Nuestra Dia en La Viña Del Mar

Hola!!! How is everything en estados unidos? We had a great (tiring) day. We took a two hour bus ride to a coastal city called Viña Del Mar. It was muy Linda (beautiful). We took another bus to a city called Valaparaiso.....even more beautiful! It was the cutest city! Lots of colorful houses, and LOTS of hills. We found the cutest restraunt where they served us fantastic VEGETARIAN food (needless to say, I was relieved). We then came back to Viña Del Mar and walked and walked and walked, and sat in the shade to recover from our exhaustion, then walked and walked some more. We mainly walked up and down the beach. It was really great to watch everyone....una problema is that you ahve to pay to use the bathrooms...hmm...those who know me know where I was spending my money...hehe... Anyways, we then went to dinner at a nice place and walked some more, and here I am. That was our day....WALKING. It was great though, and the cities are so cute and beautiful. I do love it here. Mucho !!!!!! Tonight we are taking and overnight bus ride to La Serena where we will be renting a car and driving to some little fishing village that supposedly has a great beach....I am excited to just chill and also to drive the rental car (thanks Rico!). ;) Have a wondeful night, and hopefully you will be hearing from me soon! Adios!!!!!!!

Hola!!!

Hola mi familia y amigos!!!!! We have arrived in Santiago por fin!!!!! The flights went very smoothly (despite the lack of sleep). It was about 16 hours total travel timel, so needless to say, I´m happy to finally be here. It was such a joy to see Becka´s face when we made it through customs (tears and all). Alright, I must be going because Starbuck´s is calling my name.....I´ll keep this updated as much as I can...tomorrow we are going to La Serena (a little coastal town). Adios! Gracias para tus oraciones!!!!!!!!!

Love Rach, Erin, Carleigh, and Becka!!!!!!!!

Remember....

So, I wrote the blog posting below back in October. I came across it as I was sifting through old blogs, and I couldn't help but read it. I am posting it again for a reason. If you notice, way at the bottom, I ask for support in prayer. Well, the Lord has taught me A LOT in this area since October, and I wanted to take the time to thank you for your prayers. The prayer to rest, and become like a wheaned child, to not put all my emphasis on the intellectual, but to experience the emotional/relational part of my faith, has and is still be answered. I'm still going through the process, but I feel like He has carried me so far. He has already given me such a deeper understanding of how much He loves me....and to think, that is still not even close to how much He actually does; just a small taste. Anyways, I wanted to recognize how He does work. He does answer prayers, and I am so thankful and joyful for the lessons He teaches. Oh, and can I just say that it is so good to write down requests for prayer, and also what the Lord is teaching us, or bringing us through at the time. It is so great to be able to look back and have evidence of just how much He has worked. To remember. My prayer is that we will always remember. God bless you my friends, and thank you for your prayers.


Broken


Psalm 131

"O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever "

Warning: in a sad mood today...just thought I'd let you know before you proceeded to read my blog. I just want to share what the Lord has been teaching me. I feel like David right now when he wrote this Psalm. I have been humbled recently. I praise God for humbling me, even though it is so painful. You see, knowing my faith is really important to me....and those of you who know me well, know that I believe you can be a christian and have an intellectual faith, and that it does make sense, and doesn't just have to be a blind faith that you just accept. I think it is so important to study what you believe and learn about something deeply and intelligently if it is going to be something you base your life on, and I know that is a good thing to believe and place importance in. The problem for me has risen in the opposite area. I have put so much emphasis on knowing my faith intellectually that I have taken my eyes of know God relationally. Being rightly related to God does not necessarily require a deep intellectual understanding. You don't need to understand another person completely to fall in love with them. You don't need to know exactly how their mind and body work, you simply need to spend time with them, and enjoy their presence to fall in love. Yes, there needs to be a balance between the two, I was just completely ignoring the relational and emotional. I guess I just figured that the more I learned the more I would love the Lord, which is true, but my pride got in the way. In the beginning I gave credit to the Lord for revealing more of him and his truths to me, which is the only way I could have every understood...then, however, I started to attribute it to my own intelligence, my own super spirituality. SO LAME!!! To anyone who may have sensed that from me...please forgive me. The Lord has humbled me...I don't have it all together, and I feel like I know nothing, and can know nothing except for what He shows me.

