Why we love the First Baptist Church of Middleburg, Florida

The new sign: I confess that I stole this from my pastor's facebook page. :) This is our home church's latest ministry--Crosspointe Church in Fleming Island, Florida.

Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17

Wow! Two posts in two days...that doesn't happen very often. But this, too, has been on the list of things to write about, and a picture on facebook pushed it to the top of the list. Plus, it's Sunday, and I always think about and pray for my home church on Sunday. (I think about and pray for my church here in Vienna on Sunday, too. No worries that it's getting left off the list!!) Let me challenge you, by the way, to pray for your church. Pray for your pastor and the whole pastoral staff. First of all, you should be doing that, anyway. It's no small thing to shepherd a group of believers--we're a cantankerous lot, collectively. And secondly, it'll make you less likely to complain about stupid stuff. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. It's too hot, it's too cold, the worship team's outfits didn't match, the pastor needs a tie/doesn't need a tie, his tie was offensive...you know you do that sometimes. And so does Jesus. And He wants you to stop it. :) So if you are praying for them, you'll be less likely to do that.

Now, if you're not a believer, or if you hate Southern Baptists, this is probably not the post for you. I do have friends who read this who don't believe what I believe (I love you so much for loving me in spite of our differences!!), and I don't want you to get midway through this and feel like it wasn't useful to you. But I'm a Baptist girl. I was raised a Baptist girl, and when I was an adult and had the choice to be anything, I was still a Baptist girl. I work for a Baptist agency. Technically, I work for the Southern Baptist Convention. So--full disclosure--I'm pro Southern Baptist. That doesn't mean I think we do everything right, or that I haven't been in some truly dreadful Southern Baptist church services where I wanted to put a needle through my eye. But I believe what Southern Baptists believe. And so, I am one.

Our home church is interesting to me, because I think it's not what you would assume it is at all. First of all, it's in the middle of podunk. Now, I'm a Middleburg girl, so I can say that. You people from Orange Park better hush up. :) And don't get me started on the Jacksonville folks and how they see our little town. But if you're not from there, you might assume, because it's Florida, that it's all sand and ocean. Think more farms, dirt roads, and pickup trucks. (By the way--that's not a criticism. We LOVE Middleburg.) Now, there are also some gorgeous neighborhoods and a beautiful waterway and more and more stores there, so it's not like I'm talking about something out of Deliverance. But it is a rural area. So you would not assume that this big church would be there. But there it is. And it's big. It's grown exponentially since we arrived in 2002. (That isn't because of us, by the way. We didn't show up and draw the multitude.) It's due to a lot of things--good outreach, good preaching, good programming, good music...you get the idea. It's a big, growing church in the middle of a pretty small place.

More than anything, though, I really believe the growth is centered around a group of people who have caught a vision of what church can be. In lots of churches, you have a core group (let's be honest--usually of folks who have been there a long time) who are naysayers. We've never done that before. That's not how Pastor Whoever did it. And I'm sure that exists and has existed at our church. But for the most part, you have a group of believers who understand that the church has nothing whatsoever to do with the building. They have done some incredible, nontraditional things that have really ministered to the community. They have put on incredible events, often outside what the norm for churches is, in order to minister to their community. A personal favorite of ours is the quilt ministry that my mother is involved in. And from even half a world away, they minister to us faithfully. Sweet cards, emails, calls, packages, and above all, prayers have been sent to us and on our behalf again and again and again. Over the years, what the majority of folks at our church have bought into is the idea that God uses whatever He's gifted you with for His glory. Every gift is to be used to glorify Him in all things. You get a group of a couple thousand thinking in that same direction, and I'm telling you--stuff gets done. So First Baptist Church of Middleburg, Florida, has ceased to "do" church, and instead, have become the church. And for us, it's really a beautiful thing to behold, something that makes us so proud and so happy and so excited for what's next.

