray for us as we speak and travel. We will not be arriving until early in the morning Sunday and will have a pretty full day. But we are very much looking forward to spending some time with all of the folks at Kristin's home church as well as with her parents. It is such a blessing to be able to share with people that meant so much to you growing up and that God used to mold and shape you.

Thanks for all your prayers and support as we prepare to go to Zambia!!

David Livingstone's Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:53:00 +0000

Taken from: "I Never Made a Sacrifice"

"Today is David Livingstone’s birthday. He was born March 19, 1813. He gave his life to serve Christ in the exploration of Africa for the sake of the access of the gospel.

On December 4, 1857, he spoke the sentence that has made the greatest impact on me. It is one of the clearest applications I have seen of Jesus’ words in Mark 10:29-30. Jesus said,

Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Here is what Livingstone said to the Cambridge students about his “leaving” the benefits of England:

For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. . . . Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice."

(Cited in Samuel Zwemer, "The Glory of the Impossible" in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Ralph Winter and Stephen Hawthorne, eds. [Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1981], p. 259. Emphasis added.)

Only 1.5 Years To Live

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:39:00 +0000

Right now, I am 28.5 years old and in the prime of my life...no wrinkles, no aches or pains, no need for bifocals or hearing aids, no walker or cane, no mid-life crisis, no blood pressure or cholesterol meds...you get the picture. I still have my whole life ahead of me with lots of plans (God willing, of course) for marriage, family, "career," hobbies.

My life would look a million times different if I had been born in Zimbabwe - for many obvious reasons. One of which is that I would only be expected to live to see my 30th birthday. Women in Zimbabwe have the lowest life expectancy of anyone in the world due to HIV.

My sister, Molly, just turned 30. She has 4 kids, ages 7, 5 1/2, 4, and 1 1/2. Pretty sobering, huh?

I Will [Not] Miss...

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:55:00 +0000

As we have been preparing to return to Zambia, I have sort of been creating a mental list of things that I will miss or not miss about living here and things that I am either looking forward to or not looking forward to about living in Zambia.

Here is my Top Ten list:

10. I most definitely will miss having a Caribou nearby. (One of the reasons I love Caribou is that it's local...for the most part. But also, their coffee just tastes better than Starbucks - sorry, Starbucks fans!) After having a South African version of a latte, I would even settle for a Starbucks, but the closest one is in either Brazil, Turkey, or Greece (it's a toss up).

9. I am really looking forward to living in a tropical place.

8. I am NOT looking forward to checking under toilet seats for spiders or cockroaches before sitting down or getting surprised by the 4-inch long grasshopper hiding under the shower head...after already starting my shower!

7. I am going to miss being at all my nieces and nephews' birthday parties.

6. I am looking forward to my Bible reading coming alive from living in a culture more similar to the Bible's.

5. I was going to say that I am going to miss driving on American roads, but after this winter and the ginormous potholes it left every few feet, I don't know. But I will say that it is nice driving down the road without the possibility of hitting a goat, chicken, or stray cow.

4. I am looking forward to living amongst Zambians and learning from them. One thing (of many) I love about Zambians is their definition of "on time." Let's just say that it coincides very nicely with the Carlson definition of it, but even more so.

3. I will miss not going to Bethlehem every weekend for church.

2. I am looking forward to living in a place where it's impossible to not think about eternity on a moment-by-moment basis.

1. I will NOT miss the bitterness of living in the path of an Arctic jet stream for 5 or 6 months out of the year and all the snow that comes with it.

26 Years Ago...

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

A long time ago (well, 26 years ago) in a land far away (well, the middle of Wisconsin), a doctor in a small rural hospital said those three words that would change my life forever: "It's a boy!!!" Okay, so those three words didn't really change my life, but that boy did!

Derek Stephen Dearth. DS Dearth. Double D. Dexter. Darryl. Whatever you call him, I sure am glad that I get to call him my husband.

And on today, his birthday, I am just going to publicly thank him for a few of the things that make it wonderful for me to love him...

Thank you, Love, for starting my car almost every time I need to go somewhere, especially on really cold mornings.

Thank you for loving missions and Africa and the poor.

Thank you for listening to all my half-baked thoughts and not laughing at me (most of the time).

Thank you for providing fully-baked (sometimes burnt) thoughts to our conversations.

Thank you for leading our home with servant-humility and strength and wisdom.

Thank you for not being intimidated by me.

Thank you for loving to donate to things like earthquake victims and tsunami survivors.

Thank you for your vigilance in organizing the office (even though I can't find anything anymore!).

Of course, all of these things are evidence that God's Spirit lives in you...so, I praise God for His work in you and His goodness to me in you. I love you!

Happiness Depends On...

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:38:00 +0000

The following is an incredible blog post from our team leader in Zambia, Tim Hilty. Please take the time to read about how our brothers and sisters in Zambia are fighting the fight of faith in the midst of difficult times.
Last week a pastor in our mission’s pastors training classes passed through what most American’s would consider a tragedy. His wife gave birth to a baby boy via an emergency C-section operation. During the operation doctors and nurses told him to go home and wait for the outcome. They told him that the procedure was 50/50 survival for wife and child.

The next morning he returned to the hospital and found wonderful news waiting. His wife and child were okay… His boy was born with birth defects but the prognosis for future procedures seemed good. A week passed and all seemed well… He and his wife were exhausted from taking care of a newborn and recovering from the invasive surgery. Friday night they went to sleep and in the morning they found the baby struggling to breath.

