Who Would Have Thought???

When he was just a kindergartener, he was the smartest player on the soccer field. As all the little players swarmed the ball like bees around a hive, AJ waited patiently outside the crush for the ball to emerge, then singlehandedly (or singlefootedly?) ran the ball down the field to the goal. The coaches and parents marveled, "He's going to be a great soccer player!" 
Until he quit. 
"I don't like soccer. You have to run all the way down the field, then run all the way back again." From then on, baseball was his true love, playing year round. 

In eighth grade, his homeroom teacher, Mr. Allen, was also the cross-country coach. When AJ told us he was going to run cross country, my husband and I fell over laughing, literally. But when he started finishing in first place, we stopped laughing. Turns out that it was "useless" running that AJ didn't like. All that down the field and back again with no scoring was boring. But running through the countryside or down streets toward a finish line - in increasingly faster time - was an achievement. 

His high school coach, Mr. Apol, a model of what coaches should be, challenged and encouraged each student to better themselves according to their own ability. Cross country taught me so much about running the race of life, my early blogposts were peppered with XC stories. (Stay tuned for more on this next week!)

Now AJ, college student, is running the NJ Marathon! On Sunday May 1st, he will run 26 miles through several NJ shore towns. Once again, family and friends will be there cheering along the sidelines and at the finish line. 


This time, he's raising money for a summer mission trip to Uganda. 


Now for the mom-pitch! Would you consider supporting AJ in this endeavor? 
First, please keep him in prayer:
- that he would run well and finish well 
- with no injury! (He's been having some knee trouble during training.)
- that the weather would be favorable.


And second, if you feel so led, financial donations toward his mission trip go to Touch The World and can be made at: 

http://www.razoo.com/story/Ajpanzica

Donations can be made in any amount large or small, flat or per mile.


He, and we, thank you in advance for your prayer and/or financial support. 


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith... Consider Him ..., so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb. 12:1, 3


ps - couldn't resist adding this poem that AJ wrote and posted on facebook this morning:

AJ Panzica

‎'Twas the night before race day
and everyone knew
That twenty-six mile was
a whole lot to do.
My bones are all aching
my muscles all sore
Nervous cause no Panzica
has tried this before.
But I have a secret that
I want all to see
And that is my God
that lives inside me.
Cause when I cannot do it
and am falling apart
He holds me together
From my feet to my heart.

Suddenly So

Many thanks to Chris, a senior member of our writers' group, for today's poem. Chris has written, edited, produced for TV, print and Web. She is the author of Park Ridge by Arcadia Publishing and is writing her next book, White Plains, to be released in March 2012. Chris is on Twitter at Whatisupahead.



There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. ... Luke: 7:2
The centurion said, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Mathew 8:8
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Mathew 8:10

Suddenly So

All it takes is a word. 

The Centurion knew it.

Key is never really 

finding 'the one' to wed,

or figuring the kids out,

or finding the right med....

It's about asking God -

with faith - to say the word.

And it is suddenly so.

Connect the prayer 

to the result.

Not just saying

"Oh, we don't need that prayer

anymore, everything righted 'itself.'"

I met the right guy,

My kids turned out well,

I'm not sick after all......

Remember,

What you ask for,

And connect it,

To what happens.

When the next crisis hits,

Remember;

It's not what I do.

It's not who I know.

Am I asking with faith?

Am I believing it's true?

All it takes a word.

The Centurion believed it.

And I believe it too.

----
Chris provided me her thoughts on our poem writing exercise. They spoke to me, and I hope they will to you too:

The Centurion was a writing prompt. 

I'm not a poet. 

And I was thinking, "I have nothing to say..."

Wait, what do I really think about the Centurion?

What I really think is that I "get it," what he meant...

always have. No crisis ever REALLY depends on circumstances.

It depends on the mercy of the Lord.

If He says so - it's so.

He is so clearly pleased with faith. 

So top of my list?

Showing Him I believe.

What a relief that I don't have to know physics to get on in life!

All I need is my faith - and to ask - knowing it just takes ONE WORD.

 

Three Days Ago

Today's poem come from fellow member of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group, Clare Cartanega. Clare writes faith based sci-fi, inspirational messages, short stories, and the occasional poem, all in devotion to her Creator. She has numerous articles published and is seeking publication for her sci fi novel. Her character Zerilius writes the blog Confessions of a Mega-Genious.


Three Days Ago

When we talk today,
His voice is not anguished with a plea that I stay awake;
His brow is not beading red with anticipated pain,
His heart not split with the stab of betrayal.

When we talk today,
His face is not marred with a torn beard,
His hair not tangled with broken thorns,
His back not burning with lacerated flesh.