That is what happened in Psalm 131. In it David talks about how he is not haughty about deep and profound things, he is simply resting, like a wheaned child. We honestly can never understand completely the ways of God, and if we keep striving for that we will come up at a loss and will become self seeking, in our search to "know" everything. We can't do that! I'm done...I'm done spending every second trying to figue out the Lord...I'm just going to rest and listen to whatever it is he wants to show me. I'm not going to stop studying my bible or anthing like that, I've just had a perspective switch. I'm going to keep studying it because it helps me to enjoy God, to learn about him.....I'm not going to study it in order to fulfill this thirst to know everything, and to figure everything out. I love how David uses a wheaned child as an analogy here. Wheaning is a difficult process for a child....they don't understand that it is for their benefit...that it helps them to experience more of life, that it is part of the process of moving to solid food. They just want their mother's milk. Then, after the child has been wheaned and has gotten over that traumatic experience they just rest on their mother's breast. They rest there seeking nothing to satisfy any natural hunger....they rest in that comfort, that closeness and that's it. I want my soul to be that. I want to rest simply on the comfort of our Lord who loves me more than I can even fathom or understand. I'm done with self seeking, I'm done with my prideful thirst for knowledge....I just want to rest....and learn how to love Him more and experience more fully how much He loves me. Not understanding it, just trusting in it, and finding comfort in it. Anyways, I don't know if this all makes sense....I'm just getting out what's on my mind. Let me know if you need me to clarify anything. Be blessed my friends again today, and please please please realize how much the Lord loves you and wants you near! He wants you to rest and find comfort in Him. It is then that you will experience true joy.

Also, I ask that you pray for me. I feel like I'm going through the "wheaning" time and it feels like it's killing me (i'm also dealing with the outward consequences of my misdirected focus....no need to go into that, and the hurt that I've caused others). It's very hard, and I need your prayers....whether you think I'm insane for believing what I believe or not.....please support me in the best way you can....pray for me. Don't be like me, get over any pride that might be going on inside your heart (something I'm totally guilty of myself), or any bad taste you might have towards christianity or religion in general (something that I have also been guilty of in the past). I need your support because you are my friends, regardless of what you believe, and this is the only way you can support me. I will be praying for you as well. I love you!!!!!!

Ragamuffins like to travel

Update: Oh, yes...felt like giving one..that's all.

I just finished a FANTASTIC book, and just couldn't go on without recommending it. Yes, yes..I like books, ESPECIALLY good ones. ;-) The book is Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. I don't even know how to describe it in order to convince you to read it. However, I will mention that is one of those books that has drastically "fine tuned" my perspective on Grace (it really challenged me to take a look at myself, and what I actually believe). Brennan is refreshing, fascinating, intelligent (which is always nice in an author) and he's VERY passionate. He's open about his opinions....basically, the books is great. I have yet to read another one of his books, but I plan on doing so very soon. Anyways, if you're a reader, check it out. You might enjoy. :-)

Oh, and another thing: Six more days until I head off to Chile for a week!! I'm sooooo excited to go! I'm so excited to see my sweet Becka! I've missed my friend so much (yes, becka...very much). I'm excited to read read read, talk theology, hike and hug trees...shop...eat Chilean food, and get hugged until I pee my pants...hmm...actually, looking forward to the hug part. Basically I CAN'T WAIT. I do request one thing though from you my friends. I would ask that you would be praying for my friends and I during our travels to South America. Pray that the Lord will keep us safe, and that in experiencing this new culture, we will be able to experience Him in a new and fun way!!! I really really really appreciate your prayers as I see more of His creation. I know that is definitely something that could get tainted by Satan (he's such a pain), so I ask that you pray he will not rob any of our joy, nor lead us into any unsafe situations. I will be leaving on Feb. 25th and returning on March 5th. I will also be trying to update this blog while I'm there so you can see what I'm up to down in Chile. Thanks again for your love and for your prayers, I will carry them with me while I'm away.

God bless!!!!!!!

Ben

Look at how beautiful he is.....he's getting SO big!

hmm.....

Hello hello...just wanted to warn that it seems that sometimes all my words aren't showing up on my most recent posts. However, I noticed that if you scroll down a ways and then go back up to the top, the words will then appear......hmmm.....technology. ;-)

Oh, and just wanted everyone to know that I have a new email address so please email me at: rachelrathburn@gmail.com from now on. Thanks so much!!!!!

Irresistable Revolution

Imagine my excitement when I hear about the recent book release of one of the best books I've read in the last couple of months. I wanted to take the time to post this on my blog because seriously, this book is a must read for ANYONE! The book is The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne, and please please please please read it. This book will make you severely uncomfortable but in the best way. You can read a chapter excerpt on Shane's website: here Read the book and then lets talk about it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Alright, I'm in a hurry, so gotta go. I just wanted to post this really quick so you can get started on it right away (can you tell I want you to read it? READ IT!) Bye my friends, and Happy Valentines Day!!!!!

Making an Ass out of me

First of all, I realize that my blogs recently have been others' words...I guess I've just been reading a lot of great things lately, and haven't felt like writing much recently...that does not mean I haven't been thinking, although it's nice to take a break from that at times as well. Anyways, there is this blog that I often frequent: http://onehouse.blogs.com/onehouse/ I find great joy in reading this blog and really appreciate much of what the author has to say. I was reading it the other day and I came across a posting that I liked ("liked" does not necessarily mean "agreed with"...although, I very well might agree...who knows?..I appreciate your opinions always though...especially my beloved chilena!!!). So, I thought I'd post that posting as one of my postings (hehe)...giving credit where credit is due of course. Thanks Onehouse, for opening my mind a bit further!!!! Enjoy......

Making an ass out of me.

