As much as I don't want the Christmas season to be crazy busy I have embraced that it will be. When you have 7 grown children, a seven year old, and 8 grandchildren, you are the lead pastor of a vibrant faith community and you have extended family, it is what it is.
So, I began this season with a retreat. I would like to say it was a "silent" retreat, but really it was a retreat for solitude. There were times of silence. It was wonderful. I know that solitude sustains me in the busy life that I lead. I went with 6 other women. We had set times of silence, good meals, sharing of insights and just plain fun. One very small thought I read in a Nouwen meditation I will carry with me and try to get back to often. When Jesus fed the multitudes, he had to receive the little boy's lunch first...it's in receiving that we can give out...I am going to practice "receiving" often so I will have a place to draw from that is not my own.
Retreat is good. Retreat brings perspective. Something happens when all the distractions and busyness are removed, for a few minutes, hours or days...I want to do a 5 day solitude retreat after the first of the year...
A good way to enter the madness...
Friday, December 02, 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005
Turning Point Awarded Funding
Good, good news today. Last May we submitted two grant applications for funding for the purpose of capacity building in the development of Turning Point (see prior entries)...We found out today, one of our grant applications was approved for funding in the amount of $30,000! There were over 500 applicants with only 12 awards given, we were the very last award for this particular round of funding...
I am thankful...
I am amazed...
I am scared...
I am still stunned...
I am hopeful...
I am excited to see what else transpires as we go forward...
I am thankful to Jesus for His faithfulness and goodness and trust to us...
I am thankful for my congregation who are some of the most giving, courageous people I know....I am going to embrace and savor this good news as long as possible...
I am thankful...
I am amazed...
I am scared...
I am still stunned...
I am hopeful...
I am excited to see what else transpires as we go forward...
I am thankful to Jesus for His faithfulness and goodness and trust to us...
I am thankful for my congregation who are some of the most giving, courageous people I know....I am going to embrace and savor this good news as long as possible...
Monday, October 24, 2005
Global Support with a mission
We would like to take a few weeks and let Diane Ellis and Leigh Buchan tell you the story of how the mission group below is coming about, read and feel free to comment.
How to make a difference on a Global level and what motivated us to launch Global Support with a mission
During our travels overseas over the last 4 years we have been exposed to a variety of eye opening, cultural experiences that awakened in us a desire to do something about the plight of others less fortunate. I don’t believe it was coincidence that brought us across the paths of the poorest of the poor in the world. It seemed those that were the most desperate, the most troublesome to us were the children.
The children that we met had no say about the conditions they were born into, about the injustices they were being subjected to. They had no voice in how they were living, no voice in their future. We realized that we had to help, that we had an opportunity to help. But how?
We knew we didn’t want to just throw money at projects or organizations that we knew little about, and we knew we were not in a position to start our own program in a foreign country. No, we needed to find someone that was already doing the work we would like to do, someone that we could come along side and help support what they were doing. So we began to evaluate what we liked about existing programs, what we thought worked and what didn’t. We knew we wanted to stay in a long term relationship. We knew we wanted our efforts to be directed primarily toward children, to help them have a voice in their destiny, in their future. We knew that we wanted to somehow bridge the gap between the resources that are available to us and those that had nothing. But how would we do that? Where would we start? There are thousands of worthy causes, millions of marginalized people. How would we choose? Could WE really make a difference? Still, more questions than answers. Next week more on Global…
How to make a difference on a Global level and what motivated us to launch Global Support with a mission
During our travels overseas over the last 4 years we have been exposed to a variety of eye opening, cultural experiences that awakened in us a desire to do something about the plight of others less fortunate. I don’t believe it was coincidence that brought us across the paths of the poorest of the poor in the world. It seemed those that were the most desperate, the most troublesome to us were the children.
The children that we met had no say about the conditions they were born into, about the injustices they were being subjected to. They had no voice in how they were living, no voice in their future. We realized that we had to help, that we had an opportunity to help. But how?
We knew we didn’t want to just throw money at projects or organizations that we knew little about, and we knew we were not in a position to start our own program in a foreign country. No, we needed to find someone that was already doing the work we would like to do, someone that we could come along side and help support what they were doing. So we began to evaluate what we liked about existing programs, what we thought worked and what didn’t. We knew we wanted to stay in a long term relationship. We knew we wanted our efforts to be directed primarily toward children, to help them have a voice in their destiny, in their future. We knew that we wanted to somehow bridge the gap between the resources that are available to us and those that had nothing. But how would we do that? Where would we start? There are thousands of worthy causes, millions of marginalized people. How would we choose? Could WE really make a difference? Still, more questions than answers. Next week more on Global…
Friday, October 14, 2005
More Turning Point
I have been listening to different folk talk about their perception of Christians. I don’t know the source of a recent survey, when young people ages 16-29 were polled. They were asked the question, “what do you think of when you hear the brand “Christian”? The top three answers: 1.anti-homosexuals, 2. judgmental, 3. hypocritical. I think this is a sad commentary. Whether it is reality or not is not the issue here. Most of us know the saying, “perception is reality”. Part of our vision for Turning Point is to somehow join with other Christ followers to help change that perception. My reality and the study of our sacred text help me understand the opposite, that Christians should be the most generous and kind people on the planet. To that end, we at Turning Point want to serve those that don’t have economic access to food, shelter, and education that teaches relational life skills found so often in issues of divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, etc.
We are at the very beginning of developing Turning Point, an organization that will partner with other organizations and individuals. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Where we can, we want to bring support. There are many opportunities available now in our community to serve. Go to the service opportunities link on our website and you can see different ways to partner with the Center for Human Services as well as IHNS to serve our community. We also want to be about the development of new areas to bring needed support to families in Shoreline. We have hosted two brunches and will host another on Sunday, November 9, 2005. We are working on getting certification to offer an educational course, Couple Communication Workshop. Watch for details on how you can help and be a support to Turning Point.
We are at the very beginning of developing Turning Point, an organization that will partner with other organizations and individuals. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Where we can, we want to bring support. There are many opportunities available now in our community to serve. Go to the service opportunities link on our website and you can see different ways to partner with the Center for Human Services as well as IHNS to serve our community. We also want to be about the development of new areas to bring needed support to families in Shoreline. We have hosted two brunches and will host another on Sunday, November 9, 2005. We are working on getting certification to offer an educational course, Couple Communication Workshop. Watch for details on how you can help and be a support to Turning Point.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Generous Orthodoxy Conference D.C.
Back from Washington D.C. where I participated with Off the Map's event...GO Conference. What a great time. Highlights:
Working with Bob Bowen, Elizabeth DiCandilo, Craig Spinks, Jim Henderson, Dave Richards, April Stace, Nuc, Posido, Robert, Brian, Ryan Beatty and others...
Meeting Bill Bean, Aaron Klinefeltor, Brooke, Allsion and all the others...
Listening to Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren and Martin Robinson and others....
Co-facilitating a workshop with Rachelle...
The conversations, the meals, all in all a good time...don't miss Seattle November 4-5th..it will be a good time
Working with Bob Bowen, Elizabeth DiCandilo, Craig Spinks, Jim Henderson, Dave Richards, April Stace, Nuc, Posido, Robert, Brian, Ryan Beatty and others...
Meeting Bill Bean, Aaron Klinefeltor, Brooke, Allsion and all the others...
Listening to Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren and Martin Robinson and others....
Co-facilitating a workshop with Rachelle...
The conversations, the meals, all in all a good time...don't miss Seattle November 4-5th..it will be a good time
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Turning Point - Beginning With What We Have
One of our guiding metaphors or stories is found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The story is about how Jesus took a little boy’s lunch, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples to give to the people that were hungry. The five loaves and two fish were multiplied as the disciples distributed what they had to feed 5000 men and their families.
There are several reasons why we love this story, this miracle of provision. First, we believe that if we bring what we have to Jesus and ask him to feed the hungry, the vulnerable, and the poor, he can and will multiply our resources of money, time, energy, talents, etc. Second, it seems that the multiplication comes as we give, as we distribute, so we don’t always have everything we need to make a big impact. We have learned to be patient and okay with small beginnings. As we begin, even in the smallest of ways, to give out to those in need, the multiplication comes. It has come through partnering with others who care about the issues that face many families without economic access to food, education, life skill training, counseling and more.
Turning Point begins, Sunday, September 11, 2005 with a warm meal. We will serve a free brunch to the Shoreline Community the second Sunday of September, October and November. It is our way of beginning, doing something small to meet a need. A warm meal in a hospitable atmosphere can go a long way for a family that is struggling to make ends meet; next week, more on Turning Point.
There are several reasons why we love this story, this miracle of provision. First, we believe that if we bring what we have to Jesus and ask him to feed the hungry, the vulnerable, and the poor, he can and will multiply our resources of money, time, energy, talents, etc. Second, it seems that the multiplication comes as we give, as we distribute, so we don’t always have everything we need to make a big impact. We have learned to be patient and okay with small beginnings. As we begin, even in the smallest of ways, to give out to those in need, the multiplication comes. It has come through partnering with others who care about the issues that face many families without economic access to food, education, life skill training, counseling and more.
Turning Point begins, Sunday, September 11, 2005 with a warm meal. We will serve a free brunch to the Shoreline Community the second Sunday of September, October and November. It is our way of beginning, doing something small to meet a need. A warm meal in a hospitable atmosphere can go a long way for a family that is struggling to make ends meet; next week, more on Turning Point.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Turning Point
Turning Point will be the new arm of VCC that focuses on the local community. We are forming it as an entity with some separation from VCC so that the dream we have of delivering services to families in need will not get lost in the internal workings of the faith community. We have noticed that even in the most well intentioned churches (including ours) the pull to serve the church is so powerful that getting much done to deliver justice to those outside the church just gets missed. Our attempt to remedy this is the development of Turning Point; under the faith community but with a separate name, checking account, etc. Eventually, Turning Point, if it makes sense to do so, will become its own charitable non-profit organization.
The working vision statement for Turning Point is that families in Shoreline, North King and South Snohomish Counties have access to social services. The working mission statement is: to deliver social services by partnering with others and with special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable by providing educational, coaching, care and counseling services to families.
The vision/mission statements are very rough, but I think you get the idea. We dream that someday Turning Point will make an impact in hundreds of families that would otherwise not have access to much needed social services and that cycles of poverty, abuse, divorce, broken familial relationships, at-risk youth and many other social ills would be turned around and brought to wholeness. We will do this in partnership with other agencies and organizations for maximum impact. Next- more on Turning Point
The working vision statement for Turning Point is that families in Shoreline, North King and South Snohomish Counties have access to social services. The working mission statement is: to deliver social services by partnering with others and with special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable by providing educational, coaching, care and counseling services to families.
The vision/mission statements are very rough, but I think you get the idea. We dream that someday Turning Point will make an impact in hundreds of families that would otherwise not have access to much needed social services and that cycles of poverty, abuse, divorce, broken familial relationships, at-risk youth and many other social ills would be turned around and brought to wholeness. We will do this in partnership with other agencies and organizations for maximum impact. Next- more on Turning Point
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Our Dreams
This will be the first in a series of articles or maybe we could say conversations. Conversation implies two-way communication, so, we are going to write some short articles about our dreams, our life together, and our moving toward such and would like to hear your responses, insights, comments and questions. Each article will be listed on the sidebar of the VCC web site here http://vineyard-cc.org/# as well as on this blog. You can post any comments here. We hope you will find this a helpful way to dialogue about our community.
To begin, let’s start with some background. The last few years, through circumstances and many influences, we have become convinced that we exist to serve our world in the personal, local and global realm. We believe that followers of Jesus embrace the way of Jesus that lives pursuing their relationship with God and serving this world in tandem. To that end we encourage one another to embrace spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, fasting, reading, gathering together, hospitality, as well as many others…in the future we will devote some articles to “spiritual practices in community”.
We dream about the myriad of ways we as a community create an environment that sees every person’s journey encouraged to serve in the three realms of mission noted above. To begin with we want to talk about our dreams in the local area.
Next - The birth of 'Turning Point'
To begin, let’s start with some background. The last few years, through circumstances and many influences, we have become convinced that we exist to serve our world in the personal, local and global realm. We believe that followers of Jesus embrace the way of Jesus that lives pursuing their relationship with God and serving this world in tandem. To that end we encourage one another to embrace spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, fasting, reading, gathering together, hospitality, as well as many others…in the future we will devote some articles to “spiritual practices in community”.
We dream about the myriad of ways we as a community create an environment that sees every person’s journey encouraged to serve in the three realms of mission noted above. To begin with we want to talk about our dreams in the local area.
Next - The birth of 'Turning Point'
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Going Home
We leave Orcas to go home today. This stay has been very slow, lots of solitude...my sister does not have a television. It has been great to see Alex play for 10 days without a T.V. or video games! He and Nate have read books and played outside until they were covered in dirt, so fun to watch. They especially like chasing rabbits. There are so many rabbits here. They run all over the property.
