Hillary's love for our Lord not only comes across because of the work she does but in her everyday life she is a truly Godly woman
The post below is an excerpt from Hillary's blog. The photos didn't come across and I know many of you don't have access to her blog spot blog but you might want to email Hillary and ask to be invited to to view her blog. This is for security reasons. Before it wasn't a private blog and some of her students found it by Googling her name. the photos really do add to the posting so email HIllary so you can see the whole thing plus all past blogs. Hillary is an amazing writer. Her link to her Xanga blog is listed in the left margin that one is not a private blog just more "fun" stuff. Let me know if you can't find Hillary's email address.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
This morning, as I was reading Deuteronomy 28, I was struck by the description of the consequences for disobedience to God’s commands. Confusion, rebuke, pestilence, fever, pursuant enemies, defeat, boils, blindness, bewilderment, slaughter, captivity, distress, oppression, and plagues are just a few of the words within the curses for disobedience described for the people of Israel as a warning reminding them to serve the Lord their God with joy and a glad heart. I was admittedly disgusted by the description and somewhat confused by the words that are out of character for the “warm and fuzzy” God I sometimes make Him out to be in my human mind. (I think I must have been reading that passage when my teammate took the photo of me below without my knowledge.) In the end, however, I understood that the passage reminded me how serious God is about people loving and serving Him above all else.
A visit to Batterek, Astana’s Space Needle equivalent, saddened my heart. At the top of the tower stands a table dedicated to the unified religions of Kazakhstan. Now, I do feel strongly that people should make an effort to live in peace despite differences, but I also cringe at the promotion of pluralism, the promulgation of the idea that everyone is right and all roads lead to the same place when, in fact, they cannot.
Next to this table is a stand displaying a hand mold of President Nazurbaev. One is suppose to place his or her own hand in the mold and make a wish. In light of what I read earlier in the day about God’s obvious desire for people to obey His commandments and love Him with all their heart and with all their soul, I “wished” that Kazakhstan might be a nation where hearts are turned toward Him, where people can receive blessing such as He described to the Israelites of restoration, compassion, circumcised hearts, and prosperity as they love and obey the Lord our God.
“…So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him…” Deuteronomy 30:19b-20a
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