Power Perfected

A few nights ago we sat around a dozen empty dishes reflecting on 2 Corinthians 12 and trying to make sense of the phrase, "The power of Christ is made perfect in your weakness."

The answer is found in the 1994 family comedy, Little Giants.

I know you've seen this movie and I'm positive you remember in detail the final sequence, in which the rag-tag Giants face off with the muscle-bound, peachfuzz-bearded, fire-breathing pee wee force, the Cowboys. As you know, the Giants were pummeled in the first half, leaving them in the locker room at halftime with a 21-point deficit and very low spirits. After a rousing speech from Rick Moranis, the Giants took the field in the second half, in which they score repeatedly and execute a dramatic goal-line stand, resulting in a score of 21-21 with 00:01 on the clock and 99 yards to paydirt. Not enough time to get in pee-wee football field goal range. Only enough time for... One. More. Play. Which play? A trick play called "The Annexation of Puerto Rico." Stunned, the Cowboys can do nothing but watch as the Giants move the ball 99 yards to score the winning touchdown. Moviegoers across the country simultaneously reach for a tissue.

Why didn't producers cast more athletic kids to play for the Giants? Why did the writers stack the odds in the Cowboy's favor? Why give the Giants a 21-point margin to overcome? Why start the final play on the one yard line? Because no one notices when strength wins or when power prevails or when the 50-point favorite wins by 50 points.

But when weakness triumphs in spite of limitations, people stand up and cheer.

36

Topher. Chris. Topherious. Mr. Right. You may know him by many names. You may know him as "that guy who made a perfect score on the ACT and gets ragged for it daily." However you know him, you are bound to love him. He is...


...Christopher Jennings Wright.

Chris was a prime member of the youth group when I worked in Nashville at Crieve Hall. Still up to great things, he's at Freed now, majoring in Biochem, et cetera and generally living the dream. One of the things you need to know about Chris is that he can lead all eight verses of Just As I Am blindfolded in a hurricane and never lose the beat. No, that's not it. You need to know that he's going to Costa Rica to do Work for the Big Man. If you have a minute, send one up for Chris and his friends who are spending a week or so of their winter break serving in a foreign land.

Great talking to you, Jennings.

THE Power Couple

The image you see above is of the one and only Frizzell Family Power Couple. I am honored to have them pictured here in my blog. If this Power Couple's contributions to the universe could be written in books, the whole world could not contain them. Yes, they are a lot like Jesus.

Thanks for the Skype chat, Tim and Janie. Love to you.

Seat's Taken

Something about the yellow Thai curry tonight made me open up. Six of us were sitting around empty plates and talking about what it would look like to be obedient to the following charge:

Pray without ceasing.

The volume of insight that poured out of three words was impressive. It got me thinking. Then it got me talking of a time in my life not so long ago, when my relationship with the Big Man had a unique, personal aspect.

I think the idea came to me when I heard about all those people who close themselves in their offices every morning with two chairs facing one another, so that they can sit in one and chat with the Big Man, sitting a few feet away in the other seat. I think reading The Shack might've also had something to do with it.

Not long before we came to China, I started the habit of clearing out the passenger seat when I was alone in the car so that there was a clutter-free spot for the Big Man to relax. Other times, I'd walk on the left side of the sidewalk so he wouldn't feel too crowded walking beside me on the right. I think both parties were content with the arrangement. But sometimes I would forget, and throw my McDonald's trash in the passenger seat and feel like a chump for getting ketchup on the Creator of the universe.

Sometimes we would talk, you know. Just about whatever. But most of the time, we just chilled. Kinda sat there, you know, or walked or whatever. I don't know how it worked, but I think we got pretty close. Please don't think I'm weird or inappropriately cloven to Deity, but sometimes we held hands. In my manliest tone, I want to tell you that it was very cool.

Anyway, that's the best way I know to obey the above three words. So will I resume this old habit of hanging out with the Big Man all day? Let's just say that when I finish this blog entry, I'm going to turn to my left and fist-bump the Great I AM.

We Remember

Today I took part in the most unique family meeting of my life. We broke bread on the second floor of a crowded McDonald’s in the middle of lunch hour, less than 100 yards away from a major intersection in a city of 6 million.

Long ago, a Great Man taught his followers to break bread and drink wine every week, the better to remember him. Two thousand years later, we still honor this tradition on the first day of every week. All around the world, people are doing the same thing, remembering the same person. Some are drinking wine, others grape juice. Some are eating wafers, others a modified saltine. Some have the meal in silence, others while singing a song. Sometimes people approach a table to eat and drink. Other times, men will stand solemnly at the front of a room with hands folded and heads bowed.

But sometimes, on rare occasions, a group of followers will meet in a crowded fast-food restaurant. And there, in the eye of a storm of people, they'll pour some grape juice into a few emptied McDonald’s cups, and with eyes open, heads raised, and faces smiling, will give thanks to the Father for a Great Man with a back strong enough to bear the sins of the world.

Amen.

Forever Friends Through Eternity

This is more than a shout out. This is a salute. To what? Friendship. Not just the friendship a boy has with his dog, or a girl with her dolls. Not even a friendship that endures hardship, pain and loss. This is a friendship that crosses oceans as vast as this planet has to offer. It is a friendship that rivals that of Milo and Otis, the Little Rascals and even, daresay, Bert and Ernie.

Forever

Friends

Through

Eternity

Thanks for the Skype session, guys. I now display our screen shot for the world to see. Behold, world.

Come Needy

It's been raining a lot lately in Hangzhou. So much that they postponed the highly-anticipated Sports Meeting at the last minute because of all the mud and general sogginess of our campus. Rain is inconvenient back home because you have to get wet on the way from your door to the car, and if you drop the keys or if your hand slips on the car door handle, you'll be in the rain an additional 8 to 10 seconds. Here in China, the rain is slightly more inconvenient because you have to get wet on your entire twenty minute walk to the market and another twenty minutes on the return trip.

And our umbrella is broken.

After the last couple days, however, I've decided I wouldn't get and umbrella if it rained every day I'm here from now to June. Why? Because when you come needy, the good people come to you.

Andy is one of my students. His English is very good, but he is relatively quiet in class, sitting in the back with some of his guy friends. He didn't really stand out as someone I should pursue while here in China. But two days ago when I was ready to step out into the rain after class and make the half-mile trek home, Andy popped out of nowhere and demanded that he escort me. So we walked and talked under his umbrella for the next fifteen minutes. Wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been needy.

Chen Shu is an art student at our university. She is studying vocal art, perfect mastery of the Chinese language so that she can be a newscaster or television spokesperson. She studies at my university, but not in my college. I would have never met this girl, except yesterday she noticed me walking behind her on the way back from the market.

She asked where I was going and pulled me under her umbrella. We introduced ourselves and talked for twenty minutes as she kept me dry all the way to my building on campus. Chen Shu said she was interested in coming to our English practice meetings, where we use a good book to learn English. I never would have met her if I owned an umbrella. If I hadn't been needy.

A great man once sent out his followers saying, "Don't take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; no bag for the journey or extra tunic or sandals or staff."

Come needy.