We have had a very nice time here. My brother-in-law has been a most gracious host--we have named him our "Camp Director"
I usually dream a lot and remember my dreams. It's a language I have learned some about and it is definitely a way that I hear from God as well as a way of working out my life...
I haven't remembered many of my dreams the past 10 days...maybe because life has slowed to a halt there is not a lot to work out while on vacation...
Last night I had a very vivid dream. I was with Gordon Cosby from the Church of the Savior. He was giving me advice. I can't remember what he was saying but I knew I needed to pay attention. I knew he had a lot of wisdom that I needed to hear. My dream changed and I was frustrated for not asking him certain questions. I was trying to get him on the phone but was not having any luck. I remember thinking, I should write down all my questions on a sheet of paper so if I do get him on the phone I won't forget what I want to ask...end of dream
This has obvious implications to me on the surface. I visited Church of the Savior two years ago and have read several books about COS. We are in the process of trying to develop ways to incubate several mission groups. We understand that the COS structure does not translate to our context so we have been trying to figure out what does transfer. Lots of discussion, lots of reading, lots of praying for the correct structures to enable us to see our faith community serving the places of pain and need in our world...I think there is more for me, I will have to think about it...
We have had a very nice time here. My brother-in-law has been a most gracious host--we have named him our "Camp Director"
I usually dream a lot and remember my dreams. It's a language I have learned some about and it is definitely a way that I hear from God as well as a way of working out my life...
I haven't remembered many of my dreams the past 10 days...maybe because life has slowed to a halt there is not a lot to work out while on vacation...
Last night I had a very vivid dream. I was with Gordon Cosby from the Church of the Savior. He was giving me advice. I can't remember what he was saying but I knew I needed to pay attention. I knew he had a lot of wisdom that I needed to hear. My dream changed and I was frustrated for not asking him certain questions. I was trying to get him on the phone but was not having any luck. I remember thinking, I should write down all my questions on a sheet of paper so if I do get him on the phone I won't forget what I want to ask...end of dream
This has obvious implications to me on the surface. I visited Church of the Savior two years ago and have read several books about COS. We are in the process of trying to develop ways to incubate several mission groups. We understand that the COS structure does not translate to our context so we have been trying to figure out what does transfer. Lots of discussion, lots of reading, lots of praying for the correct structures to enable us to see our faith community serving the places of pain and need in our world...I think there is more for me, I will have to think about it...
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Orcas is Beautiful
We arrived on Orcas Island about 4PM yesterday. What a beautiful setting! My sister's house looks across the road to West Harbor. The weather is outstanding. Rich and my brother-in-law are out hiking this a.m. Alex and Nate are chasing rabbits. There are so many rabbits on the property. I am having coffee, being quiet, and now reading through some blogs...
I brought a few books to read with me. I started with "girl meets God" by Lauren Winner. It is a memoir of a Jewish woman that converts to Christianity. Lauren has her degree in the history of American religion. Something she reports in her book, really struck me. She recounts the beginnings of Billy Graham's crusades. Lauren tells the history, "In 1957, Billy Graham held a revival in New York City...He wanted to make sure the local churches were prepared to welcome and support the converts, so...Graham and his people...met with local Christian leaders, helping to prepare New York churches to receive what Graham hoped would be a large influx of New Christians...Graham was Baptist, evangelical, in 1952 he began to reach hundreds of thousands of readers with a newspaper column...and a year before his New York crusade, he founded Christianity Today the country's leading evangelical magazine. His credentials were impeccable.
Graham's work with the local churches in NY sparked a huge controversy: Graham met with fellow evangelicals, he also worked with Catholics, liberalish Presbyterians, and others outside of the orthodox Protestant fold. In today's pluralist climate, such overtures may not sound terribly edgy, but at the time they were radical."
Graham took a lot of heat, writings came out against him, powerful conservative Christians were outraged, and they denounced the rising young evangelist. Bob Jones, John R. Rice and others. "Graham, however, stood his ground, insisting that the fighting, feuding and controversies among God's people...is a very poor example." that "God has people in all his churches," and that "the one badge of Christian discipleship is not orthodoxy, but love."
I have read or seen more of Billy Graham in the last month than in a very long time. I am sure that it is because of all the publicity he got around his last NY meetings...as I watched him interviewed and now reading this, I wonder about a few things we, the 2005 church could learn from him:
He held strong to his beliefs without condemning others (Christians) that held difference in their theology and practice...
He was very "big" he had a gift to be with people from all walks of life and faith, and these people (usually heads of governments) were drawn to him (sort of like Jesus)...
He stood his ground, with love in the midst of being accused of heresy from the very conservative wing of Christians of his time...he was accused of being too nice, too compliant...
He still to this day has impeccable credentials...
I am wondering if Billy Graham's example of inclusiveness is not an accident for those of us today that watch as an amazing cultural shift is taking place in our world...
I wonder if we too, could hold our ground in love...
I wonder if we too, could have people that differ with us be our friends...
I wonder if we too, could be accused of being too nice, too compliant when accused of not having it right...
There is a place for disagreement, there is a place for discussion of disagreements, but what I see written about brothers and sisters in Christ over the blogsphere and not face to face or even email to email, is a very sad commentary for our time...
I read so many backhanded attacks on people that are trying to faithfully live out their service to Christ...it doesn't even seem to be conservatives attacking more liberalish folk (although I see this as well), it seems to be happening in all corners of the church...
I think public critiquing has it's place, but I wonder why it can't be done with much humility and love...
Okay, my rant is over, back to vacation...
I brought a few books to read with me. I started with "girl meets God" by Lauren Winner. It is a memoir of a Jewish woman that converts to Christianity. Lauren has her degree in the history of American religion. Something she reports in her book, really struck me. She recounts the beginnings of Billy Graham's crusades. Lauren tells the history, "In 1957, Billy Graham held a revival in New York City...He wanted to make sure the local churches were prepared to welcome and support the converts, so...Graham and his people...met with local Christian leaders, helping to prepare New York churches to receive what Graham hoped would be a large influx of New Christians...Graham was Baptist, evangelical, in 1952 he began to reach hundreds of thousands of readers with a newspaper column...and a year before his New York crusade, he founded Christianity Today the country's leading evangelical magazine. His credentials were impeccable.
Graham's work with the local churches in NY sparked a huge controversy: Graham met with fellow evangelicals, he also worked with Catholics, liberalish Presbyterians, and others outside of the orthodox Protestant fold. In today's pluralist climate, such overtures may not sound terribly edgy, but at the time they were radical."
Graham took a lot of heat, writings came out against him, powerful conservative Christians were outraged, and they denounced the rising young evangelist. Bob Jones, John R. Rice and others. "Graham, however, stood his ground, insisting that the fighting, feuding and controversies among God's people...is a very poor example." that "God has people in all his churches," and that "the one badge of Christian discipleship is not orthodoxy, but love."
I have read or seen more of Billy Graham in the last month than in a very long time. I am sure that it is because of all the publicity he got around his last NY meetings...as I watched him interviewed and now reading this, I wonder about a few things we, the 2005 church could learn from him:
He held strong to his beliefs without condemning others (Christians) that held difference in their theology and practice...
He was very "big" he had a gift to be with people from all walks of life and faith, and these people (usually heads of governments) were drawn to him (sort of like Jesus)...
He stood his ground, with love in the midst of being accused of heresy from the very conservative wing of Christians of his time...he was accused of being too nice, too compliant...
He still to this day has impeccable credentials...
I am wondering if Billy Graham's example of inclusiveness is not an accident for those of us today that watch as an amazing cultural shift is taking place in our world...
I wonder if we too, could hold our ground in love...
I wonder if we too, could have people that differ with us be our friends...
I wonder if we too, could be accused of being too nice, too compliant when accused of not having it right...
There is a place for disagreement, there is a place for discussion of disagreements, but what I see written about brothers and sisters in Christ over the blogsphere and not face to face or even email to email, is a very sad commentary for our time...
I read so many backhanded attacks on people that are trying to faithfully live out their service to Christ...it doesn't even seem to be conservatives attacking more liberalish folk (although I see this as well), it seems to be happening in all corners of the church...
I think public critiquing has it's place, but I wonder why it can't be done with much humility and love...
Okay, my rant is over, back to vacation...
Monday, July 18, 2005
Vacation
We are leaving in a few minutes for vacation on Orcas Island. Rich, Alex, Nate and I are going to my sister's house. I am sure we will have a great time...looking forward to rest, relaxation, and a bunch of fun...
Last night a few of us celebrated Erin's birthday. Erin is somewhat new to our community. Celebrating moments...that's what we did last night. We went around the table and though we don't know Erin well, everyone offered a toast...toasted what they appreciated about her or how they look forward to getting to know her better...
It was reciprocal toasting, after each toast, Erin responded...so then we had to toast the original toastee (is that even a word?)
Off to Orcas...
Last night a few of us celebrated Erin's birthday. Erin is somewhat new to our community. Celebrating moments...that's what we did last night. We went around the table and though we don't know Erin well, everyone offered a toast...toasted what they appreciated about her or how they look forward to getting to know her better...
It was reciprocal toasting, after each toast, Erin responded...so then we had to toast the original toastee (is that even a word?)
Off to Orcas...
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Skydiving
Yesterday Rich and I and Alex went to the Snohomish airport to watch Nicole and a group of her friends skydive. They went up in four different loads. Nicole was in the last load so we were there until 7:00 pm. What an awesome experience. As we watched each load go, climb, jump and land. I really wanted to do it. It was too expensive otherwise I would have gone with my daughter. You jump in tandem with an instructor. My daughter's anxiety grew with each load that went up and came back. By the time she was on the plane she started to cry she was so afraid, then she said her instructor had to peel her hands away from the door to jump! She said once they jumped it was awesome! She also said she is glad she did it but will never do it again...
I love her spirit...
I love her courage...
I love her persistence...
I love her honesty with fears...
I love bonding with her in these moments...
I love her spirit...
I love her courage...
I love her persistence...
I love her honesty with fears...
I love bonding with her in these moments...
Monday, July 11, 2005
Random goings on
Today I am cleaning my house. I started on Saturday. It is therapeutic to clean out closets, scrub toilets, paint a bathroom desperately in need. I don't know if we will get to the painting today though. It's ready to be painted. Our life gets so full at times it is hard to slow down and enjoy being home. We have gone in and out of being very busy and having house guests. It's nice to be home, have no one here and get some much needed cleaning and purging done.
At four o'clock today I am going to watch my 25 year old daughter sky dive. It is her friend's birthday party, a group of friends jumping out of a plane. Nicole called me a few weeks ago to tell me she would be jumping and wanted to know if I would make sure to be praying. I am going to watch and pray...she is very adventuresome, I would like to think she gets that from me but somehow she comes by it quite naturally, I cannot imagine jumping out of a plane, it sounds exhilarating, but I don't think I could bring myself to actually do it.
Last week I joined a group of women from VCC in an eight week group called Simple Spirituality. You can go to off-the-map.org and check it out. It's formed around 7 practices, this last week our practice was God is good, I will practice trusting Him with my life...
Each week we come back to report how that practice influenced us, what we noticed about God, ourselves, etc...I was happy when a couple of women initiated facilitating this group. I was a part of a SS group a couple of years ago. The group helps me to slow down, notice God in the everyday, notice my response to God and to others...
One thing I have discovered about me is that I need places, spaces, to center my life. To slow down and practice incorporating my beliefs into my real life, SS helps me do that in community with others trying to do the same...I can let myself get so busy, do so many things, that I will forget to slow down and notice the Kingdom around me, I know I am in this process of learning to live my life oriented toward God and His kingdom for the long haul so this is a way for me to pace myself, to center and remember what this is all for...
I told you this would be a random post...
Rich and I and Alex are going on vacation next week, another way to center, we are going to my sister's house on Orcas Island. I haven't been to her house yet, they bought it last summer. I hear it is very fun, there will be lots of hiking, sailing, crabbing, good food and the like. Some of our friends are coming up while we are there so I am looking forward to the time away...
Got to get back to cleaning...
At four o'clock today I am going to watch my 25 year old daughter sky dive. It is her friend's birthday party, a group of friends jumping out of a plane. Nicole called me a few weeks ago to tell me she would be jumping and wanted to know if I would make sure to be praying. I am going to watch and pray...she is very adventuresome, I would like to think she gets that from me but somehow she comes by it quite naturally, I cannot imagine jumping out of a plane, it sounds exhilarating, but I don't think I could bring myself to actually do it.
Last week I joined a group of women from VCC in an eight week group called Simple Spirituality. You can go to off-the-map.org and check it out. It's formed around 7 practices, this last week our practice was God is good, I will practice trusting Him with my life...
