shooting stars and boulevards

Coming to Iraq generated a lot of expectations and a fair share of uncertainties. I was expecting a dirty/sandy, hot, centrally populated country with angry mobs and kids throwing rocks. Well most of this country has lived up to my expectations, only the kids throw rocks at each other and rarely throw them at us. There are no angry mobs and very few people out at night. There is plenty of sand and dust and I think my dirt boogies can attest to that. Its not hot anymore. It's 45 at night which is frigid here. I guess the temperature being cold is just relative. Anyway, sitting on top the truck in the open has given me the opportunity to see the country that I am sure many have not experienced.

I see constellations of all kinds bright as the sun sometimes. The most prominent one is Orion. The little and big dipper i saw last night and I think i can see the one thats a flying horse -Pegasus?-If there was anything about this country that I would love to bring back to the states its the sky. I have seen meteor showers, shooting stars and some unexplainable things. There is no real light pollution so the they skies light up at night. There are some nights where the moon doesnt even come out til 2 or 3 in the morning. Last night I couldnt even find it. And I think the moon is twice the size out here too. I wish there was a way for me to capture the vastness and the beauty to share with everyone. It truly is a reflection of the God we know and love.

I was listening to a Tim Keller sermon and he gives the example that if the distance to the sun was the thickness of a piece of paper our galaxy would be a stack of papers 300 some miles high. And our galaxy is just a SPECK in the whole universe (that we can see with out technology). How great and powerful the Lord is, who has created such an enormous beauty that we cannot even begin to fathom, and yet cares so much for us, the specks on a speck on a speck, that He sent His Son to Earth to have his heart and his body broken; punished in ways that we cannot understand. I know what it's like to be away from family. I know what it's like to be separated from Alli (yet we can still communicate) and it is painful. Being apart from her is the hardest part of the deployment. And Jesus was separated COMPLETELY and UTTERLY from His Father. A feeling that He never experienced before and thankfully will not experience again. To have his own Father turn his back on him, an inexplicable pain that we will never have to experience as long as we give up control of our lives and let Jesus give us the greatest gift: Eternal life free from the punishment that is due us.

I guess I kinda went off there. It just blows my mind the grace and love that the Judge of Nations has shown EVERYONE who is willing to accept it. And to think that I have lived my life in contest with this Savior. Thank God that my eyes have been opened to the truth.

(Sorry love, I dont have any pictures so feel free to add one :) love you)