When we talk today,
His mouth is not dripping with rejected sour wine,
His side not gaping with merciless curiosity,
His body not shamed without handspun robes.

When we talk today,
His perfection is complete in beauty,
His honor surrounding in a cloud of glory,
His evidence of three days before, the scars on His hands and feet.


Dear friends,
May you all have a glorious Resurrection Sunday as we rejoice in our risen Lord!

In the middle ...

Today we are in the middle.

Yesterday was Good Friday -

the pain of suffering,

despair, heartache,

the event that left us full of tears

Tomorrow is Easter -

the joy of new life,

resurrection,

rising from the ashes of pain

Today we are just in the middle-

the preparing for tomorrow's feast,

tomorrow's worship,

tomorrow's new garments

Do you ever feel - in the middle? Having survived tragedy or loss, but still waiting for the future hope and peace that is promised? We must wait, but not as those with no hope. It was while Jesus was waiting that He set the captives free.

When I was in Israel, one of the most powerful moments for me was at the Garden Tomb. I entered the empty tomb, and after my eyes adjusted to the darkness, saw the white garments folded on the stone bench. Turning to exit the tomb and enter the light, I saw a rough, wooden sign that read:

"He is not here;

he has risen,

just as he said."

Matt. 28:6

Seeing those words in that place was a powerful reminder that He has risen - JUST AS HE SAID! What else did He say?

We have been healed:
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”-1 Peter 2:24

We have a future:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

So we must:
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." - Titus 1:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3

Today, while still in the middle, this is my prayer for you:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

May you have a most blessed Resurrection Day! May you rejoice with Him who rose from the dead to give you eternal life, who endured the darkness to bring us with Him into the light. And may you be preparing for the ultimate feast, worship and garments yet to come!!

You're Invited!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItcURbkjXOA

.

Dying You destroyed our death

Rising You restored our life

Lord Jesus, come in glory

Lord, we remember You

And remembrance leads us to worship

And as we worship You

Our worship leads to communion

We respond to Your invitation

How will we respond to His invitation?
Dear friend, how will you respond to His invitation?

Why Is This Night Different?

This week, I've been sharing poems written by members of our writers group at our meeting earlier this month. Today, I'm sharing mine.

Growing up in a Jewish home, I fondly remember our annual Passover seders. We weren't a religious family, but the seder was a yearly tradition. I picture my mom's sparkling table set with plates of gefilte fish (Yuk! Just what kind of a fish is a gefilte anyway?), the bowls of matzoh ball soup, brisket, and courses of other food I loathed. But then... it wasn't about the food. Last year on this blog, I shared some signficant Passover traditions. [http://tinyurl.com/45xnvhq]

Today's poem is based on one element of the Passover seder - The Four Questions. Technically it is one question with four answers. The question:

Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilos?

Why is this night different from all other nights?

With that thought, the following poem tumbled out my brain and onto my pad. It's so far from polished (we only had about 20 minutes to write our poems) that I'm a little shy about sharing it, but we're all friends, right? So here goes:

Why Is This Night Different?

Why is this night different?
What is not the same?
Tonight the Lamb, the Perfect One,
Would for me be slain.

So long ago in Egypt land
The people to be delivered
Chose a pure and spotless lamb
A sacrifice called the Passover.

Ten plagues of locusts, frogs, and blood
The last - their first born sons
All foretold the future of
When God's Son, His triumph won.

Each spring, we stop to remember
At the Feast of Unleavened Bread
The pain, the loss, the suffering
And the One who rose from the dead.

Bruised and battered, striped and scarred
The Lamb was spent for me
So that after my debt was paid
He rose in victory.

Sweet communion, the bread and blood
He shared with those loved He
Partake my friends, Do not forget
Do this in remembrance of Me.

So what's the difference tonight we ask?
Not that we recline
Or eat the herbs or drink the wine
Now salvation is forever mine.

PRECIOUS AND BELOVED LORD

Today's poem comes from Ann Crediford, another faithful member of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group.

PRECIOUS AND BELOVED LORD

Thank you

for your

purity,

grace,

and majesty when in obedience to your

father, you were willing to be betrayed,

rejected,

mocked,

spat upon,

beaten,

whipped,

nailed,

and pierced

for my sin.

Ann's testimony:
I was an agnostic until middle-aged. I got saved in church, led by a very special pastor. Our teenaged daughters started attending a Bible church. Concerned about what that might be, I started going with them to check out the church. After many, many salvation messages, finally I believed. Now I attend an Assembly of God church in Wanaque, NJ. We have two daughters and four grandchildren who live in Rockland County, NY.