Each week we come back to report how that practice influenced us, what we noticed about God, ourselves, etc...I was happy when a couple of women initiated facilitating this group. I was a part of a SS group a couple of years ago. The group helps me to slow down, notice God in the everyday, notice my response to God and to others...
One thing I have discovered about me is that I need places, spaces, to center my life. To slow down and practice incorporating my beliefs into my real life, SS helps me do that in community with others trying to do the same...I can let myself get so busy, do so many things, that I will forget to slow down and notice the Kingdom around me, I know I am in this process of learning to live my life oriented toward God and His kingdom for the long haul so this is a way for me to pace myself, to center and remember what this is all for...
I told you this would be a random post...
Rich and I and Alex are going on vacation next week, another way to center, we are going to my sister's house on Orcas Island. I haven't been to her house yet, they bought it last summer. I hear it is very fun, there will be lots of hiking, sailing, crabbing, good food and the like. Some of our friends are coming up while we are there so I am looking forward to the time away...
Got to get back to cleaning...
Saturday, July 02, 2005
A Visitation of Sorts
Thursday evening a group of us got together to begin plans to put some feet to what our community is calling Turning Point. TP a new arm of ministry that cares about serving the poor. Though we have big dreams, we realize we have to start small and are committed to the long haul, to let things grow over time. What we do know is that this is who we are to be, the reason we exist.
We met for a meal before our planning time. We had finished dinner, and we were taking turns noticing where we have been and where we are heading on our journey together. Jim talked about the Shalom of God, the sense of wellness and putting things to right that comes from God. We each had a glass of wine and had broke bread, we were about to pray and take communion together when we looked up and a man was standing at the head of the table.
He had come in without us noticing. He asked if we had any food to spare. He and his family were homeless, living in their van. We got up and began to gather up food, we had food in our kitchen, leftovers from our dinner...while we were gathering food, he told a bit of his story. We gave him a number for the homeless shelter we partner with, he was overwhelmed, thanked us, asked if we had any gas vouchers as he used all his gas running his engine at night to keep his family warm.
We gave him a few dollars for gas and he went on his way, very thankful.
We sat stunned by what had just occurred. It was a holy moment. NT Wright calls these moments "thin places" between heaven and earth. We savored the moment, prayed, took communion and our meeting ended up very productive in light of the experience we had together.
Here is a Scripture I have been thinking about for years...
A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places
10If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down--and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
11I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places--
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
12You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
I hold on to this as a mission statement for us...God is very good
We met for a meal before our planning time. We had finished dinner, and we were taking turns noticing where we have been and where we are heading on our journey together. Jim talked about the Shalom of God, the sense of wellness and putting things to right that comes from God. We each had a glass of wine and had broke bread, we were about to pray and take communion together when we looked up and a man was standing at the head of the table.
He had come in without us noticing. He asked if we had any food to spare. He and his family were homeless, living in their van. We got up and began to gather up food, we had food in our kitchen, leftovers from our dinner...while we were gathering food, he told a bit of his story. We gave him a number for the homeless shelter we partner with, he was overwhelmed, thanked us, asked if we had any gas vouchers as he used all his gas running his engine at night to keep his family warm.
We gave him a few dollars for gas and he went on his way, very thankful.
We sat stunned by what had just occurred. It was a holy moment. NT Wright calls these moments "thin places" between heaven and earth. We savored the moment, prayed, took communion and our meeting ended up very productive in light of the experience we had together.
Here is a Scripture I have been thinking about for years...
A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places
10If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down--and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
11I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places--
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
12You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
I hold on to this as a mission statement for us...God is very good
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Weddings
I am officiating my niece's (actually my second cousin but like to think of her as my niece) wedding tonight. It should be fun, they are a very sweet couple, mid 20's, both from Montana, so family members from both sides have come for the wedding...many of my family members will be in attendance as well.
I actually like officiating weddings, whether they are people I know well or don't know at all...for me, it is an honor to be with people as they begin this season of their life. Last weekend I officiated a wedding for a couple I did not know. The week of the wedding the bride's mother passed. They had the memorial on Friday and the wedding on Saturday. They did such a beautiful job under very sad circumstances, it was a beautiful wedding. I think this is why I love pastoring, you get to be with people during the most intimate times of their lives, somehow I find Jesus there, right in the middle of these times...for me these are most holy, sacred times...
I actually like officiating weddings, whether they are people I know well or don't know at all...for me, it is an honor to be with people as they begin this season of their life. Last weekend I officiated a wedding for a couple I did not know. The week of the wedding the bride's mother passed. They had the memorial on Friday and the wedding on Saturday. They did such a beautiful job under very sad circumstances, it was a beautiful wedding. I think this is why I love pastoring, you get to be with people during the most intimate times of their lives, somehow I find Jesus there, right in the middle of these times...for me these are most holy, sacred times...
Monday, June 20, 2005
Values inventory
Working on trying to define what our community values...how to put those values into words...we have unspoken and spoken values, so doing a bit of inventory to see what currently is the perception of our values....
If you want to take a crack at it, I would love to hear from you...tell me what you think our community values -- just off the top of your head, there is no right or wrong to this...
If you want to take a crack at it, I would love to hear from you...tell me what you think our community values -- just off the top of your head, there is no right or wrong to this...
Friday, June 10, 2005
Noticing 2
I sat with a woman today who is gay. She is in an eight year committed relationship, had a committal service six months ago. As we talked, I couldn't answer how she would be received in our congregation. Would they be welcomed? Would they be accepted? She has faith in God, raised in a Christian tradition but does not feel welcome in most churches....
How are we to be with this? There are so many complexities to think through with this issue...
The issue I see is at some point, in a center set system, where people are welcome at whatever point they are in their journey they will eventually run into our belief that celibate singleness and faithful heterosexual marriage is God's design...what happens then?
I read an article today on Cedar Ridge's site, (Brian McLaren is the founding pastor) you could read their position if you are interested here: http://www.crcc.org/content.php?ContentID=154
I think we will have to wrestle with this issue many times over, don't know how it will look, but what does it really mean to say we welcome and accept all people?
Rambling today...
How are we to be with this? There are so many complexities to think through with this issue...
The issue I see is at some point, in a center set system, where people are welcome at whatever point they are in their journey they will eventually run into our belief that celibate singleness and faithful heterosexual marriage is God's design...what happens then?
I read an article today on Cedar Ridge's site, (Brian McLaren is the founding pastor) you could read their position if you are interested here: http://www.crcc.org/content.php?ContentID=154
I think we will have to wrestle with this issue many times over, don't know how it will look, but what does it really mean to say we welcome and accept all people?
Rambling today...
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Noticing
On Sunday I asked folks if they would practice "noticing the Kingdom" this week...pray a prayer daily to notice where God is already...my friends Jim and Barb call it "bumping into God"...so, I have prayed that prayer every morning and I honestly did not have much success in noticing...until this morning, I prayed again, went about getting ready for the day, and in the shower, it came flooding to me, so much I had to keep up with my mind...here are some things that came to me...
I noticed God:
this morning when the sun was shining, I was reminded that there will be a day when the light from God will never stop shining, I felt the future come into my present...
working in my son's first grade class, I noticed God prompted me to pray for each child as I helped them one by one do an art project, I prayed specific things for each of them...
we had dinner with a man this week, who probably would not consider himself a person of faith, as he relayed a story to us, he began to cry, I knew I was sitting with God in that moment, that God was somehow, in some mysterious way, touching this man with His love...
On Sunday I ran into a man in our facility's parking lot that asked me for money, I said no...I didn't have any money on me, and truthfully, I was irritated...
I found out that he had been in the building asking for money, and someone took him over to a box we throw change into for the poor, there was about $6.00 in change, she gave it to the man...that's Kingdom to me, Matthew 25...
Yesterday a.m. I was with a group of women who commit 2 hours a week to pray together for our faith community, a thin space, between heaven and earth happens...
I have been not so great with my husband lately, actually pretty #%@$& with him and he treats me with kindness, respect and trys to find out what's got me so uptight...so Jesus like I think...
There was more that came to me, I think it's cool that after a fews days of asking and paying some attention to trying to notice, it like kicked in and thoughts and images came like a flood...
Have you ever had that experience?
I noticed God:
this morning when the sun was shining, I was reminded that there will be a day when the light from God will never stop shining, I felt the future come into my present...
working in my son's first grade class, I noticed God prompted me to pray for each child as I helped them one by one do an art project, I prayed specific things for each of them...
we had dinner with a man this week, who probably would not consider himself a person of faith, as he relayed a story to us, he began to cry, I knew I was sitting with God in that moment, that God was somehow, in some mysterious way, touching this man with His love...
On Sunday I ran into a man in our facility's parking lot that asked me for money, I said no...I didn't have any money on me, and truthfully, I was irritated...
I found out that he had been in the building asking for money, and someone took him over to a box we throw change into for the poor, there was about $6.00 in change, she gave it to the man...that's Kingdom to me, Matthew 25...
Yesterday a.m. I was with a group of women who commit 2 hours a week to pray together for our faith community, a thin space, between heaven and earth happens...
I have been not so great with my husband lately, actually pretty #%@$& with him and he treats me with kindness, respect and trys to find out what's got me so uptight...so Jesus like I think...
There was more that came to me, I think it's cool that after a fews days of asking and paying some attention to trying to notice, it like kicked in and thoughts and images came like a flood...
Have you ever had that experience?
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Pharisees
We are teaching through Matthew 5-7 on Sundays. The Sermon on the Mount. Some folk say this is Jesus' inaugural Address for the Kingdom. As much as I was excited to spend time with this Scripture I have to admit, I find it very difficult.
It is difficult because as I study it, meditate on it, pray on it, I realize that in many ways I am a Pharisee. I find it hard to teach, because in faith communities I think it is so easy for us to overlook the Pharisee that might be hanging out in our own hearts.
I also find difficulty in trying to convey Jesus message as a lifestyle, a lifestyle that is empowered by his very Spirit in order to follow him in a way that would produce the kind of person the Sermon speaks of...
I find we so easily resort to the "behavior", "sin" without looking at it as the symptom, the why of the behavior, the sin, and then having the grace and patience within the community to come alongside and walk out sometimes very deep seated brokenness...
One thing I am convinced of, if we don't allow Jesus in to the places of our heart to bring healing, deliverance, salvation that are still dead, or asleep to him, we don't have much hope of real change..it seems to me it is a gradual waking up to the reality of the kingdom...I asked folks to join me in a simple prayer each day this week..
Lord will you show me your kingdom reality today...
I hope we will see it...
It is difficult because as I study it, meditate on it, pray on it, I realize that in many ways I am a Pharisee. I find it hard to teach, because in faith communities I think it is so easy for us to overlook the Pharisee that might be hanging out in our own hearts.
I also find difficulty in trying to convey Jesus message as a lifestyle, a lifestyle that is empowered by his very Spirit in order to follow him in a way that would produce the kind of person the Sermon speaks of...
I find we so easily resort to the "behavior", "sin" without looking at it as the symptom, the why of the behavior, the sin, and then having the grace and patience within the community to come alongside and walk out sometimes very deep seated brokenness...
One thing I am convinced of, if we don't allow Jesus in to the places of our heart to bring healing, deliverance, salvation that are still dead, or asleep to him, we don't have much hope of real change..it seems to me it is a gradual waking up to the reality of the kingdom...I asked folks to join me in a simple prayer each day this week..
Lord will you show me your kingdom reality today...
I hope we will see it...
Monday, May 30, 2005
Several Beautiful Stories Running Together
At our women's retreat earlier this month Kim led us in a journaling exercise to think about the last little while and write about a beautiful story, a moment or moments you want to capture and savor....I have had many moments this weekend to savor so here goes...
It started out earlier in the week when my mom insisted I take her sofa. She has moved into a smaller place and needed to get rid of her sofa. Rich and I have been looking for new living room furniture since last October. We have looked and looked but have not wanted to spend the money. Our sofa and love seat for those of you that have not been to our home, sinks to the floor, if you have a bad back it's almost impossible to get up once you've sat down...We did not want/nor could we spend a lot of money...
when my mom offered her sofa, I said no, as it wasn't something I would choose. We decided to take it to put in our family room (another story, the infamous Mr. B. Chewed our sofa in the family room beyond repair)...When Rich brought my mom's sofa home we put it in the living room just to see...
It brightened up our living room...We thought, hmmm, not bad, so we moved our living room furniture down to the family room and had the new sofa in the living room...
So, Friday afternoon we went to the Memorial Weekend Sale at Pier 1 and there was a sofa that we had eyed before on sale for 1/2 price, so we ended up buying it as a love seat, the wicker furniture was also on sale so we got a new arm chair as well, we got a new living room for way less than we thought we would have to spend...
Saturday we spent the entire day cleaning and rearranging our house, did a ton of laundry...it felt so nice, we have not had the time or energy to pay attention to our house in 7 months!
We had company for dinner, the first time other than our kids since last fall...something Rich and I have both really missed, we love to have people over for a meal...