They rushed to the government hospital but their son died on the way. The doctors pronounced the child BID (Brought In Dead). What started out as just another morning turned into a visit to the police, mortuary and hasty funeral service. In Zambia, children who are days / weeks old are not given the typical funeral. The pastor and his wife had not yet given the boy a name so the government documents indicated “son of…” Within hours, the death had been processed by the authorities and burial plot was given to the family in crisis. By 13 hrs. that afternoon, everything was finalized. The pastor and his wife returned to their home, stunned and exhausted.

I visited them the following day and sat with them in their home, me being mostly quiet. Lots of family members were packed into every room of the small house. Mothers, sisters, nieces, uncles sat on the floor and we all sat in silence. Communication was evident, soul to soul, spirit to spirit. Being surrounded by community like that would have been uncomfortable to me if I were the one loosing a child. I would probably want to be left alone. Not so in Zambia, the community shows profound solidarity and draws close to the grieving.

Looking around the room I saw the faces… and wondered how the happenings of the day before could possibly be true. The pastor was warm and appreciative of me passing through his place. He shared with me his deep conviction of the “supremacy of Christ” even in the midst of loss. He shared how he felt the tangible comfort of his Savior. As he talked I glanced over at his front door… A paper had been posted there at eye-level – no doubt put there deliberately. I’ll never forget what it read:

“Happiness depends on happenings, joy depends on Jesus.”

Already, the pastor had begun his fight for joy… in the midst of everything he had decided to soldier on.

Dog and Cat Theology

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:53:00 +0000

I was reminded of "dog and cat theology" this morning when I read my Bible. If you've never heard of this theology, here is an example...

Dog: "You feed me, you pet me, you play with me, you love me. You must be God."

Cat: "You feed me, you pet me, you play with me, you love me. I must be God."

Psalm 40:5 says, "You have multiplied, O Lord my God, you wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with YOU!" Oh, for a more God-centered theology and way of life.

Just for fun, here is a rare photo from the past. And yes, that is ME holding a dog (for all of you who know my aversion to animals).

Encourage Yourself in the Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:47:00 +0000

When Derek and I were in Zambia last summer, we got to know John Chitambo, who will be our partner in crime (uh, ministry) with the CROSS project when we return, Lord willing. Though our time was short, we really enjoyed our time with John and feel blessed that we will get to work with him.

Something John said to us has stuck with me over the last 6 months. During our trip to the bush for a few days to do a CROSS "conference," there were a few things that didn't go as planned. For most people who live in a place like Zambia, they get used to things not going as planned. Someone once told me, "In Zambia, we expect suffering - it is the life we live."

So, on our trip to the bush whenever things went "wrong" (i.e. not according to our plan), John would graciously remind us, "You just have to encourage yourself in the Lord." It almost got to be a joke as we rode along the bumpy rode with choruses of:

John: "God is good!?!"

Us: "All the time!"

John: "All the time!?!"

Us: "God is good!"

John: "Hallelujah!?!"

Us: "Amen!"

John: "You just have to encourage yourself in the Lord."

Maybe you're wondering why that has continually come back to me over the last 6 months. Well, John is a typical Zambian, in that he knows what it means to suffer. Having already seen his first wife die and now facing the daily trials of his 20-year old son battling kidney failure, it just means more when he tells us how every day he needs to encourage himself in the Lord.

Lately, God has been showing me verses in the Bible along the same lines as John's motto:

"Be glad in the Lord." Ps. 32:11

"Delight yourself in the Lord." Ps. 37:4

"Hope in God." Ps. 42:5, 11

"Rejoice in the Lord." Phil. 3:1, 4:4

Notice a theme? God is the source of our encouragement, gladness, delight, hope, and joy. "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." (Ps. 94:19) That's why we can sing "When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay."

So, wherever you're at, hear the words of John Chitambo and "Encourage yourself in the Lord."

Omnivorous Attentiveness

noreply@blogger.com (Derek and Kristin Dearth) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:42:00 +0000

I just learned that phrase in Pastor John's talk about C.S. Lewis at the recent DG Pastor's Conference. This is what he means by omnivorous attentiveness:

"To wake up in the morning and to be aware of the firmness of the mattress, the warmth of the sun’s rays, the sound of the clock ticking, the coldness of the wooden floor, the wetness of the water in the sink, the sheer being of things (quiddity as he called it). And not just to be aware but to wonder. To be amazed that the water is wet. It did not have to be wet. If there were no such thing as water, and one day some one showed it to you, you would simply be astonished."

When I was taking anatomy and physiology I learned so many incredible things about the human body - one of which was a chemical or neurotransmitter (I can't remember) that basically prevents people from going crazy due to over-stimulation. If we were constantly aware of all the stimuli bombarding our bodies, we would all go crazy. Think about it - consider what your eyes see right now, including in the periphery. Now feel the air enter your body and your lungs expand as you breathe. What are your fingers and toes touching? How does it feel to be sitting on whatever kind of surface you're sitting on? Did you notice the feel of your clothes against your skin?

And on and on the list could go. God gave us the ability to feel all of these things as well as the ability to not feel them all at once and go crazy. But it is good to be aware - to be omnivorously attentive to all of these things...and then to "ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name" (Ps. 29:2) for all of his good gifts.