Well, what's next is rescuing a church that's run into some trouble. And now, FBCM is stretching out their arms to a new community and revitalizing a church that has watched its membership drift away over time. And Marc and I are really excited about it. Not just because we hate to see churches close their doors, though we do. But also because we love the excitement we hear in the voices of people we really love and pray for often, who are rolling up their sleeves and getting to work with a whole lot of gusto. Yes, our church sends mission teams to various places around the world, including to us. But what makes us proudest is that they are willing to do the kind of missions that simply requires them to walk across the room, across the street, across the block, and now, across the county. We're glad the sun never sets on the First Baptist Middleburg family, because that means we get to still be a part of them, however remote our "campus" may be. But we're so glad to watch them be the church right there in Clay County, Florida. And we're praying that God confirms for them the work of their hands.

Well, time to get moving. Marc is preaching tonight at our church here in Vienna, John and I are organizing snacks, and Hannah is singing on the praise team, so it's a busy day in the Hooks household. Thank you for your sweet prayers for Marc's return. There is nothing in life I love more than watching him walk through that door. And this was a particularly good trip, with an incredible visit with an old friend in Moscow to top it off, so there was lots to tell at the dinner table last night. Sweet, precious moments for us, those hours spent listening to Marc tell us how God is at work in whatever remote part of Russia he has been in. I believe long after we're gone, our kids will remember listening to Daddy tell them stories about eating pony (it was pretty good), learning about new cultures, and sharing the sweet, old story of Jesus and His love with people we love. It never gets old. When it does, it's time to come back to the States. :) Wherever you are in the world, I pray that you love your church as much as we love ours, and that you are looking forward to your guy preaching a great sermon tonight, too. Blessings to you and yours!!

His,
Kellye

An open letter to teenage boys

My guy. I love him.

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his integrity--how blessed are his sons after him. Proverbs 20:6-7

I have a list of blogs I want to write, and this one has been on the list for a bit. It was pushed up on the list by the appearance this week on facebook of a list of ten things teenage girls should know (or something like that...I'm not sure of the title). And it's not that I disagree with those things at all--I am, after all, the mother of two girls, and I want them to know all the things on that list. But I'm also the mother of a boy, and I know and love many teenage boys who have come into my life as a teacher or here on the field or at my home church, young men I've come to really admire and appreciate. So really, this is an open letter to those guys, the ones I've watched grow up, the ones I've taught, the ones who call me Aunt Kellye. Because I'm convinced that our society is not doing you justice, and I think there are some things you should know. But a warning--if you're not a believer, some of this won't make a lot of sense to you. So with that caveat, here's my list of things you should know.

--Don't buy into the American pop culture view of men. Look at the tv shows that are popular, and what you often see is that the teenage guy (or the man, even) is portrayed as wimpy, stupid or both. You are not any of those things. And someday, God is going to ask you to lead--a business, a mission, a church, a wife and kids--and you cannot do that well if you are those things. So don't buy it.

--Be who you are. Maybe you're into sports. That's great. Maybe you're into music. That's also great. I am the mother of two girls, and I can tell you that being dedicated and committed to something is an attractive quality in their eyes. So whatever it is that interests you (unless, of course, it's something immoral), pursue it with gusto. Girls like that. I swear.

--Be a Christian. A real one. Not a Sunday-you're-at-church-but-on-Monday-nobody-can-tell-a-difference-between-you-and-everyone-else-in-your-school one. That is NOT attractive.

--Only date Christian girls. And only date real Christian girls. Or maybe don't date until you're older and can handle it. Because the Bible is super clear about this area of your life. God clearly says not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. He means in your dating life, too. And if you don't share the same morals and values, if you're not both Jesus lovers, then what happens in your pickup truck on the way home will get out of hand and outside of the boundaries you definitely want to set for yourself. Even if you are both Jesus lovers, it can get outside of the boundaries way too fast. So maybe don't get into pickup trucks with girls. :)

--Find a man you value and admire, and seek him out as a mentor. Maybe it's your dad. Maybe it's not. But I know many incredible men of God who are setting a good example, and you could benefit from their knowledge and encouragement.

--Figure out what you want in a girl...not just to date, but to marry. Someone gave Hannah great love advice last year, and I think it works for everybody. First, he asked what the guy she wanted to marry was like. Christian, heart for missions, kind, loving...you get the idea. He looked her straight in the eye and said, "Then you work on being the girl that guy would fall in love with. Because that guy will show up, and you want to be the person he's looking for, too." The girl you want to marry, who has all the qualities on your list--loving, kind, loves Jesus first--she will show up some day. You want to make sure you've taken the time to be the guy who she wants and who can lead her into the life God has for you both.