Sunday I tried a different teaching method at the Vineyard, showed a video by Rob Bell than discussed what people saw as themes and what they thought about it, I think it worked well...I love to hear people think out loud, and I like to be in the room listening to different views and perspectives --letting them be there with all the tension and all, no one had to have the answers, I liked it. I wouldn't do it every Sunday, but would like to incorporate that method once in awhile.
Sunday evening we went to an engagement party for my daughter's best friend. I am going to officiate the wedding next March in Thailand. It was really fun to be with all of these young people from so many different worlds. As we were leaving, the bride to be and her father told me how much they appreciated Rich and I being willing to come to Thailand for the wedding. They are paying our travel expenses as part of the wedding budget...I told them we were thankful for the opportunity...I don't imagine Rich and I would have ever planned a vacation to a southeast island in Thailand...
This weekend, I receive and hold as a gift from God:
new furniture
having friends over for a meal
the nagel's moving home
being invited into my 25 year old daughter's world to celebrate with her and her friends
getting a vacation to Thailand
belonging to an awesome faith community
having a great husband and 7 year old to live with...not to mention the not-so-obedient Mr. B....
It started out earlier in the week when my mom insisted I take her sofa. She has moved into a smaller place and needed to get rid of her sofa. Rich and I have been looking for new living room furniture since last October. We have looked and looked but have not wanted to spend the money. Our sofa and love seat for those of you that have not been to our home, sinks to the floor, if you have a bad back it's almost impossible to get up once you've sat down...We did not want/nor could we spend a lot of money...
when my mom offered her sofa, I said no, as it wasn't something I would choose. We decided to take it to put in our family room (another story, the infamous Mr. B. Chewed our sofa in the family room beyond repair)...When Rich brought my mom's sofa home we put it in the living room just to see...
It brightened up our living room...We thought, hmmm, not bad, so we moved our living room furniture down to the family room and had the new sofa in the living room...
So, Friday afternoon we went to the Memorial Weekend Sale at Pier 1 and there was a sofa that we had eyed before on sale for 1/2 price, so we ended up buying it as a love seat, the wicker furniture was also on sale so we got a new arm chair as well, we got a new living room for way less than we thought we would have to spend...
Saturday we spent the entire day cleaning and rearranging our house, did a ton of laundry...it felt so nice, we have not had the time or energy to pay attention to our house in 7 months!
We had company for dinner, the first time other than our kids since last fall...something Rich and I have both really missed, we love to have people over for a meal...
Sunday I tried a different teaching method at the Vineyard, showed a video by Rob Bell than discussed what people saw as themes and what they thought about it, I think it worked well...I love to hear people think out loud, and I like to be in the room listening to different views and perspectives --letting them be there with all the tension and all, no one had to have the answers, I liked it. I wouldn't do it every Sunday, but would like to incorporate that method once in awhile.
Sunday evening we went to an engagement party for my daughter's best friend. I am going to officiate the wedding next March in Thailand. It was really fun to be with all of these young people from so many different worlds. As we were leaving, the bride to be and her father told me how much they appreciated Rich and I being willing to come to Thailand for the wedding. They are paying our travel expenses as part of the wedding budget...I told them we were thankful for the opportunity...I don't imagine Rich and I would have ever planned a vacation to a southeast island in Thailand...
This weekend, I receive and hold as a gift from God:
new furniture
having friends over for a meal
the nagel's moving home
being invited into my 25 year old daughter's world to celebrate with her and her friends
getting a vacation to Thailand
belonging to an awesome faith community
having a great husband and 7 year old to live with...not to mention the not-so-obedient Mr. B....
Friday, May 27, 2005
Lectio -Matthew 7:21-23
"Knowing the correct password--saying "Master, Master,' for instance--isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience--doing what my Father wills. I can see it now--at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, "Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? "You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'
I don't know about you but these words make me slow down and think about why I/we do what I/we do...
I am thinking about this in light of a meeting I went to yesterday with Sharon and Ingrid. It was the "Back to School Consortium" in Shoreline. There are 1899 children in the Shoreline School District that qualify for free or assistance lunch programs. In order to qualify you have to be living pretty close to or below the poverty line...Shoreline is a city with a population of 53k
This consortium is made up of people from the Center for Human Services, (a non-profit or down the street), family advocates from the school district and some volunteers that work with other low-income issues...
They plan a back to school event in August that includes school supplies, hair cuts, hygeine products, and clothes from the clothing bank as well as food and fun...
Last year they served 600 children and youth, this year the goal is 1000...
Needless to say they need a lot of donated items, money and volunteers...Costco gave them 600 backpacks...they are contacting businesses and churches to help...
This struck me...they have a complete database of churches in Shoreline, they called all of them over the past few weeks and not one church returned their call...
They asked us if we had any hints of how to get through to the churches...
They asked me if I knew of any quarterly or so meeting where all the pastors got together...I said I did not, that we have been in Shoreline one year and have never recieved an invitation (which doesn't mean it's not happening)...
One woman made a comment "wouldn't that be a powerful force"
This sent me spinning...churches, meeting together, maybe quarterly, pastors, leaders or anyone interested in seeing what needs are in the community and how we could join together to serve -- that would be a powerful force...I bet at the very minimum we could provide school supplies for 1000 kids that are in our Parish...
Back to the Lectio...Jesus help us to never use you to make us feel important, help us to go forward with the attitude of humility, which reminds me of the Paul's hymn in Philippians 2...
The church is the church only when it exists for others. . . . The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. . . . It must not underestimate the importance of human example which has its origin in the humanity of Jesus. http://www.cresourcei.org/kenosis.html
I don't know about you but these words make me slow down and think about why I/we do what I/we do...
I am thinking about this in light of a meeting I went to yesterday with Sharon and Ingrid. It was the "Back to School Consortium" in Shoreline. There are 1899 children in the Shoreline School District that qualify for free or assistance lunch programs. In order to qualify you have to be living pretty close to or below the poverty line...Shoreline is a city with a population of 53k
This consortium is made up of people from the Center for Human Services, (a non-profit or down the street), family advocates from the school district and some volunteers that work with other low-income issues...
They plan a back to school event in August that includes school supplies, hair cuts, hygeine products, and clothes from the clothing bank as well as food and fun...
Last year they served 600 children and youth, this year the goal is 1000...
Needless to say they need a lot of donated items, money and volunteers...Costco gave them 600 backpacks...they are contacting businesses and churches to help...
This struck me...they have a complete database of churches in Shoreline, they called all of them over the past few weeks and not one church returned their call...
They asked us if we had any hints of how to get through to the churches...
They asked me if I knew of any quarterly or so meeting where all the pastors got together...I said I did not, that we have been in Shoreline one year and have never recieved an invitation (which doesn't mean it's not happening)...
One woman made a comment "wouldn't that be a powerful force"
This sent me spinning...churches, meeting together, maybe quarterly, pastors, leaders or anyone interested in seeing what needs are in the community and how we could join together to serve -- that would be a powerful force...I bet at the very minimum we could provide school supplies for 1000 kids that are in our Parish...
Back to the Lectio...Jesus help us to never use you to make us feel important, help us to go forward with the attitude of humility, which reminds me of the Paul's hymn in Philippians 2...
The church is the church only when it exists for others. . . . The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. . . . It must not underestimate the importance of human example which has its origin in the humanity of Jesus. http://www.cresourcei.org/kenosis.html
Monday, May 23, 2005
Catch Up
This week I will catch up at the office. Catch up with people, paperwork and finalize our second grant proposal. I also need to begin the planning process of how we are going to re-organize our community's governance.
Last week I was in Nashville, Ft Wayne and Chicago. A good trip. Off The Map is developing a hearing and it is a much needed corrective to the way we view evangelism. I had a lot of alone time in my hotel and walking around Nashville. I actually feel like my batteries got recharged.
The weekend before leaving I went on retreat with about 25 women from our church. It was a good time. When women go on retreat, it can be a bit intense, but it was a good intense. The setting, the woman that led us in journal exercises and the amount of down time we had made for a good time.
Yesterday was Rich's birthday. We had a nice dinner and some friends invited Alex to spend the night so we could have the evening and today together...It was nice to catch up with Rich. I am practicing momentology (thanks Barb)...I am cherishing and holding the moments of solitude and just being, especially with Rich...
I need to study for the next few weeks of teaching at VCC. We are teaching through Matthew 5,6 & 7...I would be interested to hear from some of you that read my blog, to hear some thoughts on the following:
What could teaching look like in our context at our Sunday gathering if it wasn't always (maybe this was just one way) a person teaching for 20-30 minutes? Any creative ideas? Send them my way...If you want just email them to me, I really would be interested...
Peace
Last week I was in Nashville, Ft Wayne and Chicago. A good trip. Off The Map is developing a hearing and it is a much needed corrective to the way we view evangelism. I had a lot of alone time in my hotel and walking around Nashville. I actually feel like my batteries got recharged.
The weekend before leaving I went on retreat with about 25 women from our church. It was a good time. When women go on retreat, it can be a bit intense, but it was a good intense. The setting, the woman that led us in journal exercises and the amount of down time we had made for a good time.
Yesterday was Rich's birthday. We had a nice dinner and some friends invited Alex to spend the night so we could have the evening and today together...It was nice to catch up with Rich. I am practicing momentology (thanks Barb)...I am cherishing and holding the moments of solitude and just being, especially with Rich...
I need to study for the next few weeks of teaching at VCC. We are teaching through Matthew 5,6 & 7...I would be interested to hear from some of you that read my blog, to hear some thoughts on the following:
What could teaching look like in our context at our Sunday gathering if it wasn't always (maybe this was just one way) a person teaching for 20-30 minutes? Any creative ideas? Send them my way...If you want just email them to me, I really would be interested...
Peace
Monday, May 09, 2005
Returning to Life
Life is finally getting back to normal. Mother's day was (other than a slight blip) peaceful. Low key, after our morning gathering, we went to lunch with 4 of our children and my mother. My mother is doing very well. Still recovering, and in a transition to her new home, but all said and done, she continues to heal.
I am looking forward to the next week. On Thursday I leave for our community's women's retreat. We are going to Whidbey Island. It will be a time of being together, journaling, worship and prayer. There are about 30 of us going. I am looking forward to a couple of days of retreat. On Monday I leave for Nashville, Ft Wayne and Chicago with Off The Map. The time away will be nice, even though busy.
We finished our first grant proposal for our new arm of ministry. We will know by June 1st if it is accepted. Our new arm of ministry will be the container for social services to our greater community. It will include our work with low-income apartment communities, the homeless shelter, and resources for marriages in the areas of education, coaching and counseling.
I am so happy to get back to life. Nothing like an emotional roller coaster ride to throw you off kilter for a time.
That's it for now. Peace
I am looking forward to the next week. On Thursday I leave for our community's women's retreat. We are going to Whidbey Island. It will be a time of being together, journaling, worship and prayer. There are about 30 of us going. I am looking forward to a couple of days of retreat. On Monday I leave for Nashville, Ft Wayne and Chicago with Off The Map. The time away will be nice, even though busy.
We finished our first grant proposal for our new arm of ministry. We will know by June 1st if it is accepted. Our new arm of ministry will be the container for social services to our greater community. It will include our work with low-income apartment communities, the homeless shelter, and resources for marriages in the areas of education, coaching and counseling.
I am so happy to get back to life. Nothing like an emotional roller coaster ride to throw you off kilter for a time.
That's it for now. Peace
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Perspective
Do you ever have days where you feel you've been run over or beat up? That was how I felt when I posted last. I had plans that night to watch a movie with 3 other women. We were going to watch I (heart) Huckabees together over some wine and snacks. So much intensity happened all day with regard to my family, by the time our girls night came I wasn't in good shape and wanted to cancel.
I also did not want to cancel as I was looking forward to spending time with some new friends. So, I went...
Driving there I was trying to decide how to answer the question, "how are you" would I say not good and leave it, would I say okay and leave it, or would I say not good and if you want to know why I will try to make it short...
The latter happened, and we talked and talked...
I love women. Many women I know have such a natural gift to listen with empathy, to think and ask questions that help you process, to offer compassion and wisdom.
I will say it again, I am wealthy, probably one of the richest women I know, not monetarily but with friendships...I think at the end of the day, when I go from this life to what is beyond, the friendships and relationships made here are what will qualify as richness.
thank you Jesus for the multitude of relationships you have brought into my life, too many to mention, but you know and I know and I am blessed...
I also did not want to cancel as I was looking forward to spending time with some new friends. So, I went...
Driving there I was trying to decide how to answer the question, "how are you" would I say not good and leave it, would I say okay and leave it, or would I say not good and if you want to know why I will try to make it short...
The latter happened, and we talked and talked...
I love women. Many women I know have such a natural gift to listen with empathy, to think and ask questions that help you process, to offer compassion and wisdom.
