Category Archives: faith

Speed Limits Aren’t Suggestions?

February 23, 2011faith, lifeKirsetin

Discovery: It’s nearly impossible to go EXACTLY the speed limit. Especially for me.

Here’s the back story: I’m helping lead a study at our church called Starting Point, developed by North Point Community Church in Georgia, which encourages people to be thoughtful about their faith. I like the class because I find that it has something to offer for everyone, from people who are just testing the waters to see if this Jesus thing is a scam or could be the real deal, to people who accepted Jesus as the son of God when they were 5 and have been walking in faith ever since.

At the end of each week, the lesson offers a challenge to us for the following week, which is somehow related to the lesson. Next week, we’re reading about God’s law and discussing why the law isn’t a condition of a relationship with him, but a confirmation of one.

The fun challenge: To see if we can obey the speed limit to the letter of the law. To the very number posted, my friends.

As we laughed over how tough this would be, the leader for the week asked us all to try to recall for next weekend when during the week we cracked.

I barely made it out of the parking lot.

This was not intentional. I planned to follow exactly. Really, I did. But I have such a habit, I am such a believer in the 55-really-means-58-or-59, that I do it by default. I know, for example, that on the road leading away from church I drive 48. And so I just did. Without even thinking about it.

Less than 4 minutes after I left the building, I laughed aloud when I looked down at my speedometer. Failed already?

Sometimes life is like that, isn’t it? Thank goodness for grace. And a road without speed traps.

Reckless Faith (Beth Guckenberg)

September 1, 2010faithKirsetin

Reckless Faith – Beth Guckenberger – Joel’s Story

Zondervan | MySpace Video

It’s more than worth the 8 minutes you’ll spend watching this–if you only have 5, still watch. And if Beth catches your attention, you can read more stories like this in her book, Reckless Faith.

I read it about a month ago, and I’m still thinking about it. I’m incredibly moved by the idea that Beth felt passionate about helping orphans and then did something tangible about it. She didn’t just think about it (a fine thing to do), or write a check (even better) or volunteer a weekend (good, too). Instead, she moved to Mexico and listened to what she felt called to do.

Could I do the same? Am I listening when God whispers?

It’s a little book, with touching stories, but the challenge it presents isn’t little at all. I definitely recommend it.

The Wedding Surprise

August 5, 2010faith, friendship, marriageKirsetin

We can mark the passage of time by the parties we get invited to, don’t you think? In our twenties and thirties, the invitations are for weddings. Lots of them. Then the baby shower invites begin to trickle in and eventually we become intimately acquainted with the registry at Babies R Us. But my husband and I haven’t seen these kind of invitations for awhile. Instead, in the past few years, we’ve begun to receive graduation invitations. Former babysitters, children of friends, neighbors…those cute little boys and girls are all grown up and headed to college. I love to pour over their baby photos and wonder at how quickly the time goes. It’s the videos that do me in, though. Watching boys go from touch football to college linebacker or girls go from princess to prom dresses chokes me up every time.

But a funny thing happened this year.

We started getting wedding invitations again. Much younger relatives, and the oldest children of friends are beginning the journey of joining their lives with another.

I’ve always been a sucker for weddings. The hope, the joy–it’s so palpable that I could be a complete stranger and I’d tear up at your nuptuals.

Last weekend, though, I wasn’t a stranger. Our very dear friends’ son married his college sweetheart, and I’ve never seen a bride beam like that through the entire ceremony. Caroline simply couldn’t stop smiling.

And although her gown was gorgeous and the flowers were oh-so-magnificent, and although our friend–the father of the groom–actually performed the ceremony, these aren’t the things that I will always remember. Instead, whenever I think of this couple, I will think of this:

When the ceremony was almost done the soloist began singing. Having been to about a bazillion weddings, I fully expected the bride and groom to step up and light a unity candle. But they didn’t. Instead, I watched, curious, as they walked back to where I thought the candle would be. Then they knelt down together and began to pray. And it is this simple act, the sight of the bride, in her perfect gown, and the groom, humbling themselves before God and all of us, that will stay with me.

And, I hope, with them.

Congratulations Kirk and Caroline!