--Stop worrying about who you're going to date next. Honestly. Going from one girl to another...not that attractive. Maybe be a little more selective.

--If girls do not show you respect, they are not the girl for you. This is a toughie. There are some beautiful girls out there who have bought into the whole "you're stupid so I must lead you around by the nose" mentality. Sorry. Take a pass on them. Paul clearly commands Christian couples--men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and women are to respect their husbands. You know why he said that? Because for women, love is the most important thing. But for men, it's definitely respect. I've been married 22 years this summer. Trust me on this one. Respect is more important to you than you probably even know yet, but it's going to be a HUGE need in your life.

--Picture yourself in 10 years. What would you love to be doing? What are you called to be doing? What kind of partner makes that life possible? Dream about her. Pray for her diligently. Except for accepting Christ as your savior, I promise you will make no more important decision than who you're going to marry. None. And here was our experience: we'd both prayed for that person, dreamed about them, and when we spent a little time together (about 5 hours, no kidding), we both knew. This was it. I told my parents the next day that I would marry him. I'd looked. I'd dreamed. So had he. When we found each other, we knew it. Your experience might not be quite that quick, but it will help you know when it is time to know.

--Be friends with girls, but really treasure your time with the guys. Being friends with girls will give you an awesome view of the "other side" of things. Hannah and Sarah Beth have enjoyed great, incredible friendships with guys both overseas and in Middleburg. But your time with your guy friends is precious. Some of them will be your friends for life. The Bible tells us how important those friendships are. "Iron sharpens iron," and "A cord of three strands is not easily broken." I realize we usually apply that last verse to marriage, but it's true of friendships, too. The Christian guys you surround yourself with...they are being used by God to form you into His man. And when hard times come--heartbreak, trouble, divorcing parents, whatever--they will be there. Even as adults, you are going to need Christian guy friends. Trust me. I see often in Marc's life how important those three or four relationships in his life are to his ability to be God's guy. You need your guys to be His man.

--God has a purpose for you. He has good plans for your life. We tell girls all the time that they are priceless treasures of God, daughters of the King of kings. But sometimes we forget to tell you. You are priceless to Him, treasures of His heart. You are a son of the King. Never, ever forget. Whatever plan He has for your life, it is borne out of His great love for you. Maybe you won't be a professional basketball player. Maybe you won't be rich. But I can promise you from our experience that nothing in life, no comfort, no amount of money, is better than being exactly who God created you to be. And to settle into that person, that man of God...well, it will make your wife very happy some day. I promise.

I love having the chance to watch people grow up. I'm thinking, of course, of those nephews here on the field who have gone on to marry and have children and pursue ministry, certainly, but I'm also thinking of those boys in our church who we've known....goodness...seemingly forever. What a joy it is to see them pursue Godliness. What a pleasure to watch as they are shaped and molded into the next generation of leaders. It's an incredible honor to watch, even from across the world. It's an even greater honor to pray diligently for those young men we know and love as they become exactly the man God created them to be. Wherever you are in the world, I challenge you to find one young man at your church to really encourage, and I pray that your beloved is headed home to you, too. Blessings to you and yours!!

His,
Kellye

I'm being followed by a couple of dogs

Since this blog is about a couple of dogs, I thought it only appropriate to remind you how cute my cats are. This is Tasha. She's a snuggler, constantly burrowing under blankets. We love our kittens so much!!

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

I almost never write at night, because Marc is a "quality time" love language guy, and he wants to do stuff together, and since we can't write together, that doesn't work for him. Plus, because I'm such an early bird, by this time of night my brain is FRIED. Especially on nights like this, when I'm single parenting because Marc is half a world away. (Just for some perspective, Marc is further away from me than I am from you. Think on it a while.) Add a German test into the mix, and the fact that I'm not just sitting here drooling is nearly miraculous.