I will say it again, I am wealthy, probably one of the richest women I know, not monetarily but with friendships...I think at the end of the day, when I go from this life to what is beyond, the friendships and relationships made here are what will qualify as richness.
thank you Jesus for the multitude of relationships you have brought into my life, too many to mention, but you know and I know and I am blessed...
Thursday, April 28, 2005
It's been awhile
I have not posted much since my mother got sick back in March. To say the truth, I have wanted to blog but so much personal stuff has come up since my mother's illness I wasn't sure I wanted to put it out there. So, here goes some attempt. There is nothing like a life threatening illness or situation that will bring up every unresolved issue a large family has.
I have 4 siblings. I am second to the youngest. My mom and dad divorced when I was 19. The reason for the divorce, my dad at the time around age 54 was found having an affair with a 17 year old girl. The affair began when she was 15.
Those of you who are parents. How would you feel if your 15 year old daughter was having an affair with a 52 year old married man?
This is only the most minute crack in the ice to begin to tell the story of my childhood and beyond. Suffice to say that if all that happened back then in our home were happening today, my dad would probably be in prison for life.
What has come up on the past month with one sibling in particular is he doesn't remember any of it. He thinks we have exaggerated the story. My 3 other siblings don't deny it all happened. We have all chosen to deal with it in different ways. The 5 of us have never had occasion to discuss it. There have been side conversations with each other, but never the 5 of us all together for as an intense emotional time as this.
One night at the hospital, in the waiting room, there was some reminiscing going on about all the beatings my dad gave to my oldest brother. My brother was relating the times he had to go to the ER and then would go to my aunt's house and would have to lie to people about what happened, he would say he had been in a car accident or any number of other lies to cover for what my dad did. People were sort of laughing, at one point, I said, if he were doing that today he would be in prison...
This started an all out shouting match with my other brother who doesn't think anything too bad really happened. It wasn't pretty and I used some pretty bad language. The thing that put me over the edge, was when this sibling was asked if he would leave his 5 year old daughter with dad to which he replied, yes.
Since that evening, my relationship with my 3 older siblings has been strained. Both my brothers live out of town so are not here for the day to day caring for my mom.
My younger sister has asked the other 3 to respect her boundaries around having any sort of relationship with dad. I have asked for the same.
By the way, for many years I have worked on trying to figure out how to forgive my dad, and what kind of relationship I could have with him. Where I landed was I forgive him but any relationship I try to have with him does not work.
I am today labeled by at least 2 maybe the 3 older siblings as being childish, selfish and paranoid when it comes to my dad...
It is very painful to be misunderstood by people you love. It is also painful to want familial relationships to work and when they don't you have to let go...
So, I am grieving today...Grieving again some of the pain of my childhood, grieving the pain of watching my mother come so close to death and all she has/is going through, grieving my siblings lack of understanding and being slandered by them...
This is one of those times where I have to go deep into the Lord to ask His help to do what I cannot...I know in time this will pass, letting go of illusions, expectations, even in yourself (I did not react well in some of these situations)can be a hard road...
Kind of a downer post hey?
On the positive side, my mom will be moving from rehab to her new assisted living apartment on Monday!
Peace
I have 4 siblings. I am second to the youngest. My mom and dad divorced when I was 19. The reason for the divorce, my dad at the time around age 54 was found having an affair with a 17 year old girl. The affair began when she was 15.
Those of you who are parents. How would you feel if your 15 year old daughter was having an affair with a 52 year old married man?
This is only the most minute crack in the ice to begin to tell the story of my childhood and beyond. Suffice to say that if all that happened back then in our home were happening today, my dad would probably be in prison for life.
What has come up on the past month with one sibling in particular is he doesn't remember any of it. He thinks we have exaggerated the story. My 3 other siblings don't deny it all happened. We have all chosen to deal with it in different ways. The 5 of us have never had occasion to discuss it. There have been side conversations with each other, but never the 5 of us all together for as an intense emotional time as this.
One night at the hospital, in the waiting room, there was some reminiscing going on about all the beatings my dad gave to my oldest brother. My brother was relating the times he had to go to the ER and then would go to my aunt's house and would have to lie to people about what happened, he would say he had been in a car accident or any number of other lies to cover for what my dad did. People were sort of laughing, at one point, I said, if he were doing that today he would be in prison...
This started an all out shouting match with my other brother who doesn't think anything too bad really happened. It wasn't pretty and I used some pretty bad language. The thing that put me over the edge, was when this sibling was asked if he would leave his 5 year old daughter with dad to which he replied, yes.
Since that evening, my relationship with my 3 older siblings has been strained. Both my brothers live out of town so are not here for the day to day caring for my mom.
My younger sister has asked the other 3 to respect her boundaries around having any sort of relationship with dad. I have asked for the same.
By the way, for many years I have worked on trying to figure out how to forgive my dad, and what kind of relationship I could have with him. Where I landed was I forgive him but any relationship I try to have with him does not work.
I am today labeled by at least 2 maybe the 3 older siblings as being childish, selfish and paranoid when it comes to my dad...
It is very painful to be misunderstood by people you love. It is also painful to want familial relationships to work and when they don't you have to let go...
So, I am grieving today...Grieving again some of the pain of my childhood, grieving the pain of watching my mother come so close to death and all she has/is going through, grieving my siblings lack of understanding and being slandered by them...
This is one of those times where I have to go deep into the Lord to ask His help to do what I cannot...I know in time this will pass, letting go of illusions, expectations, even in yourself (I did not react well in some of these situations)can be a hard road...
Kind of a downer post hey?
On the positive side, my mom will be moving from rehab to her new assisted living apartment on Monday!
Peace
Friday, April 08, 2005
Amazing
My mom is fully awake and lucid! She was moved out of icu to a regular room and on Sunday will be discharged to rehab. What an amazing recovery! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and thoughts. Prayer plus her strong will to live pulled her through. I am thankful to Jesus for honoring her will to live. Thanks everyone
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
A Roller Coaster Ride
24 days ago my mom went to the emergency room because she was having trouble breathing. 14 days ago she had quintuple bypass surgery. My mom is 82 years old. 2 weeks ago the doctors told her that she had had a massive heart attack, that she had only had 1/3 of her heart working for probably the past few months. All of her main arteries were 99% blocked. Her choices, go home and prepare to die, they told her that her heart could last one hour, but most optimistic timeframe would be 6 months...they said she was a high risk for the bypass surgery but if she survived it and the recovery it would add years to her life.
When my mom heard her choices she told us she was not ready to die. She was very afraid to undergo the surgery but was not ready to go home and die.
My mom still works 15 hours a week at Walmart (not because she has to, because she loves to work, loves her co-workers)
She lives alone, still drives (albeit, that is a bit scarey)
We (I have four siblings) told her we would support whatever choice she made, she chose the surgery....
There were complications in surgery, it went 2 hours over the normal procedure because they could not stop her bleeding...
The surgeon came out and told us the bypass was a success but the complication during surgery left my mom very vulnerable...
The first week after surgery, they kept her under the anethesia, on a ventilator until they could stabilize her.....
It was touch and go, hour by hour the first week...
My sister, brother-in-law and I spent the first 3 nights at the hospital taking turns checking on her....we promised her we would not leave her alone...
On Easter Sunday the doctors decided to cut her anetheisa and begin to wake her up...we did not know if she had had a stroke and how she would come out of it...
By Wednesday she was awake and lucid...they took a risk and removed the ventilator as they were afraid if they did not she would begin to go backwards...
She was able to sustain her breathing on oxygen, and she was lucid (the nurses told us they were amazed--they did not expect her to make it)
...we were so happy...
By Thursday evening, what the doctors call "hospital pyschosis" set in....my mom became very confused, dioriented and agitated...that has been her state ever since
She is in and out, moments of knowing us and then moments of calling out for her sisters, mom and dad, all of whom have passed....
That's where we are now...they tell us she will come out of this, it will take time, they are doing everything they can to support her body healing until she gets her mind back....
It has been so hard to see everything she has been through....my mom is 4 foot 8 inches...full blooded Italian (she doesn't know the pope died yet)....
Her name is Ida...
She is a fighter...
Thanks for all of your prayers...
When my mom heard her choices she told us she was not ready to die. She was very afraid to undergo the surgery but was not ready to go home and die.
My mom still works 15 hours a week at Walmart (not because she has to, because she loves to work, loves her co-workers)
She lives alone, still drives (albeit, that is a bit scarey)
We (I have four siblings) told her we would support whatever choice she made, she chose the surgery....
There were complications in surgery, it went 2 hours over the normal procedure because they could not stop her bleeding...
The surgeon came out and told us the bypass was a success but the complication during surgery left my mom very vulnerable...
The first week after surgery, they kept her under the anethesia, on a ventilator until they could stabilize her.....
It was touch and go, hour by hour the first week...
My sister, brother-in-law and I spent the first 3 nights at the hospital taking turns checking on her....we promised her we would not leave her alone...
On Easter Sunday the doctors decided to cut her anetheisa and begin to wake her up...we did not know if she had had a stroke and how she would come out of it...
By Wednesday she was awake and lucid...they took a risk and removed the ventilator as they were afraid if they did not she would begin to go backwards...
She was able to sustain her breathing on oxygen, and she was lucid (the nurses told us they were amazed--they did not expect her to make it)
...we were so happy...
By Thursday evening, what the doctors call "hospital pyschosis" set in....my mom became very confused, dioriented and agitated...that has been her state ever since
She is in and out, moments of knowing us and then moments of calling out for her sisters, mom and dad, all of whom have passed....
That's where we are now...they tell us she will come out of this, it will take time, they are doing everything they can to support her body healing until she gets her mind back....
It has been so hard to see everything she has been through....my mom is 4 foot 8 inches...full blooded Italian (she doesn't know the pope died yet)....
Her name is Ida...
She is a fighter...
Thanks for all of your prayers...
Thursday, March 17, 2005
St Patrick's Day
My mom is still about the same. The doctors are waiting for her kidneys to stabilize so they can run a dye test to her heart to see where the blockage is coming from. It is just one day at a time to see how she responds. I think the biggest thing I am in touch with from the events of this week is that I am not prepared for my mom to die. She is 82 and has been in pretty good health so I have not had to think about the reality of her passing. In many ways this is the beginning of her body shutting down. It could be soon or she could have a few good years left. We don't know yet. This morning I woke up and I'm not sure I was dreaming but I immediately was taken to a time with my mom. I think I must have been around 4 years old. It was before I went to school. I remember sitting on the floor, eating my lunch, a tuna sandwich and watching a local t.v. show "Wanda Wanda" my mom was ironing and then she put me down for a nap. My mom must have been in her mid 30's...she was younger than I am now...I would imagine in the days to come as my mom is on my mind I will be in touch with many memories...
Thanks for everyone's prayers, for my mom and for my family.
Peace
Thanks for everyone's prayers, for my mom and for my family.
Peace
Monday, March 14, 2005
Please Pray for My Mom
My mom just turned 82. She has been in pretty good health. Late Saturday night she was having a hard time breathing. She called my sister to come over, then called an aid car to take her to the hospital. She has congestive heart failure, and she had a heart attack. They don't know how severe the damage was to her heart yet or what is causing the blockage. They have her on meds to drain fluid that has formed in her lung cavity and they have to decide if they are going to do any surgery to see what's causing the blockage to her heart. We should know more from the doctors today.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
IHNS
We were introduced to IHNS (Interfaith Hospitality Network of Seattle) by Rachelle. Thank you Rachelle. IHNS is a non-profit org...they help homeless children and their families by getting them off the streets and into a stable, supportive environment that gives them the support they need to obtain jobs and homes. They coordinate a network of congregations that provide community, temporary housing and food, while their staff provides case management, advocacy and direction to help families access the resources they need to take care of themselves. IHNS has a day shelter with staff to provide the case management. They ask congreagations to be the night shelter--providing, food, community, a place to sleep.
Our first time of using our facility to host these guests was last Christmas. The families came on Sunday the 19th and stayed until Sunday the 26th. It took 58 volunteers and 206 volunteer hours to host our guests. Our faith community with the help of folks like Rachelle and others helped us create a home for these families the week of Christmas. Before the families came we made of list of what would be needed to house them. Electric heaters for the bedrooms, sheets, blankets, dishes, towels, small appliances, coffee pots, silverware...etc We had pretty much everything we needed within 30 days of hosting. The families came on Sunday, had dinner, spent the night and then the van would pick them up for the day center by 7:00 a.m. We served them breakfast and provided lunch items for them to pack a lunch.
So, each evening they would come at around 6:00 to dinner prepared, folks to share a meal with and then spend the night. (Each night we had at least 2 folks from our faith community spend the night) Christmas Eve, we had a super turkey dinner with the guest families and our family--some of our children and relatives, there were so many of us...then cleaned up and prepared for our 10:00 Christmas Eve service...
