"Because He is a God of the impossible."

Other than a unique season of life or an extra intense... uh... tummy-ache time... there are about two things that make me cry. And I can pinpoint them every time they happen:

1) When I am missing someone or feeling a profound sense of loss and
2) When I am deeply inspired or moved by a story... then, it is all moved up and out my eyes.

So when I felt the inspiration trickling out my right eye yesterday, it didn't surprise me very much. Nathan's grandpa had stopped by our office during staff meeting, and I witnessed one of the most inspiring things I've seen in a while...

I wish I could paint or draw sometimes, because I would have painted what will now have to just remain in my mind's eye. I would have painted Nate kneeling by his grandpa's chair as this wise pillar of faith told stories about the wonders and power of God constantly displayed in his life. I suppose I could try to retell some of them, but it would do justice to neither the moment nor the stories. If I could paint, I would have painted a grandson, wide-eyed and smiling, so gratefully and respectfully gleaning whatever he could from this wise old man. Instead, I'll only try to paint with words what I saw when I saw Nate kneeling by his grandpa...

I saw a generational story... I saw a story of faith--both God's and the family's... and a story of heritage--a heritage of following God wherever He goes and of seeing His way with vision and humble service. I saw a Moses story, passed down from grandfather to father to son... and I saw different contexts, different times, different styles even... but the same heart.

Because Nathan and his grandpa have the same heart. They have different hair-cuts, but they have the same heart.

It is a heart that seeks. It is a heart that listens. It is a heart that serves and desires and pursues the God of the impossible as He has searched the earth and found the Edwardson men. It is an invaluable inheritance... this heart that has found its way into the Redding community after traveling the world. And it is an inspiring story... this story of God-dreamers who have continually witnessed God's miracles and provisions in what seemed to be impossible circumstances.

I saw Nate reach his hand up to his grandpa's shoulder, and I listened as he prayed for a blessing over the man who had undoubtedly been praying for blessings over Nathan even before he was born. I was moved by this thought. I was moved by the whole thing. So yesterday, I knew that I, too, had to glean whatever I could from this moment. Because how many times do you see pictures of such legendary generational stories right in front of your eyes?

...Especially now-a-days... among a generation that has forgotten about heritage--that has been turned off to honor and the stories of God's movement.

That's one of the things Nate's grandpa said yesterday that I wrote down: "You have a unique church," he told us, "unique enough that it is just the one for Redding--for anywhere in America right now, really... because, you know, there are plenty of churches easily accessible enough for the elderly and the middle-aged, but the generation that is needing to be reached so badly right now is the one that's been turned off to God... and they need to be turned back on again..."

And then he said this: "Bible says, 'Ask largely that your joy might be full'... and if you're hamburger people, you can live on 'em. So keep asking God... Because He is a God of the impossible."

Then Nate leaned over to me and said, "Write that down." And I nodded, already mid-quote...

It was great having Nathan's grandpa at staff meeting yesterday. It put some things into a good perspective. And put some extra inspiration into me.

Oh yeah, and another thing he said that I'd say is worth noting:

"Remember--'The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, will quicken your bodies...' Boy! That's a great truth!"

...Yes...Yes, it really is.

Nate says that his grandpa always says, "The secret of man is his source."

Yesterday, I think we as the Stirring staff got to know a little more about grandpa's source...

...And He is "a God of the impossible."