John has to memorize Psalm 23 for class. (By the way--if your kid isn't memorizing stuff in elementary school, you need to make sure you're doing it at home. It's an important, foundational brain skill. If you want to know more, shoot me an email and I'll explain.) So he's been practicing it all over the house. And every time I hear him working on it, I smile when he comes across the last verse. Now, the version above has it "goodness and lovingkindness," but in my brain, it's always goodness and mercy. I love the old song...surely goodness and mercy will follow me/all the days/all the days of my li-i-ife. :) And it takes me back several years--maybe a year and half before we went to Russia--so about 7 years ago, when our pastor preached a sermon series on Psalm 23. And when he got to this verse, he talked about goodness and mercy as two sheepdogs, following us around. And for whatever reason, the image stuck. I cannot hear/read/sing the 23rd Psalm without picturing two sheepdogs named Goodness and Mercy following me around.

Lately, I'm struck by just a sense of sheer contentedness. No, not everything here is perfect. Yes, we still have problems and conflicts and all that other stuff. Yes, language number 3 might just make my head explode. (Not really--it's a very learnable language...much easier than Russian.) But certainly, there's only so much room left in my brain for language, and it's getting a bit crowded. And I miss Sarah Beth and my parents and my sisters and my church...you get the idea. In other words, it's not like Moscow was terrible and Vienna is perfect, and that's why I'm content.

I'm content because God has stretched me into a contented person. My months of unhappiness in Moscow before I could settle in and be happy weren't because Goodness and Mercy had somehow lost their way. It was more that I just lost sight of them. (Maybe they are white, and I just couldn't find them in the snow!!) Have you ever been in a situation that so pulled you apart that you couldn't find yourself? That was me. I could not find me. Ask my parents--they could hear it in my voice. Many, many times they got off the phone and prayed for me. Ask them. It was rough. But I'm convinced that in every situation there is something good, something you can look at and say, "OH! There are Goodness and Mercy! Whew. I thought I'd lost them." But you have to choose to look for them.

I'm so grateful to be here. With the economic downturn and some hard financial times for our organization, I'm going to be honest--I'm really grateful. It means something to me to be here. Our life in America is good and sweet and I could be happy there, too. So it's not like there is bad and here is good. Nope. But when I choose wisely to look around at the positive things around me, I'm overwhelmed by His goodness and mercy. Great friendships. A lovely apartment. People we adore literally around the corner. A neighborhood we love. A language we are kind of getting. Neighbors who are friendly. Austrian friends. A great church. A great school. An organization that loves and takes care of my kids. Colleagues we love all over the world. Encouragement from all over the world. A husband who absolutely loves his job. Blessings all mine with ten thousand times ten thousand besides.

Remember the old, old song "To God be the Glory"? I think my sisters had a record of Kris Kristofferson singing it for some reason. For all I am/And ever hope to be/ I owe it all to Thee. When I look around, I see gifts. Everywhere, I'm surrounded by gifts from the giver of all good things, and His lapdogs, Goodness and Mercy. Anything I am, anything I will become...it's all a gift from Him. My children, my marriage, my whole life...all a gift from Him. And when I mess up--as I inevitably do, sometimes on a minute-by-minute basis--Mercy comes bounding down the street, overwhelming me with love and kindness that I don't deserve, but which I freely receive. If that is not good news, my friends, I honestly don't know what is.

Maybe you need to hear this. Maybe your situation is pretty terrible at the moment. Maybe there are some truly horrible things going on in your life. Can I encourage you for just a moment? Look around you. Really, really look. Because I am nobody special, and God does not love me better than you, so I know for 100% sure that somewhere, even in the darkness, there are signs of Goodness and Mercy at work. Maybe you're in a cancer ward. What about the kindness of your nurse? Maybe your marriage is in trouble. What about that sweet friend who is willing to listen? Maybe your child has turned into the prodigal son. What about the sweet lady at church who prays for you? Does it make everything instantly ok? No. But it gives a real perspective. Yes, this thing is terrible. This moment is awful. But I am not alone. Even in the darkest night, Goodness and Mercy are right by my side. And that, my friends, that is real comfort.

