Fighting Confusion

From Dee:
Today I spent time in the word from Hebrews 9:1-10, and as an act of confession and application, had this idea: Our identity is never to be caught up in our jobs. Ok, I know some may be thinking, how did he come to those conclusions? Maybe I'll post on CrossCultured my exegesis, but by way of summary, let me just say, God had an intention behind the Law, but the author of Hebrews in chapters 8 and 9 especially seems to be saying, "it was never for the purposes in which you have made them." The works of the Law are clearly (inherently) limited.

Unfortunately, I have made literal work my identity, and I am being called to repent of such thinking. How many of us ask or are asked by way of introduction, "so, what do you do?" There is nothing wrong with that, but whenever I answer that question nowadays, I find myself cringing to respond, "I'm currently looking for work." What does that say? I have no worth if my identity is in my occupation? But look at the flip-side, let's say I worked as a physician. If my entire identity was wrapped up in that, then I would be a person of worth as long as I was still of working age, with physical and mental ability to perform my duties, and having a place of employment. So what happens when (not if) any of those things cease to exist? These are the sort of conjectures that have been swirling in my head while trying to apply the wonderful truths of Hebrews to my present reality of unemployment. Job statuses are meant to change! It makes no sense to put all of our worth in something that is meant to have a limited timeline as well as limited function behind it. No, my primary identity is a child of God. My primary aim in life is to Glorify Him by enjoying Him. Consequently, my main objective in life is to cultivate and exude that identity in all of the temporary, albeit significant, duties that I am assigned throughout my entire life. Please be praying that I find a job that I can most gladly do this, but also that I would recognize the sovereignty of God in this waiting period. Thanks so much!

Big Job!

Look what the Laniers have been up to! Special thanks to the Lehmers and Jonathan Mitchell in helping us get this project underway. Dee had no clue where to even start without the experienced workmanship of Marco and Jonathan. Kind of reminds you of discipleship, huh? Now he's making nifty little cuts and starting on the front entrance. We hope that the tile proves as a good addition whenever we decide to resell.

GIRL!!!

From Daddy:
Karis Faye Lanier, the name of our soon to be born child has already been a marvelous blessing to us. I can hardly write these words without getting emotional. I am so excited that God has graced (Charis, means grace) us with a child, and a precious girl at that. For a while now, we have speculated with many that we were having a girl. As a matter of fact, God had given me a special confidence that we were having a girl and that she was going to be o.k. during the time of our scare when we thought we had miscarried. I look forward to being "Daddy" to this precious child, on lend from the Lord. Pray that her and Mommy remain healthy and graciously cared for by our Dad.

PS. I know what you may be thinking. Yes, the Kovacs and the Laniers are naming their daughters Karis. It's actually quite funny. We were having dinner with them a couple weeks ago when Shawnda asked us what names we were thinking and we said Silas or Karis and Shawnda's eyes lit up and we knew "You guys are thinking Karis as well, aren't you?" So we had great conversation about all of it and are joyful to be able to share yet another part of our lives with our dear friends.

From Mommy:
Well, I know what many of you are thinking..."I knew it was a girl!" My dad's comment was, "How much did it cost for them to tell you that? I could have told you for free." We had a great dinner with my family tonight and gave them the news by showing them a little girl doll, the first doll that Daddy has bought his little girl. Of course, we are just so excited and love being able to say 'she" instead of "the baby". And we are thrilled to be able to pray for her and call her by name! So, as soon as we fix a couple of computer glitches we are having, we will share our latest ultrasound picture. It was wonderful to see her today, big and healthy and moving all around. Well actually, it took a long time to see if she was a boy or girl because she had her legs completely crossed. The nurse kept saying she was stubborn. We like to say she was being modest...:) So, the nurse left the room and I walked around and jumped around and pushed on my belly a lot to get her to move. And it worked! The doctor came right in and saw it immediately. So exciting!! Also, the other update is that the growth I had was completely undetectable today. They said it's just gone...don't know what it was or why it's not there anymore, or where it went. We know the Lord just healed my body and is keeping our little Karis safe and healthy! So, thanks for celebrating with us!

LAST DAY!!