We are now part of the rotation to host one week per quarter. Our next hosting week is coming up and guess what? It turns out on the rotation, the families will be with us for Holy Week. They arrive on Palm Sunday and depart on Easter Sunday afternoon. Amazing how that has worked out. We are now preparing schedules and menus and overnight hosts....
Incarnation--God became one of us and lived with us...I cannot begin to really comprehend all that means...I am not educated enough to explain theologically the implications of the incarnation, but somehow it means God came and encountered humanity, became human and forever has joined himself with us....when I dream of a faith community that is living out purpose--I wonder what it really means to be the living, breathing expression of God, Christ in a neighborhood?
A few years ago we discerned within our faith community that we would lease a facility. A facility would give us the means to faithfully pursue our purpose...as we began to think in these terms and dream of having a presence in a neighborhood, using the facility as a community center we wondered in what ways we would serve....
I began to reflect on this Scripture, meditated on it for almost a year:
John 1:14 The Message
The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
This text gave me life, gave me hope, gave me the faith to lease a facility for the purpose of serving a neighborhood....
Back to IHNS...partnering with IHNS is one way we use the facility to serve the neighborhood...homeless children...when they were here at Christmas time, one little 8 year old boy said to me, "I want to live here"...
We are in the very beginning process of creating a caring arm under our non-profit designation that will serve families in need, counselors and groups for marriages, family and at-risk youth....this is in seedling form...we want to partner with some other organizations in this neighborhood to see this come about...
We will be in our facility one year in April...I look back and see the relationships that are in the process of forming with the high school, with the substance abuse center down the street, with children and families that live in a low-income apartment facility where some of us tutor and serve in other ways....
I am amazed...
I am thankful...
I am hopeful for what the future holds...
I am convinced that a faith-community exists for the sake of the world...
Our first time of using our facility to host these guests was last Christmas. The families came on Sunday the 19th and stayed until Sunday the 26th. It took 58 volunteers and 206 volunteer hours to host our guests. Our faith community with the help of folks like Rachelle and others helped us create a home for these families the week of Christmas. Before the families came we made of list of what would be needed to house them. Electric heaters for the bedrooms, sheets, blankets, dishes, towels, small appliances, coffee pots, silverware...etc We had pretty much everything we needed within 30 days of hosting. The families came on Sunday, had dinner, spent the night and then the van would pick them up for the day center by 7:00 a.m. We served them breakfast and provided lunch items for them to pack a lunch.
So, each evening they would come at around 6:00 to dinner prepared, folks to share a meal with and then spend the night. (Each night we had at least 2 folks from our faith community spend the night) Christmas Eve, we had a super turkey dinner with the guest families and our family--some of our children and relatives, there were so many of us...then cleaned up and prepared for our 10:00 Christmas Eve service...
We are now part of the rotation to host one week per quarter. Our next hosting week is coming up and guess what? It turns out on the rotation, the families will be with us for Holy Week. They arrive on Palm Sunday and depart on Easter Sunday afternoon. Amazing how that has worked out. We are now preparing schedules and menus and overnight hosts....
Incarnation--God became one of us and lived with us...I cannot begin to really comprehend all that means...I am not educated enough to explain theologically the implications of the incarnation, but somehow it means God came and encountered humanity, became human and forever has joined himself with us....when I dream of a faith community that is living out purpose--I wonder what it really means to be the living, breathing expression of God, Christ in a neighborhood?
A few years ago we discerned within our faith community that we would lease a facility. A facility would give us the means to faithfully pursue our purpose...as we began to think in these terms and dream of having a presence in a neighborhood, using the facility as a community center we wondered in what ways we would serve....
I began to reflect on this Scripture, meditated on it for almost a year:
John 1:14 The Message
The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
This text gave me life, gave me hope, gave me the faith to lease a facility for the purpose of serving a neighborhood....
Back to IHNS...partnering with IHNS is one way we use the facility to serve the neighborhood...homeless children...when they were here at Christmas time, one little 8 year old boy said to me, "I want to live here"...
We are in the very beginning process of creating a caring arm under our non-profit designation that will serve families in need, counselors and groups for marriages, family and at-risk youth....this is in seedling form...we want to partner with some other organizations in this neighborhood to see this come about...
We will be in our facility one year in April...I look back and see the relationships that are in the process of forming with the high school, with the substance abuse center down the street, with children and families that live in a low-income apartment facility where some of us tutor and serve in other ways....
I am amazed...
I am thankful...
I am hopeful for what the future holds...
I am convinced that a faith-community exists for the sake of the world...
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Fear of ALL Things Dental
I have been out of it for almost 2 weeks because a tooth was abscessing. It began almost 2 weeks ago, actually, last year I went to a local University School of Dentistry (which will remain unnamed)..because I needed some extensive work done and didn't have the money for the procedures...so went to the School. Let me just say, everytime I went for a procedure it was like entering a torture chamber...I kid you not, I was more than traumatized...
Last April, I realized it just was not worth it...so stopped my treatment.
Two weeks ago, when my tooth began to ache, I went to my dentist, after looking at the x-ray, I was asked where the previous work on this tooth had been done...apparently, it was done incorrectly and that is why I had an abscess...
I had to go to a specialist because of the complications...went on Tuesday afternoon, and after the root canal, I was in so much pain that I spent the next 32 hours on pain meds that put me to sleep....I am finally among the living today.
I think in 48 years I truly have had about 3 good experiences at the dentist...therefore, my fear of all things dental...
I am sure dentists are fine human beings...I don't know any personally, I sort of wish I did, maybe it would help my fear, not sure, glad that is over!
Other than the pain I have been through I did have some highlights...
On Saturday, I was invited to a leadership feast with Mars Hill Grad School's student leadership (thanks Barb).
What an amazing group. I brought my friend and partner in all things Kingdom, Leigh with me. The first hour we listened to the students discuss leadership. I was so amazed by the amount of honest evaluation and willingness to embrace where they were on their journey, and courage to want to grow, that when it came time for me to facilitate a discussion on leadership, I was speechless. I really could have just listened to them....
It ended up, I shared a bit about me and opened it to the student leaders to tell me what they would like to talk about. They asked about my journey as a woman leader and how I got to be ordained and functioning where I am today....
They asked what I love about leading, what I hate about leading, what advice I would give them about finding a faith community...I was met with such graciousness and hospitality that it was the highlight of my week.
I so appreciated their hearts...they will make a difference in this world...they have placed themselves in an environment to connect their own places of pain in the places of pain in this world that will bring healing, reconciliation and justice...I admire them....
Last April, I realized it just was not worth it...so stopped my treatment.
Two weeks ago, when my tooth began to ache, I went to my dentist, after looking at the x-ray, I was asked where the previous work on this tooth had been done...apparently, it was done incorrectly and that is why I had an abscess...
I had to go to a specialist because of the complications...went on Tuesday afternoon, and after the root canal, I was in so much pain that I spent the next 32 hours on pain meds that put me to sleep....I am finally among the living today.
I think in 48 years I truly have had about 3 good experiences at the dentist...therefore, my fear of all things dental...
I am sure dentists are fine human beings...I don't know any personally, I sort of wish I did, maybe it would help my fear, not sure, glad that is over!
Other than the pain I have been through I did have some highlights...
On Saturday, I was invited to a leadership feast with Mars Hill Grad School's student leadership (thanks Barb).
What an amazing group. I brought my friend and partner in all things Kingdom, Leigh with me. The first hour we listened to the students discuss leadership. I was so amazed by the amount of honest evaluation and willingness to embrace where they were on their journey, and courage to want to grow, that when it came time for me to facilitate a discussion on leadership, I was speechless. I really could have just listened to them....
It ended up, I shared a bit about me and opened it to the student leaders to tell me what they would like to talk about. They asked about my journey as a woman leader and how I got to be ordained and functioning where I am today....
They asked what I love about leading, what I hate about leading, what advice I would give them about finding a faith community...I was met with such graciousness and hospitality that it was the highlight of my week.
I so appreciated their hearts...they will make a difference in this world...they have placed themselves in an environment to connect their own places of pain in the places of pain in this world that will bring healing, reconciliation and justice...I admire them....
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Silent Retreat
Back from a Silent Retreat...well not silent the entire time. I went with 3 friends. We make it up as we go. We pretty much break out the time to have 3 hours of silence, then come together to prepare a meal and process what is going on for each of us. We left on Sunday afternoon and came back this a.m. so we had a good time of it. Here is where I landed:
Lectio: Matthew 6:34 The Message
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
This was just what I needed. I tend to obsess about the future, especially when change is happening. It was a much needed time with good friends--easy to be with friends.
I am rich in relationships. Relationships that are honest. Being with these women, confessing our fears, our sin, and encouraging each other on the journey is about as good as it gets!
Lectio: Matthew 6:34 The Message
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
This was just what I needed. I tend to obsess about the future, especially when change is happening. It was a much needed time with good friends--easy to be with friends.
I am rich in relationships. Relationships that are honest. Being with these women, confessing our fears, our sin, and encouraging each other on the journey is about as good as it gets!
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Women again
I started writing about my experience as a woman pastor. I left off when I began attending a Vineyard church in 1985. The lead pastor of this Vineyard church and a couple of his associates had all served in a church previously that had a woman as the senior pastor.
Sidebar--many have said to me about this woman and this particular church...because the church had it's share of problems..."that's why I could never be okay with ordaining women and having them in the senior role" I wonder why we don't say that about the many, many churches that have had serious problems led by men in the senior pastorate/
Okay, sorry for the short rant...Because the men in the lead pastorate at the Vineyard church I attended (my second adult experience in church) had no problem with women in ministry I was protected in a way from all the controversy.
In 1994 I was a part of a church plant with 4 other folks. In 1995, the lead pastor and the church I served wanted to license and ordain me to recognize the gifts and roles I had been functioning in for years. Our regional overseer at the time in the Vineyard did not think it scriptural to ordain women. I talked with him at length about it. We agreed to disagree. He told us that the Vineyard had not taken a stance on the issue so we could do what we wanted and he would bless it.
So, I was ordained in 1995 and served as the associate pastor in our local church.
In 1996, I married my husband, Rich. He had previously been the senior pastor of a church for many years. He had spent the last 10 years out of the official church ministry setting. He worked with groups and had a counseling practice. After the death of his wife he felt a sense that the rest of his life was to be about ministering within a local faith community.
When we got married, I was functioning on staff as a pastor. He was not. The first year of our marriage was a bit intense to say the least as we worked out our situation. You see, in Rich's church system, women were not ordained and not allowed in senior leadership positions. His wife was a pastor's wife.
Now he found himself in a total role reversal. He was in some ways, the pastor's wife. He can tell his own story but we often laugh at the way the circumstance of life sometimes turns out so different then we could have imagined.
In 1998, the lead pastor I worked with resigned and Rich and I, together assumed the lead pastor role. We co-pastor in every way. We lead the leadership team meetings, we lead the all-group meetings, we take turns teaching and preaching...we truly carry the responsibility of the faith community equally.
The thing that is hard in the Vineyard. Even though the Vineyard is open to women in lead pastor roles, there is still so many areas it is not really recognized. For one, if you go on the Vineyard USA website, the board is made up of all men.
In our area there has been several ELI conferences held. ELI is a Northwest Vineyard project aimed at connecting, equipping and encouraging emerging leaders in the Northwest to lead within and plant from their local churches. At each of these conferences the visible leading has been men. A few of us raised the issue, why not have some women teach, or lead segments...we were basically told they were not going to talk about a the "agenda"
At one of the conferences I was asked to sit on a panel. There were 3 men and 3 women I think. In response to a question, one of the women talked about how at an early age she knew she wanted to be a pastor's wife. Please hear me here, there is nothing wrong with that. What I am about to say has no bearing on her role, call, destiny, I think everyone has to faithfully live out what they are called to.
She made the statement that her role was no different than mine. Someone asked me if I saw it the same. I said I couldn't comment on our roles as I don't know what her role encompasses. What I would say might be different is that I never dreamed of being a pastor's wife, I dreamed of being a pastor. I was a pastor before I was a pastor's wife. I would still be a pastor whether I was married to Rich or not.
I think I was not experienced by some so well that day. I heard from a couple of folks that they thought once again, "Rose has the woman agenda"
In our faith community, most of the young people are like I used to be--they don't even know it is an issue...When some folks come into our community and realize I am a pastor they don't stay. I find our community embraces and honors the giftings and callings of both men and women. I am thankful I am in this community. I hear horror stories of women less fortunate.
Well I am done for today..I'm leaving tomorrow with 3 friends to go on a silent retreat for 48 hours. Even though I have just been gone and have a ton to catch up on, I think this will be a good way to start my work. I am looking forward to the solitude...lots to hear from God on right now.