Well, I think that's all my brain can do tonight. :) So many of you have sent us sweet notes of encouragement while Marc is traveling...your kindness is just another gift from Him. Marc really loves his job so much. And just like he loved listening to me talk about teaching, I love listening to him be happy in his work. The travel is a bit rough, I'll admit, but if any of you have been married to a man unhappy in his work, you will know that it's worth it to me for him to be so, so happy. He did eat pony and frozen raw fish yesterday. He doesn't really love that part of his job. :) But I made buffalo chicken pizza tonight, and he wouldn't have liked that, either, so I guess it's no big deal. Wherever you are in the world, I pray that even in your darkest night, you can hear Goodness and Mercy sitting at your feet, and that tomorrow is your last day of language school until the fall, too. Blessings to you and yours!

His,
Kellye

Learning German

Some of my former students started their Spring Break tour of Europe in Wien. What a treat to see them!

Beautiful flowers are everywhere in Wien. I ordered these from a flower market auf Deutsch, so I think they are particularly beautiful. :)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

I hardly every write in the middle of the week, because language school is eating my time pretty much completely. I am about finished with this round--I will take a break until September--and I'm both excited for a break and a bit sad. Some of the sadness, of course, has to do with the fact that I go every day to school with a friend, and that's fun. We talk and laugh and tell stories about our kids and just generally have a good time. I'm going to miss doing that every day. (Though she lives right around the corner, so it's not like we won't see each other.) But some of it is because I am really enjoying learning German. Okay, maybe enjoying isn't exactly the right word. I appreciate the opportunity to learn German. How's that?

I've told you before that when we found out the team was being moved to Vienna, my first thought was, "Oh, no!! Not another language!!" I'm middle aged (I'm a young middle aged, thank you), and I was just not sure I could stuff one more language in there with the English and Russian that are already roaming around in my noggin. But given time, I came to see this as a kind of do-over, a chance to do something right the second time that I didn't do all that well the first time. And I've talked about that, too--being hesitant to speak Russian, never wanting to make a mistake, being far too timid for my own good--all of these stunted my ability to speak and understand Russian. (I've come to know that I can read and write language far more easily than I can speak and understand them.) And that is a dreadful weight when you live in a place where people don't/won't speak English. I was always nervous, always embarrassed that my Russian wasn't anywhere near Marc's, always afraid that something would happen that I couldn't handle because I couldn't understand what was being said to me. So when it came time to move to Austria, I was one determined girl. I WOULD speak German well.

Over time, though, I came to understand that my motivation for wanting to speak German well was a little off. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it well. I wanted to prove that I could learn a language and operate in it without worry. But, of course, Vienna is a very different place than Moscow. Many, many (most?) people here speak a little English, at least. I really could survive and even do well here without going past the level of German that is required for my visa. But as I prayed to put down roots and plant myself in this place, as I fell in love with Austria and Austrians just a little bit more every day, my motivation took a turn. I don't think I have to prove anything to anyone anymore. I want to do well, to really know German, because I desperately want to make relationships with the people around me. I prayed to love this city, to love these people, to see them as God sees them, and because He is so faithful, He answered those prayers quickly. I do love this city. I do love my neighborhood. I do love my new country. And I will speak their heart language.

That takes a lot of pressure off of me and allows me to learn and enjoy the learning. It is a truly fun and wonderful thing to suddenly look at something you haven't understood and understand it. We have sweet team members who speak great German, and they are so kind to look things over and see if we've understood this or that notice or bill. But when they did that yesterday, we had understood what it said correctly. Can you imagine the joy of that?! As we seek to plant our lives here, nothing is more important than learning the language and just daily putting ourselves in the same places again and again in order to make relationships.

And so, I'm looking forward to a language break, but I'm also not looking forward to it. I am excited to grow in my ability to talk to people every day. I'm excited to reach out and make relationships with the people around me in the language of their hearts. And it really, really helps in the grocery store. :) Wherever you are in the world, I pray that your roots are planted deeply in a place you love, and that you are looking forward to seeing some folks you really like tonight, too. Blessings to you and yours!

His,
Kellye

Home sweet home

Marc doing his best Hamlet impression. Yeah.

Marc and the kids at the restoration of the Globe Theatre. Really, really a fun tour. If you're in London, I highly recommend it.

The kids riding the double decker bus in London. They had fun just riding around. That's pretty cheap entertainment!