     Well, today was the LAST DAY for Dee and I both at our jobs.  This brings along a lot of mixed emotions for us.  Let me start with mine... :)  It hit me today around 4:30 when I was driving to the grocery store.  I thought, "I am not going back to school tomorrow...wow!"  Right now, my car is full, literally to the ceiling, of school boxes.  Dee hasn't unpacked it yet and he doesn't realize just how much school stuff I have.  I am a packrat and don't/can't throw away anything.  I really am thankful to be finished with the year.  It was a very stressful position and not very supportive from the administration, professionally or personally.  
     All in all, I feel good about where the students left.  I did all I could with and for them.  They are all really excited about the baby and I promised them updates as well as a picture when the baby is born.  (One student asked, "Mrs. Lanier, could you hold the baby when you take the picture so we can have a picture of you too?"  They can be sweet.)  I left with some good connections with a few of the parents and I think we will stay in touch which I am excited about.  The last day of school was funny as we hit the last 20 minutes of the day before the buses started being called.  One very emotional girl started really crying and it led into a cryfest for about 6 or 7 other students.  By the end, I had 5 girls and 2 boys crying and literally wailing!  They were all laying on me and on the floor and my shirt was soaked with tears.  They can have such sweet hearts.  We had lots of hugs while I had to push them out the door as to not miss their bus.  It was an emotional ending!
     My new thing is a job at my dad's office in Harrisburg.  It's an office/admin position for a subcontractor.  I really do enjoy that kind of work and I start full time there next week.  It's such a change of pace from teaching and I like it!  My plan right now is to stay there until the baby's born.  I'm excited about the job and being closer to my dad while I'm pregnant.
     Speaking of the pregnancy, I'm feeling great and I love the 2nd trimester!  I'm definitely in need of maternity clothes and am going shopping this weekend.  It is a challenge every morning to find something that fits and looks decent.  But I'm doing well.  I go to the doctor tomorrow and then have a checkup with the specialist in 2 weeks, which is when I think we'll be able to find out the gender!  (We think it's a girl.)
     As for Dee, he is excited to be finished with his job, but it also starts the heavy job hunt!  As we all know, searching for jobs can be draining and it is already getting that way.  Please pray for him/us as he is pursuing several different things right now.  It can feel like a big waiting game.
    Our big plan for the rest of this week is the BEACH!  We'll be there with the rest of my family, which is usually lots of fun!  We are eager for the rest and play with them and each other.  
     So here we go on another adventure!

Baby Lanier at 11 weeks

This ultrasound was taken 3 weeks ago. P.S., that's a hand, not an extra-large nose!

These are funny...

From Dee:
I know that Stacey typically writes the funny school stories, but I have an installation to add. A teacher came into the hallway yesterday laughing hysterically, just to tell me about some comical responses to a quiz she had just given. The students studied different proverbial statements and then had to fill in the blanks in a quiz. Here are the questions and top responses:

1. If you lie down with the dogs... "you'll get stinky"
2. Don't bite the hand... "that's dirty"
3. A penny saved... "ain't worth your time"
4. Children should be seen and not... "smacked"

And the best (and saddest) of all:
5. Better late... "than pregnant"

Updates, updates, updates

From Stacey:
Ok, so I know some updates are due. I'm not very consistent in this blog thing. (sounds like some other things in my life...) Well, we have had an eventful 1st trimester with our little one. After the last big scare, the doctors were checking on me almost every week with an ultrasound b/c they saw a growth there, which they thought at first was a fibroid, which is common and can coexist with the baby just fine. Then, I had one of those fun comments from the doctor, "Well, I really don't know what it is or if it's a concern. You'll have to go to the specialist." You know, the whole time, he's not really acting concerned, but it freaks me out! Also, by this time, the growth really looks like it's in the sac with the baby! So, my mom and I go to the specialist and it was very relieving. He said it's definitely not a fibroid and doesn't look like a placental tumor which can also grow in the sac near where the cord atttaches (which is where this thing is). He doesn't really know what it is, but it's not affecting my baby, so don't worry about it. We saw a great picture of the baby with the high-tech ultrasound machine. The baby had grown so much and looked like it was doing flips in there, kicking and waving its arms. It was so fun to see that! So, it sounded like one of those typical Hartness doctor's appts. "You're growing something, we don't know what it is, and we've never seen anything like it. I'm sure you'll be fine." (Me and my family have had several interesting reports like that!) The doctor also said I should have a normal pregnancy, normal delivery, the growth is not permanent, and will come out with the baby, whatever it is!
Other than all that, I am feeling better, coming in on the 13th week. Food is still an issue, but Dee is being very patient with that! You never what I might want or what turns my stomach. Also, I told my students that I'm expecting, and they were excited. I have a few parents calling and asking if it's really true. They ask about the baby all the time and come up and act like they're listening to my stomach. One funny instance...after I told the kids, I explained that's why I eat crackers in class sometimes because "my baby makes me sick". I had no comments then, but about an hour later, in the middle of a lesson, one student raised his hand and said "Mrs. Lanier, how are you going to have a baby in your house every day?" "What do you mean, of course the baby will be with me every day." "But if babies make you sick, how are you going to be around it all the time?" I laughed and retold him, it's not that I don't like babies, but being pregnant makes my stomach feel sick. "Ooooooh" he says. I have to watch how I explain things!

