christian hospit(re)ality

...romans 12.13 exhorts us to "seek to show hospitality" or as the niv states it simply: "practice hospitality"...

...paul's exhortation to "practice hospitality" comes right in the middle of one of romans' most famous chapters: chap 12, which can be broken down into two sections:

• (1) vv. 1-8 how we are to be living sacrifices in the body of Christ, and
• (2) vv. 9-21 how we are to love others as living sacrifices
  

...this is no mistake...christian hospitality is a daily reality of being a living sacrifice for God...during our stay in new england this week, our delightful friends, matthew and kirsten, demonstrated (again) the purpose, power and daily reality of christian hospitality...they were living sacrifices in all that they did for us, from making space for us for an entire week to packing us lunch bags for our flight home (thanku, how thoughtful!!!)...and as key partners in our next steps to japan, they also continue to pray for us and encourage our hearts...matt and i share passions for writing (he's a journalist and gordon-conwell grad), good flan, and anything espresso...kirsten and claire were carpool buddies and taught at the same elementary school for a couple yrs...we jokingly tell them that if it weren't for them, we would've never become mac-organic food enthusiasts we are today...

...both of them are skilled in the kitchen...

...what's matt flipping?...

...his awesome apple cider pancakes...

......hospitality is the doorway to the heart...we praise God for these two dear friends...we are "devoted to you in brotherly and sisterly love" (rom 12.10)...you would think that with their generosity and warmth, we would be ready to rip up our tickets and stay w/ matt and kirsten for the winter...then we thought about long new englnad winters and...well...we put down our tickets and invited matt and kirsten to follow us to sunny california.

...we played "settlers" every night...sure matt won the first two nights w/ kirsten fast on his heels, but claire surprisingly got the last laugh...to the surprise of no one, i settled for last...