Peace
Sidebar--many have said to me about this woman and this particular church...because the church had it's share of problems..."that's why I could never be okay with ordaining women and having them in the senior role" I wonder why we don't say that about the many, many churches that have had serious problems led by men in the senior pastorate/
Okay, sorry for the short rant...Because the men in the lead pastorate at the Vineyard church I attended (my second adult experience in church) had no problem with women in ministry I was protected in a way from all the controversy.
In 1994 I was a part of a church plant with 4 other folks. In 1995, the lead pastor and the church I served wanted to license and ordain me to recognize the gifts and roles I had been functioning in for years. Our regional overseer at the time in the Vineyard did not think it scriptural to ordain women. I talked with him at length about it. We agreed to disagree. He told us that the Vineyard had not taken a stance on the issue so we could do what we wanted and he would bless it.
So, I was ordained in 1995 and served as the associate pastor in our local church.
In 1996, I married my husband, Rich. He had previously been the senior pastor of a church for many years. He had spent the last 10 years out of the official church ministry setting. He worked with groups and had a counseling practice. After the death of his wife he felt a sense that the rest of his life was to be about ministering within a local faith community.
When we got married, I was functioning on staff as a pastor. He was not. The first year of our marriage was a bit intense to say the least as we worked out our situation. You see, in Rich's church system, women were not ordained and not allowed in senior leadership positions. His wife was a pastor's wife.
Now he found himself in a total role reversal. He was in some ways, the pastor's wife. He can tell his own story but we often laugh at the way the circumstance of life sometimes turns out so different then we could have imagined.
In 1998, the lead pastor I worked with resigned and Rich and I, together assumed the lead pastor role. We co-pastor in every way. We lead the leadership team meetings, we lead the all-group meetings, we take turns teaching and preaching...we truly carry the responsibility of the faith community equally.
The thing that is hard in the Vineyard. Even though the Vineyard is open to women in lead pastor roles, there is still so many areas it is not really recognized. For one, if you go on the Vineyard USA website, the board is made up of all men.
In our area there has been several ELI conferences held. ELI is a Northwest Vineyard project aimed at connecting, equipping and encouraging emerging leaders in the Northwest to lead within and plant from their local churches. At each of these conferences the visible leading has been men. A few of us raised the issue, why not have some women teach, or lead segments...we were basically told they were not going to talk about a the "agenda"
At one of the conferences I was asked to sit on a panel. There were 3 men and 3 women I think. In response to a question, one of the women talked about how at an early age she knew she wanted to be a pastor's wife. Please hear me here, there is nothing wrong with that. What I am about to say has no bearing on her role, call, destiny, I think everyone has to faithfully live out what they are called to.
She made the statement that her role was no different than mine. Someone asked me if I saw it the same. I said I couldn't comment on our roles as I don't know what her role encompasses. What I would say might be different is that I never dreamed of being a pastor's wife, I dreamed of being a pastor. I was a pastor before I was a pastor's wife. I would still be a pastor whether I was married to Rich or not.
I think I was not experienced by some so well that day. I heard from a couple of folks that they thought once again, "Rose has the woman agenda"
In our faith community, most of the young people are like I used to be--they don't even know it is an issue...When some folks come into our community and realize I am a pastor they don't stay. I find our community embraces and honors the giftings and callings of both men and women. I am thankful I am in this community. I hear horror stories of women less fortunate.
Well I am done for today..I'm leaving tomorrow with 3 friends to go on a silent retreat for 48 hours. Even though I have just been gone and have a ton to catch up on, I think this will be a good way to start my work. I am looking forward to the solitude...lots to hear from God on right now.
Peace
Friday, February 04, 2005
Women Part 2
I just returned from the Emergent Conference in San Diego. I was not there for the entire conference. I went with Off the Map. OTM had a critical concerns course on Tuesday and Wednesday.
I attended a couple of the Emerging Women's Leaders Initiative meetings. One in particular was very eye opening for me. A roundtable with women leaders and Dan Allender. Dan met with this group to brainstorm the issues of women in leadership and how Mars Hill Grad School might be helpful.
A number of issues struck me but the most helpful was this: In my association (not my local church) over the past few years there was much talk about women pastors and more specific if women should be ordained and serve as a senior or lead pastor. During several of those discussions I was experienced by others as having an "agenda" agenda being a negative thing.
Dan pointed out to me that I am in a double bind--because I do have an agenda....
So, I have been thinking about that statement and to be honest I have to own, I do have an agenda. I looked up "agenda" and here is the dictionary definition....1 : a list or outline of things to be considered or done2 : an underlying often ideological plan or program ...
Here is my agenda that I won't give up...
I want to see space created in the church for women to lead
I believe (and many good people disagree) that women can and should be ordained if that is how God has called them and gifted them to function in His body....
I want to see more women visible so that younger women or women that have not seen female leadership modeled can and be encouraged to pursue faithfully what God would have for them.....
I don't want to see men or women as token leaders for the sake of making any kind of statement.....
My experience in meeting with leaders in my association has been met with a mix...some men and women very supportive and some men and women not.. it has run the gamut
I am fortunate, in my association, each local church is autonomous so each church can decide on the issue as they see it...
what is sad is that when we all come together for a conference or seminar it is still usually more often than not men who do all the visible leading....
I cannot change that, but I can create space for women in my sphere of influence to grow and reach for all that God has for them...
I also will watch for opportunities to voice my "agenda" when necessary and where I find openness for honest dialogue...
By the way, Brian McLaren is a class act...did you see him on Larry King?
I attended a couple of the Emerging Women's Leaders Initiative meetings. One in particular was very eye opening for me. A roundtable with women leaders and Dan Allender. Dan met with this group to brainstorm the issues of women in leadership and how Mars Hill Grad School might be helpful.
A number of issues struck me but the most helpful was this: In my association (not my local church) over the past few years there was much talk about women pastors and more specific if women should be ordained and serve as a senior or lead pastor. During several of those discussions I was experienced by others as having an "agenda" agenda being a negative thing.
Dan pointed out to me that I am in a double bind--because I do have an agenda....
So, I have been thinking about that statement and to be honest I have to own, I do have an agenda. I looked up "agenda" and here is the dictionary definition....1 : a list or outline of things to be considered or done
Here is my agenda that I won't give up...
I want to see space created in the church for women to lead
I believe (and many good people disagree) that women can and should be ordained if that is how God has called them and gifted them to function in His body....
I want to see more women visible so that younger women or women that have not seen female leadership modeled can and be encouraged to pursue faithfully what God would have for them.....
I don't want to see men or women as token leaders for the sake of making any kind of statement.....
My experience in meeting with leaders in my association has been met with a mix...some men and women very supportive and some men and women not.. it has run the gamut
I am fortunate, in my association, each local church is autonomous so each church can decide on the issue as they see it...
what is sad is that when we all come together for a conference or seminar it is still usually more often than not men who do all the visible leading....
I cannot change that, but I can create space for women in my sphere of influence to grow and reach for all that God has for them...
I also will watch for opportunities to voice my "agenda" when necessary and where I find openness for honest dialogue...
By the way, Brian McLaren is a class act...did you see him on Larry King?
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Thoughts about being a woman pastor
My life feels very full. I am married. I have two adult children. One of which is leaving on Monday for a seven week tour of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Tomorrow we will have a going away party for her. Spaghetti and wine. Her choice. Family and friends to wish her well and send her off.
I have five adult stepchildren of which three are married and between them we have seven grandchildren.
I have my seven year old son, Alex and his dog Mr. B.
I co-pastor a faith community that is going through change. And with that said my role will drastically change for a season. Funny, I was prayed for by a woman back in October that does not know me. She had a sense, a strong sense, that the Lord was giving me new marching orders. I didn't know then how true that would come to be. May I just say, I love it when the Lord speaks into my life, even if at the time it makes no sense, and then as I go on with life, I come to a place where I remember that moment. Then the lights go on and I feel a sense of peace because I know somehow this is the right road.
I sit on the board and work with a parachurch org, Off the Map, which is led by my friends, Dave Richards and Jim Henderson. I am going to San Diego on Monday to participate with OTM at the Youth Specialties/National Pastor's Conference. While there I get to spend a bit of time with the Emergent Women's Leadership Initiative. I have wanted to meet more of the women leading this, so hope I get the chance.
Women in leadership. Sometimes a hot topic. Depends on what circle you're in as to how hot. I have such mixed views on this topic. Not "if" women can be in leadership, no, my conflictedness comes more from where you find your voice. You see, I have many places where my voice is accepted and heard. In other arenas, (I am talking within the church at large) my voice is resented, ignored and sometimes looked on as having an "agenda"
The best of being an ordained woman, in a lead pastorate is I truly get to experience freedom in my gifting, talents and calling. It was not a very hard road to get here. Sadly, this is not the case for many women. You see, at age twenty-one I found myself in a church community that the co-pastor was a woman. This was my first adult experience in church. It was modeled for me right out of the gate that in the church, there was no male or female.
I had both men and women, speak into my life, encourage me on my path. I did not know at the time how controversial, in some arenas, this issue about women in leadership was.
Ten years later, I began attending a church in my current association, the Vineyard. And I will have to continue this story later because my blogging time is over for today...
I have five adult stepchildren of which three are married and between them we have seven grandchildren.
I have my seven year old son, Alex and his dog Mr. B.
I co-pastor a faith community that is going through change. And with that said my role will drastically change for a season. Funny, I was prayed for by a woman back in October that does not know me. She had a sense, a strong sense, that the Lord was giving me new marching orders. I didn't know then how true that would come to be. May I just say, I love it when the Lord speaks into my life, even if at the time it makes no sense, and then as I go on with life, I come to a place where I remember that moment. Then the lights go on and I feel a sense of peace because I know somehow this is the right road.
I sit on the board and work with a parachurch org, Off the Map, which is led by my friends, Dave Richards and Jim Henderson. I am going to San Diego on Monday to participate with OTM at the Youth Specialties/National Pastor's Conference. While there I get to spend a bit of time with the Emergent Women's Leadership Initiative. I have wanted to meet more of the women leading this, so hope I get the chance.
Women in leadership. Sometimes a hot topic. Depends on what circle you're in as to how hot. I have such mixed views on this topic. Not "if" women can be in leadership, no, my conflictedness comes more from where you find your voice. You see, I have many places where my voice is accepted and heard. In other arenas, (I am talking within the church at large) my voice is resented, ignored and sometimes looked on as having an "agenda"
The best of being an ordained woman, in a lead pastorate is I truly get to experience freedom in my gifting, talents and calling. It was not a very hard road to get here. Sadly, this is not the case for many women. You see, at age twenty-one I found myself in a church community that the co-pastor was a woman. This was my first adult experience in church. It was modeled for me right out of the gate that in the church, there was no male or female.
I had both men and women, speak into my life, encourage me on my path. I did not know at the time how controversial, in some arenas, this issue about women in leadership was.
Ten years later, I began attending a church in my current association, the Vineyard. And I will have to continue this story later because my blogging time is over for today...
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Changes
I like change, change is hard for me. Does that make sense to anyone? I know that change is a necessary element to life, growth, movement and that's why I like it. At the same time I find change hard. Fear of what's to come. Uncertainty about how change will affect my life and others. I read this quote on change..."The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order. "
I don't know who said it but it rings true for my life right now. Change is in motion for me. On the one side it is exciting, dreams seem possible, but on the other side there is the fear that the dreams won't work out. I know this doesn't make a lot of sense, but I needed to ramble and since my blog isn't very public, it seemed like the place to get some thoughts out.
I wonder if sometimes change is the driving force for faith because I pray God would give me a spiritual gift of faith for this next season.
Jesus, I will take your hand and follow you. Open my eyes to see where you are leading each step of the way. Open my ears to be in tune with your whispers of encouragement and instruction. Thank you for leading, guiding, being my Teacher and Counselor.
I don't know who said it but it rings true for my life right now. Change is in motion for me. On the one side it is exciting, dreams seem possible, but on the other side there is the fear that the dreams won't work out. I know this doesn't make a lot of sense, but I needed to ramble and since my blog isn't very public, it seemed like the place to get some thoughts out.
I wonder if sometimes change is the driving force for faith because I pray God would give me a spiritual gift of faith for this next season.