Looking For Work

From Dee:
Ok,
What's going on with the Laniers? Well, we need to post some more baby pics and news for sure! But at very least, you all can be praying for us as I look for a new job. Since April I have been working at Crossroads Charter High School in a security/counseling position. It has been enjoyable, but it will only continue for the next 3 weeks before school is out. Our future relies a lot on wherever God sees fit to grant us employment. One major lead has been for the Department of Juvenile Justice in North Carolina. I have applied for positions in both Raleigh and Charlotte, and just recently I received a call from the one in Charlotte today! So could God be leading us to stay put??? To be continued...

Big Scare, Bigger God

At around 9:30 pm last night, Stacey experienced what we thought was a miscarriage. We went to the ER and had an ultrasound and saw our little "peanut" alive and well. We are going to bed at 2:40 am, tired, yet very relieved. God is gracious.

Worth a 1000 words...

Gender: ?
Approximate Arrival date: 11/29/06
Feeling of Parents: Ecstatic in the Lord!

P.S., look real closely. X marks the spot.

Famous Quotes

Well, my husband has been on the verge of nagging me to blog, so here I am! Usually, my excuse is being so tired from teaching 24 6 and 7-year-olds all day. They wear me out! So, my new (and hopefully repeating) update will be famous quotes from my students. They can come up with some great things sometimes! Here is one recent story from a student who started out as my most challenging and has grown so much in his behavior control, that he's become one of my favorite students to be around and talk to. He and another student were joking around with me as they were waiting for their buses, saying they wanted me to give them money for a drink. After, of course, telling them no, they joked they would steal it from my purse. I told them that people who steal have to go to jail and then they couldn't fulfill their dreams, namely professional football and basketball. Well, one of them quickly replies, "My mom works at the prison and when I go there, I see them playing basketball all the time!" HA! I laughed so hard and informed him that they don't get paid quite the same. He said, "The lunch lady does." My response, "Do you want to go to prison just to play basketball?" Student: "I'd be close to my mom!" (His mom is a nurse at the prison in Charlotte.) Such the sweet words from a boy whose favorite woman is still his mom!
So, that's the famous quote for today. More to come soon! However, I did just begin Spring Break! I'm convinced God created Spring Break! I need it!!

Destination Known and Unknown

If you've been wondering what's going on with the Laniers in the job search journey, here's a copy of an update just recently sent to the members at Desiring God Community Church. You may also note that we've asked Bethlehem Baptist to take us off of their candidtate list for their evangelism position. Without getting into details now, we just sensed deep confirmation from the Lord that He was not leading us there. But He is leading us still! Read on:



Dear fellow church members,
It is with joy that I write you and let you know how God has answered many of your prayers in relation to our future. As of the beginning of April, I will be taking a job as a Behavioral Modification Technician at Crossroads Charter High School. Bottom line, I help keep the kids orderly on their way to class, and I talk to them through issues they may be having, either on their initiative, or by recommendation by a teacher because of conduct. I am very excited about this opportunity, and allow me to explain how all of this came about.

A few of you may know that I began volunteering on Tuesday afternoons at the high school leading a discussion group for a program called CHAT (Character Helps Achieve Triumph). These kids are considered “at risk” and are in a Title I alternative school, so the issues they face are obviously considerable. We use our discussion to talk on topics that they are interested in, and that I facilitate with intention of incorporating biblical principles, and hopefully prepare them to hear the Gospel from myself or someone else in the future. I have thoroughly enjoyed this time, and find it very rewarding.

Last week, after the principal had observed the program, I received a phone call with an inquiry to job employment. This came as a complete surprise, and was a clear move of God. I simply received a phone call, then had a conversation with the principal and the security supervisor, and next thing you know they were offering me a job! The most humbling part about it all is that they are willing to work around my Thursday class schedule. Praise God!

Of course this may be bittersweet for some to read, as it means an early departure in employment at DGCC. Thank you, on behalf of Stacey and I, for your concern, love, and hopes concerning us. We have been flattered by many of your comments made to us. Again, thank you.

What this means for our long-term future is still uncertain. I will only be working definitely until the middle of June at CRCHS. After that, we are still unsure. We continue to explore options in Raleigh, and will be there this Sunday morning. Though not on staff, we remain active members of DGCC, and will participate regularly in the Racial Harmony Roundtable, small group, and when not visiting other places, Sunday morning services.