I have heard many a direction put down as idealism. A few years ago, I tried to have a conversation with a prolific author who shot down everything I said with, "That? Why that's just warmed over reformed tradition." and "That? That's just the holiness movement." and "That? Why would you want to talk about that? That's small "s" spirituality."

One of my favorite responses came from a pastor of a large church. I asked about the possibility of postmodern influences on his congregation: "That? Oh yeah, our staff read a book about that. We decided not to believe it."

"Don't assume. It makes an ass out of you and me." True enough.

Perspectives should be a bit of salt in the mix rather than the whole enchilada. Here are some things I don't assume:

- that exploring the contemplative life means sitting in a corner and thinking about my life all the time.
- that someone pursuing the contemplative is enamored with a romantic notion of the past simply because the past plays a part in the daily.
- that believing in reading and study means someone could not possibly be a spontaneous or mosaic thinker.
- that being open to mystery leaves me closed to discipline and intention.
- that old or new, bigger or smaller, alone or together, single or married is better.
- that talking is progress and discussion is always valid.
- that prayer always involves words
.- that silence is always holy.
- that green things don't speak.
- that saying the above means I'm going to hell and I must be an animist.
- that Romans is better than the Psalms, that analysis speaks louder than poetry, that pictures are better than words. And vice versa.
- that commentary is good critique.
- that visible frustration means I am not at peace.
- that walking away from something means I don't love it. Maybe I love it too much to watch it keep using that name in vain.
- that choosing a certain direction means you are closed to all others.
- that any life can be flicked away with a "That? Why that's just..." If someone quickly brushes you off their sleeve, it doesn't make you a piece of lint. You may just be a bright thread and they think the whole piece of fabric must look like their color.

God bless you my friends. Comment if you feel so inclined, or even if you want to say hello and that you miss me, and that you can't wait for me to fly down there and visit you...hmm...might be tailoring this message to one person inparticular...hehe...ella sabe que yo la amo mucho!!!!!!!

here's another....

Here's another fun pic.....I wasn't actually there (this was in Mexico last year) but that still doesn't mean I can't post it. :-)

Two of my favorite people :-)

Was thinking back on fun times I had last year and looking at pictures, and I came across this one of a fun day in San Diego with Rico, and Noah. I wanted to share the fun with everyone! :-)

The Lion and The Lamb

The lion's roar came out of the age of enlightenment. It was the roar of freedom. It was the roar of truth. It was the roar of the victor standing over the body of his vanquished foe. It was an angry roar, and the lion had good reason to be angry.

But now this roar has grown louder and more powerful until it's almost the only thing we can hear. The sound of it rings in our ears, and the smell of the lion is on our breath and oozing from our pores.

The lamb used to think it was a lion. What a tragic irony. In its day it roared and painted its image on chain mail and shields. It left its mark on every witch that was burned. It laid claim to a new world, and you could hear its mournful wailing all through the Scopes Monkey Trial. But when the real lion came fully awake, the lamb was defeated and forced to wander in the wilderness. The lamb learned what it had long forgotten—what it means to be a lamb.

The lion is a clumsy ruler, like one new to power, while the lamb has its hooves pressed over its ears. It speaks in strange tongues that communicate nothing but prevent it from hearing anything. It has been a long journey for the lamb.

I'm tired of scientists and religionists and other "ists" fighting and belittling and pushing and shoving and blaming and hating. I'm tired of conceited scorn hurled with malice and in the name of truth. I'm tired of narrow vision and one-dimensional thinking. I'm tired of arrogance and polarization.

I'm tired of people who think reality will fit into the narrow confines of human vision, as if three dimensions and the speed of light are ideas big enough to hold everything, as if the poems of our hearts and the wind of our spirits can be crammed into the perfect cubes of empiricism. As if the aging myths of our mothers and fathers, the ones that nourished our souls, are outdated and shopworn and fit only to be sacrificed on the altar of modernity. This altar is made of polished steel, and the knife is a scalpel, and the look in the lion's eyes is the cold stare of a mechanized reality.

I'm tired of people who think deep truths are found only in prayer and scripture, as if we are not made of this earth and these stars, as if we are not driven by forces unseen to sink our hands into the clay at our feet and marvel at the tiny creatures who squirm before our eyes. As if the knowledge won by the rigorous and disciplined work of science is a threatening beast that must be sacrificed on the altar of spirituality. This altar is a bible. Its knife is a sharpened cross, and the look in the lamb's eyes is the haunted look of a species on the brink of extinction.

But it's just the two of us here, two who have cast aside every label and refuse to be branded with any word that ends in "ist." So I ask you, "Do you think these two twins of humanity, separated violently at birth, will ever come together in a Jungian collision that will shake the foundations of humanity?"

I do. Not in our day and not in our time. But the day will come.

On that day the scientist will take the arm of Mother Myth and the hand of Father Dream and help them across the road like a boy scout would. And the religionist will wander through an observatory for the first time, gasping and pointing at the ceiling with the wonder and delight of a child.

On that day, the lion will finally lie down with the lamb

by Gordon Atkinson posted in The Christian Century Publication on Jan 31, 2006, also check out his blog at www.reallivepreacher.com