Jesus, I will take your hand and follow you. Open my eyes to see where you are leading each step of the way. Open my ears to be in tune with your whispers of encouragement and instruction. Thank you for leading, guiding, being my Teacher and Counselor.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Home Today
i worked from home today. alex has been sick since saturday. he had a bad flu but seems to be on the upswing today. hopefully home tomorrow and then he can go back to school.
this weekend we began gen2rev. the live seminar was o.t. survey, putting the story together. it was taught by winn griffin. winn is a gifted teacher and i am happy he is sharing his gift with us.
one of the things that stood out this weekend was how much our view of god is shaped by what we believe about the story. so many of us were steeped in right doctrine, which has its place, but that is a very differnt lens than seeing god as the main character in the story. it is also powerful to see that we are a part of this story. we have our roots all the way back to the creation. i was very impacted to how looking at gen 1 and the exodus story go together and even more so how i incorporate my life today into the story. an example would be, by learning the story of why the law was given, i ask myself, what does my heart bow down to? what has god delivered me from? what enslaves me and will i take god's hand and follow him to freedom?
on another level, the story of god forming his identity in the hebrew people so they could be a light to the world. the story of babel, i ask myself, what do we build in our community that would cause people to worship something or someone besides god? it brings up so much to reflect on. that is a good thing. the learning group, the studying, the learning of the story triggers questions i might not otherwise ask...that's a good thing.
i am leaving on thursday for san diego. i am going to a seminar to learn how to write grants. i want to research and write grants for my community and for others. so off to san diego for 4 days. i will miss my family but am also looking forward to some time away.
oh, one more thought from the weekend. what object can i use to remind me in my everyday life when i run across it, that i serve one god? i have been reading the divine hours by phyllis tickle, which helps me orient my daily life around god, but i am thinking of something that is easier to have around. some in my learning group chose water. whenever they come across water, they would be reminded they belong to one god. i like that. i think i will use water.
this weekend we began gen2rev. the live seminar was o.t. survey, putting the story together. it was taught by winn griffin. winn is a gifted teacher and i am happy he is sharing his gift with us.
one of the things that stood out this weekend was how much our view of god is shaped by what we believe about the story. so many of us were steeped in right doctrine, which has its place, but that is a very differnt lens than seeing god as the main character in the story. it is also powerful to see that we are a part of this story. we have our roots all the way back to the creation. i was very impacted to how looking at gen 1 and the exodus story go together and even more so how i incorporate my life today into the story. an example would be, by learning the story of why the law was given, i ask myself, what does my heart bow down to? what has god delivered me from? what enslaves me and will i take god's hand and follow him to freedom?
on another level, the story of god forming his identity in the hebrew people so they could be a light to the world. the story of babel, i ask myself, what do we build in our community that would cause people to worship something or someone besides god? it brings up so much to reflect on. that is a good thing. the learning group, the studying, the learning of the story triggers questions i might not otherwise ask...that's a good thing.
i am leaving on thursday for san diego. i am going to a seminar to learn how to write grants. i want to research and write grants for my community and for others. so off to san diego for 4 days. i will miss my family but am also looking forward to some time away.
oh, one more thought from the weekend. what object can i use to remind me in my everyday life when i run across it, that i serve one god? i have been reading the divine hours by phyllis tickle, which helps me orient my daily life around god, but i am thinking of something that is easier to have around. some in my learning group chose water. whenever they come across water, they would be reminded they belong to one god. i like that. i think i will use water.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Some thoughts about containers
I have been thinking, for the last 4 years now, a lot about containers. Containers for faith communities. You see, we gather on Sunday mornings. We have worship in song, worship stations, a "talk", prayer for one another, we take an offering, we have age appropriate classes. We lease a facility. We have a budget. We have a paid leader. The Sunday gathering is only one piece of our community. We have times of prayer, we have all-group community coordinators/leader meetings once a quarter. We have a leadership team that meets monthly. We have a few small groups. We are just beginning today a year long study of the Bible. It is structured as a learning group that will mostly interact online. Our guide for this part of our journey is Winn Griffin. Winn has a gift to communicate the story of Scripture in way that we can understand what the original hearers might have heard and then what do we hear today. The purpose, learning HisStory, the story we find ourselves in. We believe it is important to understand the story we live into and out of. We care deeply and passionately about serving the poor, the marginalized, the outcasts. We are barely scratching the surface of all that we believe we will be giving/doing in that area but we watch for the opportunities and respond to them as they come. I would say for me, I am most interested in trying to live out as faithfully as I know how the purpose of God for my life and the life of the community I serve.
I have many friends that have a different container. Their primary gathering is not on Sunday, it may be on Saturday, or Tuesday evening, etc, they don't have a facility, and their container in many ways, looks very different then ours. But I know them and their heart is to live out faithfully the purpose of God for their lives and the community they serve.
BTW it didn't snow
I have many friends that have a different container. Their primary gathering is not on Sunday, it may be on Saturday, or Tuesday evening, etc, they don't have a facility, and their container in many ways, looks very different then ours. But I know them and their heart is to live out faithfully the purpose of God for their lives and the community they serve.
BTW it didn't snow
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Mr. B goes to the office
I took Mr. B to the office with me today. We decided to have the dog adapt to our life. He did great. He likes being with people. Mostly he sat up on my sofa and looked out the window, barked a few times at something outside. He ran around some and explored but then would come back and hang out with me. He's a good dog on day 3.
We are supposed to get 2-5" of snow tonight. I like the snow. There is such a peaceful atmosphere during and right after a good snowfall. If there is that much, school will be closed and we will work from home.
My 24 year old daughter is going to Thailand on February 2nd. She has been planning this trip for a year. She is going with a friend and they were going to backpack through Thailand for 7 weeks. Since the tsunami she wondered if they should postpone but have decided to go. They are looking for ways that if they went to the areas hit they could be of help. They are checking out a couple of places. They are also going to northern Thailand, the east coast and maybe Vietnam. Should be an interesting trip.
She went on the same kind of trip back in March of 03--with the same friend, they had planned for a year and they left the day we bombed Iraq. Lots of folks gave her advice and tried to talk her out of going. They went for 7 weeks and had a great time. It was very educational. She stayed in hostels in Eastern Europe that were still housing Bosnian refugees. She learned a lot about other cultures, most interestingly how Americans are viewed in each and why.
Speaking of other cultures. Our faith community is involved with a low income apartment complex. The residents are mainly immigrants. The majority of whom have only been here 2 - 5 years. There are people from Somalia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, India, and other parts of the world. We have found different opportunities to serve these folks. We partner with a non-profit agency that brings family support in so many ways. Some of us are tutoring children in their after school program. Others are going to spend time with adults "talk time" as a support to their ELL classes. They are going to meet in small groups for conversation. We participated with a Festival of Lights party in December. Our community was able to buy over 100 gifts for the children at the party. The theme was "wish upon a star" as the children came in they were given a star to write their name and age on. Then a wish. They turned the star in at the gift station and were given a gender/age appropriate gift. You know what some of us found so interesting? Most of the wishes went like this, "I want to be a doctor" I want to be a player for the NBA" "I want to be a teacher" "I want to help people"
I thought about the immigrants that came here from my own family, from Italy, Spain and Mexico. When you hear the stories of immigrants coming for a better life, they wanted to have a business, give their children education, they worked hard. These children are first generation immigrants and they take their education very serious. I asked one young girl that has been here for 2 years if she missed her home. She said no! I never want to go back. Everyone is poor and there isn't any food. She wants to be a doctor. It is eye opening for me.
More on this later...
We are supposed to get 2-5" of snow tonight. I like the snow. There is such a peaceful atmosphere during and right after a good snowfall. If there is that much, school will be closed and we will work from home.
My 24 year old daughter is going to Thailand on February 2nd. She has been planning this trip for a year. She is going with a friend and they were going to backpack through Thailand for 7 weeks. Since the tsunami she wondered if they should postpone but have decided to go. They are looking for ways that if they went to the areas hit they could be of help. They are checking out a couple of places. They are also going to northern Thailand, the east coast and maybe Vietnam. Should be an interesting trip.
She went on the same kind of trip back in March of 03--with the same friend, they had planned for a year and they left the day we bombed Iraq. Lots of folks gave her advice and tried to talk her out of going. They went for 7 weeks and had a great time. It was very educational. She stayed in hostels in Eastern Europe that were still housing Bosnian refugees. She learned a lot about other cultures, most interestingly how Americans are viewed in each and why.
Speaking of other cultures. Our faith community is involved with a low income apartment complex. The residents are mainly immigrants. The majority of whom have only been here 2 - 5 years. There are people from Somalia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, India, and other parts of the world. We have found different opportunities to serve these folks. We partner with a non-profit agency that brings family support in so many ways. Some of us are tutoring children in their after school program. Others are going to spend time with adults "talk time" as a support to their ELL classes. They are going to meet in small groups for conversation. We participated with a Festival of Lights party in December. Our community was able to buy over 100 gifts for the children at the party. The theme was "wish upon a star" as the children came in they were given a star to write their name and age on. Then a wish. They turned the star in at the gift station and were given a gender/age appropriate gift. You know what some of us found so interesting? Most of the wishes went like this, "I want to be a doctor" I want to be a player for the NBA" "I want to be a teacher" "I want to help people"
I thought about the immigrants that came here from my own family, from Italy, Spain and Mexico. When you hear the stories of immigrants coming for a better life, they wanted to have a business, give their children education, they worked hard. These children are first generation immigrants and they take their education very serious. I asked one young girl that has been here for 2 years if she missed her home. She said no! I never want to go back. Everyone is poor and there isn't any food. She wants to be a doctor. It is eye opening for me.
More on this later...
Monday, January 10, 2005
January 10, 2005
It did snow over the weekend. Sunday morning we woke up to snow! It was also Alex's 7th birthday. He got a dog from his aunt and uncle. Mr. B is a Westie and a great gift for a little boy who wants a brother or a sister with the likelihood of such being 0. He loves his puppy. I'm happy for him.
Today our faith community begins a learning group. gen2rev, learning the story of our faith for ordinary folks. There is about 25 of us entering into a 1 year learning group lead by Winn Griffin. What a gift this is to our community. to paraphrase someone...Part of our life together is learning from and living out of (as Todd H has said) “our sacred text” to help us grow in our love for God and people. We desire to view the world and culture through the story of the Scriptures. We must become thinkers and theologians if we are serious about following Jesus and being missional in today’s culture.
This is important for us. As I meditate on the 10 commandments and study the story I realize how important one's view of God is to live out faith in our world. Some of the conversation and interviews I have seen from people of Christian faith regarding the devastation in SE Asia makes me so sad.
Time to take Mr. B out....
Today our faith community begins a learning group. gen2rev, learning the story of our faith for ordinary folks. There is about 25 of us entering into a 1 year learning group lead by Winn Griffin. What a gift this is to our community. to paraphrase someone...Part of our life together is learning from and living out of (as Todd H has said) “our sacred text” to help us grow in our love for God and people. We desire to view the world and culture through the story of the Scriptures. We must become thinkers and theologians if we are serious about following Jesus and being missional in today’s culture.
This is important for us. As I meditate on the 10 commandments and study the story I realize how important one's view of God is to live out faith in our world. Some of the conversation and interviews I have seen from people of Christian faith regarding the devastation in SE Asia makes me so sad.
Time to take Mr. B out....
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Trying to blog again
Back in August I started a feeble attempt to blog. Thought I would restart tonight. Right now it is cold and raining in Seattle and there is some talk of snow tonight. As I am typing in the office my almost 7 year old, Alex is singing himself to sleep. He's singing Feliz Navidad...I want to wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart...I love his heart.
I am also studying for the beginning of some teachings with our faith community on the Ten Commandments. As I read and meditate on the first commandment I think of the horrific images and stories from Southeast Asia. I read about how people of faith try to wrestle with the "why" of this. By people of faith I mean some of the faiths represented in the people that are experiencing the suffering first hand. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus to mention the majority faiths represented. It is amazing to me how we "need" an answer. The most comforting words I have read are from an article written by Tom Wright. http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story=597132 "On the contrary, it tells a story about Jesus's own sense of abandonment, and thereby encourages us to embrace the same sense of helpless involvement in the sorrow of the world, as the means by which the world is to be healed. Those who work for justice, reconciliation and peace will know that sense, and perhaps, occasionally, that healing." When there isn't a logical explanation or when so many theologies try to explain I find the words above comforting--encouraging us to embrace the same sense of helpless involvement in the sorrow of the world, as the means by which the world is to be healed. I want to work for justice, reconciliation and peace, Jesus please grant me the grace to live that out in my everyday life....
Peace to all
I am also studying for the beginning of some teachings with our faith community on the Ten Commandments. As I read and meditate on the first commandment I think of the horrific images and stories from Southeast Asia. I read about how people of faith try to wrestle with the "why" of this. By people of faith I mean some of the faiths represented in the people that are experiencing the suffering first hand. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus to mention the majority faiths represented. It is amazing to me how we "need" an answer. The most comforting words I have read are from an article written by Tom Wright. http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story=597132 "On the contrary, it tells a story about Jesus's own sense of abandonment, and thereby encourages us to embrace the same sense of helpless involvement in the sorrow of the world, as the means by which the world is to be healed. Those who work for justice, reconciliation and peace will know that sense, and perhaps, occasionally, that healing." When there isn't a logical explanation or when so many theologies try to explain I find the words above comforting--encouraging us to embrace the same sense of helpless involvement in the sorrow of the world, as the means by which the world is to be healed. I want to work for justice, reconciliation and peace, Jesus please grant me the grace to live that out in my everyday life....
Peace to all
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