Thanks again for your prayers, and though we know this is pretty big news, please continue to ask us about other relevant issues in our lives, our spiritual walks, our service to our neighbors, and our family life. We look forward to doing the same.


In His care,

Dee Lanier (Phil 3:13-14)

The Second Chance

Sorry you guys it has been a long time. I have been itching to write and let you know about a really well done movie on the topic of race relations and inner-city ministry. Do not get thrown off by the star of the movie, Michael W. Smith. He can actually act much better than sing, in my opinion. Smith, and jeff obafemi carr (that's right, he prefers all lowercase letters), do a great job of depicting the many tensions that exist between the white church and black church, even when they are supposed partners in the work of the Gospel. My wife and I were urged to go see it by a few friends, and we ended up going with two fellow members in our Racial Harmony Roundtable discussion (more on that to come). To say the least, we did not know exactly what to expect. Would it be bad acting, or cheesy, or so tame that it was worse than fictional, borderline comical? It was none of those things. The movie was honest and intense. It gets a PG-13 rating because it did not aim to make it "family friendly" and mushy. Instead it was hard-edged and it showed some of the brutal realities of urban street life, and the social phenomenon that plague any city near you. It also showed white apathy and black distrust and personal relational tensions. Most importantly, it showed change, and how the Holy Spirit continues to work in the lives of even the most stubborn of pupils. In short, I have a recommendation for you-- GO SEE THIS MOVIE! Click on the link above to view the trailer. Showing times and locations are limited, so you may need to do some searching, or get it when it hits the video store.

Show some love!

Quick favor for those of you who read our blog. Please post a quick comment and let us know that you are out there. If you want us to expound on any issues, or if you just want to encourage us to keep the updates and opinions coming, let us know. Notice I keep saying, "us" as if Stacey has actually blogged yet. Well, your comments could also serve as a petition to her! We love you guys, we would love to hear from you.

Dee, for, "us"
(Phil 3:13-14)

Hip Hop Wars

If you are in Charlotte, check this event out being hosted by Christ Central Church:
http://www.nodafilmfestival.org/

If you are or are not in Charlotte, check this out as Truth goes against the grain on TBN:
http://www.datruth.net/video/DaTruth_TBN_2.wmv

See how the two are blended. Christ, and the culture. One must define the other. One must dictate the other. One must be deployed to the other.

One.

Actually quite warm!

So MN wasn't as cold as we were expecting. They were having a mild winter, and we enjoyed temperatures in the mid 40s. Not bad! It was great seeing several old friends from Campus Outreach up there. Super thanks to the White's for having us! Our most exciting moment: getting a Dodge Charger for the price of a budget car because they were out! Our most embarrassing moment: driving around Bethlehem Baptist meeting with people about a position in urban evangelism driving a Dodge Charger! I'm wanting to justify the car everywhere we went, "it was only $15 a day!!"

We really enjoyed the city and for the most part, the church. It is big, though. I mean, really big. So we're continuing to pray on our end for what we would most enjoy about church first, a job second. Our interviews went well, nothing formal yet. I guess we'll keep you posted as to how the story unravels.

PS, check out the Desiring God webpage soon to download conference lectures. Might I highlight Michael Campbell's.

It's cold up there!!

Alrighty then...
This is big news for some of you, but unfortunately I need to keep it short. My mother-in-law is picking Stacey and I up in less than a half an hour to take us to the airport to travel to the original home of the Lakers, and current abode of the Big Ticket. For you not-so-much basketball fans, we're headed to Minneapolis, MN. I have an interview with a search committee for a staff opening in the area of evangelism. Yes, I entreaty your prayers. We also look forward to catching up with many of our friends from Campus Outreach, who are up there. Stacey is only with me through the weekend :( , and I will be staying for the Pastor's conference which is Jan 30-Feb 1. Please be in prayer for not only God's direction for our future, but satisfaction in His person in the present.

PS,
For all of you that have inquired about the Cross Movement Track cds, they are currently unavailable. Cross Movement Ministries (not the group, or the record label!) discontinued at the end of 2005. Kim Gordon, with CM said that they need to figure out who gets reproduction rights for the cds. The former president of the ministry, Deuce(AKA, Ambassador), is starting a church in Philly, Epiphany, so be on the lookout for how they keep the Cross on the move...

A Katrina Christmas

We took a trip down to New Orleans a couple of days after Christmas. More on this soon...


One of our new favorite places, Cafe Du Monde. We love their coffee!










The sight was devastating on the streets. We even saw a couple of boats on the side of the road in the middle of downtown.

