I am not normal. By Michael Lusk

Evenin'/Mornin Bloggeroonies.  Today's entry is provided by my anything-but-normal husband.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Hi. This is Michael Lusk. I’m not normal.

In fact, I am not even trying to be. My wife, as you can see, is pretty out there, too.  As you might guess, our kids are following in suite.

I suppose we just decided that our standard for life is not based on what everyone considers to be “normal”.  Sure, maybe our extreme, missionary lifestyle isn’t palatable for some, but we decided a long time ago that we are going to live “sold out” to the One who died to save us – to live like we really believe that what we say about Him is true.  That’s what has lead us into our greatest adventures and joys as a family.

Like when…

We lived in a cute little guest house with giant spiders.

We ventured out of our safe home in Michigan with our suitcases and a six-month-old baby.

Or the time we had about twenty grand in small bills on our person walking the streets of South America.

How bout the time we had to fight off the street dogs just to get groceries.

I could go on…

There are challenges when you decide to follow Him, no question.  But nothing compared to what’s it’s like blazing your own trail and calling your own shots.  Frank Sinatra said, “I did it my way.”  Well, look where that got him – dead. (OK, so everyone dies – my point still stands.) Sorry, Frankie, but your life mantra is psychotic.  No, sir.  I put my hand to the plow.  I’m never looking back.

This picture was taken in Gancedo, Chaco. (Argentina) That big rock is earth's second largest meteorite.  We stopped en-route to an open air crusade where we witnessed miracle after miracle.  Jesus is alive!

Unsolved Mysteries...

       Ever feel deep and thinky enough that reaching for a pipe while donning a dorky polka dot bow-tie and listening to the "music" my husband buys wouldn't seem unnatural?  Tonight I am entirely consumed by a single permeating thought.  It surfaces from time to time, like that peculiar reoccurring dream we all tend to have, or our shared desire to haphazardly run down the neat row of orange construction pylons who stare at us mockingly as if they know all too well, traffic tickets and heated lectures from our spouses would never permit us to act on such a whim.  
  

 I'm sure you've wondered it too.

"Why me?"

Of all the persons on this planet, most of whom live in poverty and are plagued with innumerable fears,  Why was I born, not one of them, but here, on the soil of the United States of America?

It seems to me that God could've ordained that I'd be a little girl in Africa, a precious child conceived in the womb a woman who's blood test would read positive for HIV.  Could I not have, just as easily, been that infant, the dear orphan baby who knows nothing of birthdays, who most likely won't see her second?

"Am I any more deserving than she is?" Surely not.

"Is it by chance, that as I breathed my first I was greeted by a silver spoon?"

I seek.  I knock.  I ask.

I listen.

"Why me?"

I search without understanding of something too great for my comprehension.  It matters not how hard or how long I ponder.  I shall never, as long as I remain on this earth, know the reason; for The Answer withholds such an answer from me.

So, for now, I embrace with all thanksgiving, the lavish wealth with which I have been so graciously endued, the family I do not deserve, and the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ which is the root of my beautiful country, my sparkling silver spoon.

Oh that I may take that precious knowledge to the lost and dying people of the world.  Oh that my words may give them life and hope.  May the Gospel of Jesus Christ delivered by my tongue and my pen, be the nation-changing power unto them that will someday cause their descendants to search into the depths of the universe for the ever unanswered question.

"Why me?"

Winter has it's beautiful moments too...

Father & Son snow moment, originally uploaded by stinapie.

Wordless Wednesday - Science Class

All kinds of fascinating exploration took place last week at the Cranbrook Institute of Science...

Some exhibits were a bit more "hands-on" than I was comfortable with.

But we had loads of fun none the less.

I think I'll keep the second set of photos on the fridge.  

Nausea always helps me say "No" to imprudent snacking.

Proverbs 24:5 

The wise are mightier than the strong,

      and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.

Never stop learning.

Me.

Hmm, What the heck?, How do ya?, and so forth...

Redhead girl with orange flower in hair, originally uploaded by stinapie.


You'd laugh if you could see me trying to figure out what surely is a simple task...  upload photos from Flickr to this blog... you know, as many as I want... where I want... to make something beautiful and interesting for you like my supremely talented and gorgeous dear friend over at FreshMommy.  Until I succeed, enjoy this completely random photo taken from my Flickr account and mysteriously inserted into my blog.  I love you Makenzie! (beautiful creature pictured at left).


Um... spiritual lesson and interesting story?  I implore you to accept my humble IOU.


And yes, FreshMommy, that was a plea for help:)  Love you.


TEO Me.

The musician

A picture is worth a thousand words... and I have two.  This is my longest blog entry to date :)

Make the best of today.  

Christina

New Year, New Season

...new season of Lu's favorite show that is.  Top o' the evening everyone.  I truly hope you all had a wonderful time bringing in the New Year.  We spent it rolling with laughter while watching a couple of episodes of "I Love Lucy" as requested by a lovely blonde who bears the same name.

We had intended to do the whole kiss and cheer bit, however, my cell phone alarm went unnoticed at midnight , completely drowned out in the delightful mix of my firstborn's gleeful squeals and Desi Arnaz's cuban outbursts. (Sometimes it's really funny to listen to Ricky fly off the handle when you understand what he's saying... often he's just babbling Spanish nonsense. - Now you know.)  Noticing the clock read 12:07 as the credits (Note:  Max Factor was the makeup artist for the show... just some useless trivia for a moment when you need to sound like you know something interesting. - You're welcome.)  rolled down the screen, (Don't you just love when I insert stuff in parenthesis and you have to go back and start reading the original thought all over again?)  Michael and I uttered a mild, "Oops, oh well", attempted to reach each other for a quick kiss, and discovered that after snuggling with sixty-six pounds of children on our laps for an hour, parts of our bodies were too asleep for that kiss to take place, and it just wasn't worth the effort in our state of exhaustion. (We generally have a nine-thirty bedtime... Don't scoff, we're still young on the outside.)

We happily tucked the tot's in for the night and thanked God for them, and the beautiful blank canvas of 2011 that will soon be adorned with new memories, relationships, and nations who have been made freshly aware of the Love of Christ.

Happy 2011!

I'd love to read about how YOU brought in the New Year.  Let me know in a comment below.

Much love,

Christina