Scott and Angie Bentley

Scott and I went on a walk tonight to a park two blocks away. It’d been a battle-for-faith kind of day.

Sitting on the swing and talking about the day (and avoiding the bird poop on the left side), this thought suddenly popped in my mind:

God never says, “Try harder.”

God says a lot in the Bible, but never that. Never “Work harder” or “Grunt it out” or even — are you ready for this? — “God helps those who help themselves.”

Never.

But, He does say:

• Trust Me.
• Follow Me.
• Believe Me.
• Be still and know that I’m God.

So, that pretty much removes “run-around-like-a-crazy-woman” from my list of better options. Thanks, Judy and Virginia, for your gentle words reminding me to rest.

I jumped back in time a few thousand years from where I’d been in Acts recently and dove into the life of the Patriarchs of the Bible–namely Jacob. (Using a great study by Beth Moore.)

Until this morning, the following irony had been lost on me.

Jacob posed as his older brother to get his father’s blessing.

Then, here in Genesis 29, Jacob gets a taste of his own medicine when Laban poses his older daughter, Leah, as his younger daughter Rachel.

Even if Jacob had too much to drink and Leah wore a veil, I’m thinking, how can he not have known this wasn’t the woman he had loved for the last 7 years?

As one commentary said, “The story offers a powerfully ironic comment on the love of visible beauty, and shows as well the unreliability of trusting alone to sight. For where is beauty in the dark?”

Contrast Jacob’s sight-heavy love for Rachel and the love I see in Philippians 1:9 that Paul prays for those believers in Philippi:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound [excel, be plentiful] more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and [you] may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ…”

This is the kind of love I want to grow into, more and more–a love that’s wise, grounded and mature.

We changed clothes to go see friends last night…and, as we turned around, realized that we’d done it again.

We were dressed alike. (Scott’s face betrays his excitement.)

This isn’t the first time. Is there something in marriage water that causes you to start looking alike so quickly? I wasn’t prepared for that to happen until our 80s when we will be wearing matching polyester running outfits…and running nowhere.

I wonder if Abraham was a man of patience before God came calling. If not, he was in for a Master-level crash course in it.

The book of Acts is where I’m living these days. Today I’m in chapter 7–hearing Stephen recount the story of the Israelites.

“Leave your country,” God says.

Oh wait–ummm, ok. “And go to the land I will show you.” Ummmm…give me a hint? Maybe rhymes with…? I’d have asked.

So Abraham gets to the land.

Oh wait–but gets no inheritance yet. “Not even a foot of ground” it says in verse 5.

Then God promises Abraham that he and his descendants will possess the land.

Oh wait–Abraham consults with Sarah and they remember they are struggling with infertility. Thanks for bringing this painful fact to our attention, Lord.

The land of not-yet. If you’re there, take heart. You’re in good company.

Because, read on. There turned out to be a bigger story.

Scott made us his signature breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast, then we jumped in the truck (sans shower) and headed to downtown Omaha for the farmer’s market there.

I joked with Scott that, one day, maybe we’ll be that old couple whose bragging rights encompass the fact that we’ve been to a farmer’s market in each state.

Two down. (Florida & Nebraska)

Forty-eight to go.

Oh, plus Guam. Does Guam have a farmer’s market?

We bought the largest zucchini I’ve seen, as well as squash, a big ‘ol green pepper, fresh basal and a bouquet of flowers my husband-of-almost-4-months bought me.

And I’m blanking on what kind of flowers these are. Help me out?

It’s that time of year again when pencils are sharp (wait…do students even use pencils anymore?) and backpacks have that new smell.

It’s back to school.

What student do you know who’s off to college this fall? Find out if there’s a Campus Crusade group at their school.

Want more?

Scott here.

I made the mistake of turning over last night, which awakened Angie.  “Scott?” she says while shaking my shoulder.  “Do you remember that weird situation we’re in?”  “No,” I said, while looking at the clock that says 2:30am.  She scoffs at me, as if I should know what she’s talking about.  “That guy….we need to get the clothes out of the car.”  I don’t respond.  I’m seriously trying to remember if there is a weird situation we’re in because -

A.  Angie’s mind is always whirling and she has a much better memory than me.

B.  It’s 2:30 in the morning and I’m not fully in my right mind either.

She asks me a couple more unusual questions and continues to scoff at me for not knowing the answer.  At this point I know she’s sleep talking/walking…again.  She gets out of bed and pulls out her insulin pump to use the green LCD light to look around the dark room.  “That’s so WEIRD!  It was just right..here.”  She moves to a couple more corners in the room, still saying, “That’s so WEIRD!”  Finally, sobriety enters the room and she asks, “Scott, was I dreaming this?”  I told her yes, it was a dream.  I was shocked she believed me.

The night before was my turn when Angie woke me up after I had fallen asleep for an hour.  I told her, “Why do we have to get pictures?  I don’t understand?”  Then she laughed at me.  I knew for CERTAIN she knew EXACTLY what I was talking about, but the laughing made me so mad I walked out of the room.  Sobriety entered the bathroom I was in and I realized it was probably a dream.  Still, there’s nothing that makes a man angry like his wife laughing her head off at him for what appears to be no reason whatsoever.  It’s more cruel than anything, until I woke up the next morning and thought it was funny too.

The night before that wasn’t as dramatic, but just as unusual.  About 5am Angie said, “Is that it?  Is that Mount Kilimanjaro?”  Well, that was a new one.  Not Mount McKinley, not the Rocky Mountains, not Jesus on the Mount of Olives, but Mount Kilimanjaro.  Even she doesn’t remember where that one came from.  What an active bedroom we have that comes from our nightly dream theater.

A big thank you to past roommies Jodi and Deb for helping pack up our little kitchen in Winter Park, Fla! Scott’s back and my sanity are indebted.

No idea why they’re laughing. The sheer joy of helping us, I’m sure. (Deb looks a bit dressed up because we three had just gone to dinner. Sparkles aren’t usually her clothing choice for working.)

Oh, the good times we’ve had over 6 1/2 years as roommates!

Scott and I packed up our ‘04 Ford Ranger truck to the hilt (still for sale if you’re lookin’) and headed north, to Atlanta.

Former Campus Crusade missionaries as well as a former pastor and wife, the Joneses know the toll can be of being in full-time ministry and offer a haven through TeamMates in Ministry.

Where we dined the first morning. Peggy, you’re such a great cook as well as hostess!

Us ladies sans makeup at breakfast. Jennifer roadtripped with us as we were dropping her off in Memphis. Scott and I met Dave & Peggy at the FamilyLife conference we attended in March where they were speakers and couldn’t wait for Jennifer to have time with them as Jennifer gets married September 6th. Woo hoo!

We’re in Dave & Peggy’s backyard. Seriously. I told them that they should call their B&B “Restorative Inn.”

After 3 glorious days we bid the Joneses goodbye (for now) and drove north…getting further into the South.

When the graffiti is about church, you know you’re in the south.

Scott likes how the zebra print brings out the stripes in my shirt. I like how tough Scott looks. We found these at a gas station slash Dairy Queen. Never know when you might have a hankerin for a Blizzard and a hat to get you through the storm.

Now, we’re here in Iowa safe and sounds (as of last Wednesday) and loving time catching up with old friends and making new ones as we get opportunities to talk about our ministry with Campus Crusade.