by Josh Brown
Have you ever said a word, one you have used hundreds of times, and it seems like it's the first time you have ever used it? It's like that scene from the movie Black Sheep, where Chris Farley and Davis Spade are saying the words "road" and "limit" in different ways. Well, this is happening to me right now with the word "Experience." We are three weeks into our Nevada experience and I hope you are ready because I'm about to geek out over this "new" word. The word experience in Webster's Dictionary is primarily listed this way: "Direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge." Digging deeper, I learned that this word evolved through an Anglo-French word which meant, "The act of trying." This word becomes even more fun when looking at the origin in Latin. The root word is periri and it carries the ideas of anticipation, fear, testing, and predominantly the idea of trying or attempting. The prefix is ex and this means, "out of." The suffix ence means "process, action, quality, or state of being." Roll all of these things together and we get the broad understanding that experience means, "What we get out of the process of trying." Comparing this definition to Webster's, we see these are pretty close in meaning, but what I appreciate about the word-study process is the visceral understanding of this term. This new depth strikes a cord with me, especially today, three weeks into our Nevada experience (and over a month after leaving Virginia). Our experience is more than just cognitive observations and knowledge, it is also the emotions of fear, anticipation, anxiety, joy, sorrow or any other emotion we encounter through the process. All of this seems to come together in an experience I had as a 14 year old: In the midst of a canoe trip, our family came around a bend and saw people jumping off a cliff into the river. With some cajoling, I was talked into jumping from the cliff. Looking back on this experience it was more than just the principals of physics, it also meant facing feelings of uncertainty and fear as I looked over the edge of the cliff. It was embracing the exhilaration as I fell through the air. It was feeling the sting on my skin as I entered the water, and the gasp of air that filled my lung as I resurfaced. And finally, the sense of satisfaction that surrounded me as I sat on the opposite shore looking at the cliff desiring to jump again. That was my first experience with cliff jumping. What is striking in this is the connection between experience and faith (then and now). Our experiences are the significant life-changing moments and challenges we have endured. These experiences shape our very being. With my adherence to the Christian faith, I believe God has a plan. A big plan in which He is reconciling the world unto himself, and a specific plan for each believer that includes conforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, it is God's faithfulness that moves with us through the various experiences of our lives that make us look more like Jesus. This produces the confidence we need to step out in faith for our next experience.
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by Josh Brown Have you ever said a word, one you have used hundreds of times, and it seems like it's the first time you have ever used it? It's like that scene from the movie Black Sheep, where Chris Farley and Davis Spade are saying the words "road" and "limit" in different ways. Well, this is happening to me right now with the word "Experience." We are three weeks into our Nevada experience and I hope you are ready because I'm about to geek out over this "new" word. The word experience in Webster's Dictionary is primarily listed this way: "Direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge." Digging deeper, I learned that this word evolved through an Anglo-French word which meant, "The act of trying." This word becomes even more fun when looking at the origin in Latin. The root word is periri and it carries the ideas of anticipation, fear, testing, and predominantly the idea of trying or attempting. The prefix is ex and this means, "out of." The suffix ence means "process, action, quality, or state of being." Roll all of these things together and we get the broad understanding that experience means, "What we get out of the process of trying." Comparing this definition to Webster's, we see these are pretty close in meaning, but what I appreciate about the word-study process is the visceral understanding of this term. This new depth strikes a cord with me, especially today, three weeks into our Nevada experience (and over a month after leaving Virginia). Our experience is more than just cognitive observations and knowledge, it is also the emotions of fear, anticipation, anxiety, joy, sorrow or any other emotion we encounter through the process. All of this seems to come together in an experience I had as a 14 year old: In the midst of a canoe trip, our family came around a bend and saw people jumping off a cliff into the river. With some cajoling, I was talked into jumping from the cliff. Looking back on this experience it was more than just the principals of physics, it also meant facing feelings of uncertainty and fear as I looked over the edge of the cliff. It was embracing the exhilaration as I fell through the air. It was feeling the sting on my skin as I entered the water, and the gasp of air that filled my lung as I resurfaced. And finally, the sense of satisfaction that surrounded me as I sat on the opposite shore looking at the cliff desiring to jump again. That was my first experience with cliff jumping. What is striking in this is the connection between experience and faith (then and now). Our experiences are the significant life-changing moments and challenges we have endured. These experiences shape our very being. With my adherence to the Christian faith, I believe God has a plan. A big plan in which He is reconciling the world unto himself, and a specific plan for each believer that includes conforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, it is God's faithfulness that moves with us through the various experiences of our lives that make us look more like Jesus. This produces the confidence we need to step out in faith for our next experience. It's officially been one month since we set off on our western adventure, and it finally hit me--yesterday.
While there has been an understanding of these feelings inside me for a while now, I didn't really feel them until yesterday, on my way home from work. Having a pretty deep understanding of grief, it's hard to want to completely assign that title to how I am feeling currently, but it is the most fitting. The past couple days I have either been on the verge of tears or actually have succumb to the waterworks. This is not something I enjoy. Does anyone really? It is even weird to talk about this so publically, but I want to be honest during this process--that's one of the goals of this blog. Moving is hard. It is even harder when you leave behind what has become normal and comfortable. And harder still, when you leave behind friends who have become like family. (And family once again.) As I write this, the first verse of an old hymn lingers in my mind: "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul" This song, that has played in thousands of churches, and even at funerals of my loved ones, has a melody of comfort. And yes, I know it is old and might even seem out of context but the depth of the words helps secure my feet once more. No matter where I am, no matter how heavy my heart is, or how real my tears are, I can lean in and trust in a living and loving God who understands what it means to forsake all. And that is good, or in this case, well. "Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul It is official. We live in Nevada. We are praising God for his protection and provision as we have journeyed cross country to begin this new chapter in our lives.
In a few hours, I (Jenn) will begin my first official day at Lifepoint Church as the Communications Director. It is beginning to feel real. Although, in many ways, it still feels like we live in a postcard--with snow-capped mountains surrounding us. Seriously, it is amazingly beautiful and the pictures we take don't even seem to capture it. Through the process of moving we found encouragement from new and old friends, our family, sermons in Dallas and in God's Word and especially in His creation. On Wednesday, we concluded our more than 2500-mile drive taking the road from Las Vegas to Minden/Carson City. What a final stretch! As we drove the fairly empty stretch of road I wondered how many people had seen the big city full of man-made wonders but never made it to see the natural God-made wonders just outside the lights. At every turn I was amazed by God's creativity. Today, as I take a deep breath and dive into what God has next I am so thankful that I serve a God who is more creative than I could ever hope to become. What a joy and privilege it is to try and reflect His Glory in a new place among many new faces. In February we moved from the east coast (Virginia) to the west coast (Nevada). At this, the focus of this site is just to help friends and family (and maybe even some strangers) - travel with us in our adventures of life, faith, family and much more. But it may change as time goes on. ...
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About the WritersTypically posts on this page are written by Jennifer Brown and often include fun stories about Josh as well. Occasionally, Josh might post too (when he feels daring!) Previous Blogs
January 2018
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