One more thing...

From Dee:
One more thing to say about Cross Movement,
Since I promised to give some explanation to who they are and what they do. Let me break it down like this and tell you through my story.

I was first introduced to hip-hop music when I was seven years old in 1984, when my foster brother introduced me to the radio station 1580 KDAY, in Los Angeles. I started listening to rappers such as UTFO, Run DMC, Doug E Fresh, and LL Cool J. In short, I was hooked. I was later enthralled by the cult film, Crush Groove, and even had my own pair of Addidas with thick shoe-laces and all (at least I think I had Addias, they may have been Diadoras or Pumas). It was in 1987 I started hearing of more underground groups, some vulgar, like 2 Live Crew, and Too Short, and some, of an entirely new phenomenon called gangsta rap, local products out of Ruthless Records, such as N.W.A., Easy E, and the DOC. Slowly, I became not just a fan of rap music. I became rap music. I began writing rhymes, heading up dancing crews, and sometimes deejaying a few parties. Eventually I had the desire to even become a radio deejay. Music was my life.

It was in college that I began listening to the messages in the music very intently, and even gaining my clues for social acceptance and attitudes towards authority, women, and "enemies" as well. It was while listening to a song by 2Pac that I recall turning to my roommate and asking, "do you want to try and get high?" And from there the cycle really began spiraling downward. I became infatuated with not only the sound of the music, but the messages in the words. I was a walking contradiction, going to church, on Sundays, immediately after leaving the party scene on Saturday. "My life is in denial/and when I die/baptized in eternal fire/shed so many tears," 2Pac.

When I gave my life to Christ in 1997, I had an experience that changed my life dramatically. Immediately I began ridding myself of the things that I was aware of that was hindering my walk with Christ. I stowed away all of my hip-hop CDs waiting to hear from the Lord what I should do with them. We're talking like 200 CDs here! It was a matter of months before I gained the courage through the help of some friends at a Christian retreat camp that I had a "music bash", destroying all of my CD collection, except my two Kirk Franklin CDs. I even felt the need to get rid of my Motown collection. "distant lover...," Marvin Gaye.

Someone introduced me to a Christian hip-hop group called GRITS, and I listened to that tape at least twice a day. It was the only connection I had-- a hybrid of the style of music I most loved, and the message that brought life. I began investigating and buying Christian hip-hop CDs by the droves. I was pretty indiscriminate in this process until I heard a group, on accident. I bought a CD called Heaven's Mentality, by this East Coast group called Cross Movement, as part of a Christmas promotional package. The sound was different than my preference, but having relocated to the Southeast, by now my style preferences became more diversified. What grabbed me the most was the depth of the content paired with beats and skill that rivaled even secular artists. Now I was hooked! "like, what's this new thing/looking like a Christian Wu-Tang/my crew hangs loosely/ but we tied tighter than a shoe-string," Phanatik.

Since then I have become an extreme advocate for CM, trying to tell any unbelievers that doubt the relevance of the Gospel, "yo listen to this;" and to the believer who has been trying to find a music to replace their old idols, "yo, listen to this!" So in short, I promote Cross Movement, because they promote Christ to the fullest, and in a day when our entire culture is being influenced by this sub-culture and musical genre called hip-hop, we need this. Recently our church purchased a bulk order of 25 evangelistic CDs at $3 a piece from Cross Movement called, The Track. With joy I encourage you to consider this ministry resource to reach young people (meaning those 30 and younger) with this evangelistic tool. It is blazing in content, consisting of both songs and discussion over the need of Christ. So, I may finally calm down some of my promo on this blog, but I wanted you to all know some of the in-depth reasoning behind some of my apparent obsession with this record label and ministry. "I'm a F.A.N.A.T.I.C/I rep' Christ 'till I d.i.e./ I'm not extreme, I'm redeemed with faith/ to serve a God who's extremely great/ I'm a fanatic," Lecrae

http://www.crossmovement.org

--Phil 3:13-14

Flame's New CD

Until Stacey finds the time to finally blog, I'm going to keep posting! Flame's new cd is out, and it is real!! If you have any interest at all in Christian hip-hop cop this cd. That means buy it! I love Flame's rawness, and realness, and integrity with the Gospel and the music. Flame once again delivers on this one, displaying even more vulnerability of personal struggle with sin, strong defense for the doctrine of the Trinity and the sufficiency of the scriptures. He definitely will win over a lot new fans from this sophomore release, as well as cause some others frustration. But what believers that stand for truth do you know who have not experienced this? If you're on Amazon or Best Buy already trying to find some gifts for loved ones, add this one to your shopping cart!