What Was God Doing?

This month is National Poetry Month, and coincidentally (if you believe in that sort of thing) our writers group's theme this month was poetry. Speaker Maude Carolan, poet laureate of our little band of scribes, presented a session that included her own extraordinary works, one of which I share with you today. Later in the week, I will share other poems that were written at the meeting. Because this month, we celebrate Easter, our assignment was to create a poem on that topic. While not quite Maude’s caliber, these poems [written in a half hour's time!] were remarkable - amazing works that are unmistakably divinely inspired.

The Love of The Father - by Adam Ortiz

WHAT WAS GOD DOING?

What was God doing?
What was He thinking
high up in heaven
when the Great Climax was unfolding
and His only begotten Son was sweating hemorrhages of blood
in fervent prayer before Him, that night in the garden?

What was God doing?
What was He thinking
high up in heaven
when His Son was pleading
for the removal of that great Grail of suffering
yet in submission acquiesced to His Father’s higher will?

What was God doing?
What was He thinking
high up in His Heaven
during the sentencing and scourging, spitting and mocking,
as His Pascal Lamb carried the crude crossbeam to Calvary,
falling and falling and falling again?

What was God doing?
What was He thinking
high up in His Heaven
when they stripped His Beloved,
held His hand to the beam and lifted the hammer
and pounded the spike through sinless flesh?
Did He hold His ears? Did He turn away?
Did His tears pour down as the blood ran down?
Did he pound His fist? Scream?

What was God doing?
What was He thinking
high up in His Heaven
when His Son cried, “Why…hast Thou…forsaken Me?”
Victory was so close Did He almost change His mind?

What was God doing?
What was He thinking
high up in His Heaven
when it finally was finished?
Was His heavy heart throbbing
as He darkened the sky and quaked the dry earth,
opened old graves and breathed life into the dead?
was it with grief or great jubilation
that He tore asunder the curtain to the Holy of Holies?

What oh what was God thinking
at that climax of climaxes
with Satan and sin squashed under His heel,
and after the Ascension,
at Their glorious reunion,
did Father and Son
dance the Hora in Highest Heaven?

Maude Carolan

Maude Carolan Pych publishes a quarterly poetry e-newsletter, “It’s all about …The Lamb” for lovers of the Lord who also enjoy poetry. The purpose of this poetry letter is to magnify the Lamb of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and inspire an ever-deepening relationship with Him, the lover of our souls.

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” Rev 5:12 NASB



.

God Isn't

Many thanks to Jeanette Levellie for sharing today's post with you. Jeanette writes funny and she writes powerful. Here is one of her powerful posts:


As I look back on my journey of faith, especially our years in ministry, I've discovered some surprises about my Father. He discloses His heart to us by saying “I AM NOT” as much as when He declares, “I AM.” God isn’t…


Worried
The Good Shepherd is not afraid that if the economy fails, He won’t be able to supply your needs. His provision is based on His riches (Philippians 4:19), not global events or your employment status. Heaven is off limits to recession and depression. If you are God’s child and you’re a tither, He has promised to care for you. He won’t become angry if you are bold enough to remind Him of that promise. I think it would compliment the Lord that you are coming to Him instead of the government or Uncle Charlie.

Tired
When you approach your Father, asking the same favor for the three hundredth time, He doesn’t say, “Oh, you again? I have more important people and things to manage today.” He longs to have pity on you and show you favor. He rises to have compassion on you (Isaiah 30:18). Jesus said, “If you, a mere earthly father will give good things to your kids, how much more will your Heavenly Father give to those who ask Him?”

Offended
The Master of the universe doesn’t feel insulted when ungodly people take His name in vain, refuse to believe in Him, or twist His Word around to suit their narrow perceptions. It doesn’t distress Him if people try to explain creation by theories or attempt to prove He doesn’t exist. In fact, He laughs at them (Psalm 2:4). But, I do sometimes wonder if He cringes when His kids act worse than heathens, fighting among themselves. That may tick Him off…

Stupid
The God of all Wisdom knows more than all of us put together. I know it’s laughable to see it in print. Then, why do we seek His guidance as Plan Z instead of A? Why do we trust people’s word over His? He has all the direction we will ever need. When we ask, He promises to share (James 1:5). And don’t think He only speaks in church on Sunday morning between 9:30 and noon through a trained preacher. Open your Bible some Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning and see what’s happening in His heart. 

Religious
The Lord of creation loves to surprise us by solving things His way, rather than how we’ve figured it out. He used a pimple-faced, sweaty teenager to kill a giant that had an entire army terrified. What unconventional method might He use to fix your problem?