We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11

It's been a while! In fact, it's been a couple of weeks, which is pretty rare for me overseas. In America, I just don't have as much that's interesting to talk about, but I rarely go this long overseas. We were in London for John's birthday (and a visa trip) last weekend, and of course, the rigors of language school pretty much keep me busy during the week. I woke up early (what? you're kidding!), so I'm pretty much done with my morning routine, even though it's only 7 a.m. Oh, well...some day I'll sleep, right? Right?!?!?!

As someone who has done this overseas thing before, there are signs that I know to look for--both signs of something going wrong and of something going right. I am attuned to my kids (Marc is actually pretty happy anywhere), and I've been watching carefully to see how they're doing. Let's face it--if my kids are okay, I'm okay, and if I'm okay, then everybody in the house is okay. :) You know it's true!! So I keep an eye on the kids to see how they're doing in the midst of our transition to Austria.

And so, as a person watching for those signs, you can imagine my delight with a discussion we had on the train going from Horsham back into London last weekend. It was right after we'd had a great visit with some friends, and we were all remarking on how much fun we'd had just visiting and eating together. We were headed back to Vienna the next morning, and we were talking about being ready to get back to normal life. "Vacation is fun," Hannah said, "but I'm ready to be home in Vienna." John agreed. So did Marc. So did I. And for the first time since we've been overseas, all of us called the same city 'home.'

We have lived in some places we have loved. Beautiful cities full of people we adore. But never before have our hearts been in the same place. There is a settledness to calling a place home, a contentedness. It doesn't mean we're happy all the time. It doesn't mean that everything here is perfect. (If you find that place, let me know.) It doesn't mean we don't desperately miss Sarah Beth. (Today is the first birthday of her life that I haven't spent with her. Yep. That's a toughy for this Momma.) But it means that we aren't wondering about what's next. This life is transitory at best. People are going and coming in and out of our lives all the time. There is no way to predict where we will be in 5 years or 10 years. But at this moment, for this season, we are all here in Vienna. And it's a huge blessing. Huge. And it's made sweeter by the hard times, by the times when one person's heart was in Moscow and another's was in Middleburg, when one person loved Prague, and another longed for Moscow. Home...it's a sweet word.

Hear my heart when I say this--not loving the place you are isn't a tragedy. Don't walk away thinking that I've said the worst problem on earth is not feeling at home. There are real problems in the world...people we love with heartbreaking illnesses, marriages dying, wars and rumors of wars, friends in combat...those are real problems. And we sometimes come across real problems in our own lives. It's good to have perspective and know what is a problem and what isn't. But as I grow in my Christian life, as I learn to see things differently, I am convicted of the need to be grateful. Grateful that we get to live this incredible life, even when I miss my girl on her birthday. Grateful for a lovely city and a language that is learnable, even when I don't completely understand how to do my homework. Grateful for friends all around the world, even when I might be feeling a little lonely. Grateful for sunshine streaming through my apartment windows, grateful for public transportation, grateful for people God has given me to love. Grateful. Grateful. Grateful.

I haven't always been grateful. I spent much of my first term focused on what was difficult. On what seemed unfair to me. On how hard this life is. But I also spent much of my first term being stretched and pulled into a completely different person by the God whose love compels me to this life in the first place. For a long time, I was thankful because I knew I was supposed to be. It was a rule, and I'm a rule-follower. :) But now, in this season of my life, the gratefulness, the absolute thankfulness for the life I am allowed to live...it is unavoidable. I don't have to be thankful because the Bible says so (and that's not a bad reason, by the way), but because I can't help but be grateful for the blessings of this life. And one of those blessings that is most pleasurable to me at this moment is to have a place that is home. It's sweet. I don't mind telling you. It's really, really sweet.

Well, the sunshine is beckoning, and I am heading out for a walk along the river in a few minutes. Honestly, it's just beautiful outside. Wherever you are in the world, I pray you are choosing gratefulness, and that you are going to skype with a birthday girl later today, too. Blessings to you and yours!

His,
Kellye

Be nice or shut up

The church in our neighborhood. I think this is the first picture we have of it during the day.

The view on my morning walk. Is it any wonder we really love our neighborhood?

