just read: Generous Justice

Proverbs 14:31 - He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker.



This is a book I will read again and again. I picked it up while browsing through a book store on a leisurely evening in the fall. It took me that long to get through it, because the content is so dense and thought provoking. I couldn't read even a chapter at a time. I had to put it down section by section and ponder the arguments proposed by the author. 

The topic of grace is what caught my attention - more than justice. It was a book that made me think long and hard about what is real, what is generous and what is just.

In this book Keller advocates for a life lived for others, with effort spent toward unselfish pursuits. That is not a new topic for this blog.

He advocates sacrifical giving. Generosity. Another common theme on this blog.

Keller approaches this from an intellectual mindset, but with an obviously compassionate heart. He is best known for his apologetics books like The Reason for God  and The Prodigal God. Many times he challenged my ideas while simultaneously encouraging my heart. This book inspired my talk for the MLK event.

I like Keller's writing. I like his approach. One does not have to deny intellect to embrace faith, rather the two are allies. He comes from a Biblical perspective, thus there are things that would surprise (or offend) individuals on both sides of the political aisle.

Since Keller is writing from a Christian perspective, he argues that if we have truly encountered God's grace it will compell us to make the world better. It will draw us to the poor, not to give handouts, but to become deeply involved in their lives. In his words, "If you look down at the poor and stay aloof from their suffering, you have not really understood or experienced God's grace." Challenging words.
 
just Sheri, changed by grace

Garage Sale-ing

Saturday Kenyon and I toured our new surroundings by visiting strangers homes and looking at their stuff. When I moved to the midwest the idea of Estate Sales and competitive garage shopping was a foreign concept to me. I still find it a little odd that in America we publicly post our address for everyone to see and invite strangers to our home (personal space) for the sake of selling our stuff.

Just before moving overseas, we hosted our own yard sale. That was a new experience for me.

We decided that visiting other people's sales might be a good way to stock our new home with needed containers and such. We didn't find any treasures, but we did have fun looking and exploring our new surroundings.

Are you an avid garage sale shopper?

just Sheri, treasure seeker

Everyday Heroes: unexpected gifts

The Everyday Heroes series is intended to draw attention to kindness. It's purpose is to share stories of normal people engaging in acts of kindness. Why? Because I believe kindness is what changes the world.


Today's post is a little different. We were the recipient of kindness, and it is worth sharing.


Kenyon and I sold what we owned (with few exceptions) when we moved overseas. When we found a place to live we knew we would need to purchase furniture and other household necessities. I don't have to tell any adult the financial cost of such an endeavor. We weren't sure how we would accomplish this.


Though God has promised to provide for our needs, I felt incredibly responsible to figure out where we would sleep, eat and sit. Then something amazing happened.


A church we do not attend met our need.


Because of their generosity we have a fully furnished home. We have a bed to sleep in. We have a dining table to eat on. We have a couch to sit on. We have been blessed beyond measure, our cup runneth over.


just Sheri, the grateful recipient of kindness 

our house is...very fine...yes, it is

Five months after arriving in the USA, Kenyon and I have moved in to a place of our own.

We have an apartment! It is close to my work. It has everything we need.

I realized during this moving process, this is the first time Kenyon and I are really setting up house together. When we first got married, he moved in to my already furnished condo. Then we moved my stuff, with Kenyon, to North Carolina for my job. Then we sold that stuff and moved overseas...always renting furnished apartments as we weren't going to transport furniture across the ocean.

This is the first time we have picked out a couch together. This is the first place we've lived that is "ours." This process has been a little backwards for us. But, I believe this is an unintended benefit of re-establishing our lives.

just Sheri, starting over

bits of my weekend: Laotian festival

This weekend Kenyon and I participated in a great festival. It is an annual celebration held at a local Wat (aka Buddhist Temple).

This photo is taken from our old home in Cambodia. Wat Lao Buddhavong looked similar, but it was out in the middle of the countryside of Virginia.

There were all types of fresh vegetables, meats, food vendors and cultural dances.

It had been raining earlier in the day, which made the place muddy. The mud made it feel even more authentic.

As we were sitting at a picnic table of one of the vendors; eating noodle soup, green  papya salad, and fried fish; I was drinking iced coffee with milk - suddenly it was as if I had been transported to another world. I was back in Asia (without the two days of air travel). Even Kenyon said it reminded him of Psar Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market).

We walked around and I snacked on Cheik Chien (fried bananas). I was so full I could burst. Then I saw Krolan (sticky rice and beans in a dried bamboo shoot). I had to have some. This was a regular snack on the drive between Phnom Penh and Poipet when I lived in Cambodia. The best Krolan came from vendors on the side of the road.

The experience was such a special treat. The little bits of Khmer that I had learned were coming back to me. Kenyon started quizzing me - how do you say "hello?" how do you say "thank you?" how do you say...thankfully, I could answer his questions.

It was such a wonderful day. My friend Phim moved to the US as a refugee from Laos over 20 years ago. She was our hostess and tour guide at the event. She bought me a sticky rice steamer as a souvenir. It sits proudly in a china hutch since I have no idea how to use it. She has promised to teach me...that may be the subject of a future post.

just Sheri, exploring Virginia