Have you discovered other ways "God Isn't"?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A spunky, sometimes reluctant pastor’s wife of thirty-six years, Jeanette has published articles, greeting card verses, stories and calendar poems. She authors a bi-weekly humor/inspirational column in her local newspaper, and enjoys speaking to church and civic groups, offering hope and humor in every message. She is the mother of two, grandmother of three, and waitress to several cats. Find her blog, On Wings of Mirth and Worth, at http://jeanettelevellie.blogspot.com/

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Our Witchdoctors Are Too Weak - Book Review

So I'm waiting for my car's oil to be changed reading "Our Witchdoctors Are Too Weak," and I have to force myself to not laugh out loud lest my fellow "waitees" think I need to be committed. I didn't expect that from a missionary biography - one of many expectations upturned by this book.

With a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor, Davey Jank shares his 15 years of trials and tribulations among the Wilo tribe deep in the Amazon. With brief chapters, each recounting a new experience, I was led deeper and deeper into this “astonishing biography.” The pages open with Jank arriving in the jungle and lead us through his journey to learn the Wilo language and culture, and to create a written alphabet to share “God’s Talk” with a tribe for whom the concept of God and the Bible is completely foreign. Along the way, he transforms from an object of Wilo curiosity to friendship and trust, earning the right to share God’s Word with them.

The Wilo are traditionally a timid, nonaggressive people. When a tragic violent attack occurred, the tribe suspected a visitor from another village, the brother of the local medic. By medic, I mean the brothers were sons of witchdoctor. The suspect fled, and the brother and father threatened the Wilo with snake attacks and other “bad things.” Uncharacteristically, the Wilo responded, “We are not afraid.” Prodded by Davey, tribesman Yanako went on to explain, “That witchdoctor didn’t make the earth. He didn’t make the stars in the sky. … God sees everything that witchdoctor does. Only God is all-powerful…. Only God is eternal, and we want to know more about Him.” Hundreds of years of spiritual darkness and fear were being erased as people were transformed by the power of God’s Word.

This book is equally poignant and humorous, a rare delight. Easy reading, yet inspiring and impactful. I highly recommend it, and not just for lovers of missionary biographies.

I received this book free from agent Rachelle Gardner in exchange for a review. So glad I did. I would love to pass it along to you. Please leave a comment below this blogpost to be entered to win the book. You won’t be disappointed.

My Interview

One of the best things about blogging is the friends and fellowship in the blogging community. Today I was interviewed by gifted writer, Marja Meijers, over at her blog Fresh Insights On Ancient Truths. Please stop by there and leave a comment. I'd love to "chat" with you.


http://sacredsabbath.blogspot.com/2011/04/interview-with-susan-panzica.html

Marja's newest book Breath of Life is available here.

 

The Unthinkable

The unthinkable happened this week.
A multi-generational tragedy so great there are no words.

We hugged. She wept, “I didn’t sign up for this.”
Pain unimaginable.
Walking wounded.

It can’t be real. These things happen on Law and Order. They happen to other people, not to me, not to us. But on tv, they are resolved in 60 minutes. This will take a lifetime, if it ever is resolved.

The why’s are not for us to know…. Yet.

But He knows what it is to lose a loved One in a violent tragic seeming mistake.

And because He knows - we can trust.

We can have peace that is beyond understanding.
Not peace of the “worry-free” variety.
But peace that comes from a deep assurance that belies common sense. It is uncommon sense.

How do we cope?
Another friend lost her firefighter husband on 9/11. After being bombarded with literature on how to cope, she searched the Scriptures to see what God said about coping. And found that the word “cope” is not in the Bible.
But the word “hope” is.
Nearly two-hundred times.

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him,

on those whose hope is in His unfailing love…

We wait in hope for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

In Him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in His holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,

even as we put our hope in You.

Psalm 33: 18-22

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

 

What’s a nice Jewish girl doing in a place like this?

Jewish girl. Disco band. Salvation mine.


Today’s blogpost is an entry to win a scholarship to attend the She Speaks conference in July. The contest was to write a story in six words. I thought it couldn’t be done, but you just read my story - I was that Jewish girl. Who would have thought that spending weekends at a cottage in the Hamptons visiting bars and disco dancing the night away would lead a “nice Jewish girl” to find her Messiah. But that’s how it happened, the short version anyway.


My testimony “I Was A Jewish Tax Collector” can be found at: http://eternitycafe.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-was-jewish-tax-collector.html

The She Speaks conference was the catalyst for me to begin the journey into writing, including this blog. It is my heartfelt prayer to attend the conference again this July. If not through this contest entry, then praying that the Lord will provide another way.