They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love...

It's been a pretty interesting week in the Hooks household. Marc and I finished our first month of language school. That was pretty great. We both were successful in our efforts to learn Deutsch, and that was great. Some very encouraging ministry opportunities presented themselves this week, and that was great. Lots of good stuff this week, for sure.

When we found out we were coming to Vienna (i.e.--we had to learn another language), we were a little nervous. After all, Marc and I are middle aged, and stuffing on more language into a brain full of Russian was pretty daunting. So we knew this month would be hard--and we were right. It's hard to learn a new language, no matter how many languages are already floating around in your brain. It was lots of studying, praying, practicing, labeling stuff in the apartment, and reviewing flashcards. (Thank you, Lord, for flashcards.) And with God's help, we did it. It was also very nice for us that so many people were so encouraging to us. Little notes on facebook, prayers for tests...just sweet reminders during a difficult season that we are loved, remembered, and held up by people at home in the U.S. and all over the world. It was nice.

I love Facebook. I really do. I know people who think it's beneath them, and that's fine. But for me, Facebook is a way to keep up with people I only see every four years, to touch base with former students as they go into the world and make lives, to catch up with old friends and know how to pray for them. (It's also a great way to keep track of birthdays!) Facebook allows me a daily presence in Sarah Beth's life, and it helps me know her friends, even though we're far from each other. It gives me a chance to interact daily with my parents and sisters and nieces and nephews, to keep up with the important stuff that we're missing because we're so far away. It takes a little of the sting out of homesickness, which is a struggle for us right now. It can be a force for great good, a chance to exhibit some really Godly qualities, to encourage people, to love people.

But it can also be a place for people to be pills. You know what I'm talking about. The people who feel like we must know their every political belief. The people who argue. The people who put stuff out in the Facebook universe and then are really nasty about anybody who disagrees with them. (I would not be much of a disagreer. People like that make me tired.) I'm going to be honest--I've done some cleaning of the old friends list this past week. Generally speaking, if you aren't an encouragement to me and mine, if you are constantly ugly and political, I've unsubscribed from you. Because our lives are hard enough without that. Isn't everybody's life hard enough, no matter where you are, no matter what you're doing? (If not, could you give me a call and help me figure out your secret?!?!)


Here's the thing I try to remember as I post stuff on Facebook or on this blog--the world is watching us. You may think that political nastiness is just great conversation, great debate, but the truth is that you don't look any different from the world around you. And if we as Christians are not kind to one another, tearing one another down, lambasting each other over our differences while ignoring the great LOVE that is the center of our lives...why would the world want any part of us or our Jesus? My life overseas is hard, it takes work--but I am overwhelmed daily by the love of my Savior. By the relationships He allows into my life as an encouragement and a kindness to me in times of struggle and times when things are great. I am literally surrounded by people I love. I have tremendous parents and sisters, great friends, an incredible church I adore, and a life filled with the great people I've been allowed to call my students. My children love each other and Jesus. My husband treats me like a queen, even when I really don't deserve it. He is my very best friend, the person who makes me laugh the most, and my biggest cheerleader. All of these, my friends, every single one is a gift from the Giver of all good things. In the face of such lovingkindness and grace and mercy...what is there to do but encourage one another? To spur one another on to run the race with dignity, with humility, to finish strong? And if that's not what you're doing...why?

Here's my challenge to you if you're on Facebook or in any situation where you are interacting with others publicly: be nice. Encourage your Christian brothers and sisters. Be kind. Realize that just because it comes into your brain doesn't mean it has to come out of your mouth. Consider others more important than yourself. Love people. Seek with every word and deed, even on Facebook, to be as much like Jesus as you can. Because the world is watching, my friends. They're watching us, and they're watching how we deal with one another. The Bible says that if we claim to know Him but don't have love, we're liars. I don't know about you, but I really don't want to stand before the throne of the Most High God as a liar. Instead, I want to overflow with the love that He has so graciously poured into my life. I want to love like He loves. Wherever you are in the world, I pray that you are loving and encouraging the people in your life, and that you are ready for your son's birthday party this afternoon, too. Blessings to you and yours!

His,
Kellye