This month has been a whirlwind. So much busier than I ever remember Mark's last month of high school. Work was busy, I finished Kristen's scrapbook, took her to catch her bus for her senior trip at 5:00 a.m. last Saturday, picked her up at 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, planned and decorated for her party, went to her graduation and hosted her party, was on a procurement committee for Sober Grad Night, chaperoned Sober Grad night Friday night from 12:15 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., had an overnight guest for graduation night who showed up unexpectedly at my house that afternoon, interviewed and got a part-time job, have a full-time job possibility, and am planning on starting a women's Bible study on the Old Testament this Saturday. My body is trying to catch up on sleep but it's having some trouble. Too overstimulated from all the excitement I think. Enjoy the pictures.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
End of the School Year
We're in the home stretch. Last Friday night we went to Kristen's Junior/Senior Banquet. The theme was Phantom of the Opera. We entered a brick cave and all the Juniors were dressed in white dress shirts and black slacks. Some of the Juniors had roles to play, like Carlotta. She had a beautiful burgundy gown and a white wig that was over a foot tall! The opera house owners were in tuxedos and of course, you had the stars and the phantom who wore a tux with cape, and a half white mask. After entering the hall, each family was assigned a host to escort them to where their pictures were taken, then to their assigned table.
The tables were beautifully set. Each graduate had a long-stemmed rose at their place setting. Each table sat 3 graduates and their parents. There was an appetizer bar set up with fresh fruit, different kinds of cheeses and crackers, and pastries, and punch.
After opening in prayer, the first course came. The dinner consisted of salad, chicken cordon bleu with green beans and roasted potatoes and chocolate mouse finished the meal. Each table got a bottle of Welches white and red sparkling grape juice.
We were entertained by the performers mouthing the words to 3 or 4 phantom songs as they acted out the songs. After dinner, there was a slide show of the graduates from infant to senior picture. The graduates had an opportunity to share their thoughts during 'open mic'. The principal got up and shared the scholarships the kids had been awarded as they applied to different schools as well as what schools they planned to attend.
The evening was closed in prayer. It was a wonderful experience!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Our First Baptism!
Yesterday we did our first baptism. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day. After the baptism, we had a BBQ. Yummm!!!! Can't wait until the next one! Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Touch Continued
Continuing on with Chapter 5, Holy Disgust by Pastor Rudy Rasmus. BTW, have you read Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels? It's a great little book, a quick read, and a must read for anyone trying to figure out what they're supposed to do in their spiritual walk, primarily in ministry.
Most of us are wary of taking bold stands, because we don't trust our anger to be a form of holy disgust. To be honest, there's every reason to have that hesitation. The vast majority of anger and defiance that we see - in others and in ourselves - isn't holy at all. The goal of these emotions isn't justice and restoration; it's revenge.
Complacency isn't a fruit of the Spirit, and passivity and fear aren't products of a life of faith. Holy disgust crystallizes our thinking and propels us into action.
We are naturally in awe of powerful people, and we assume that they achieved power because they've earned it. Or maybe we've seen what happens when someone questions the motives or actions of these leaders. At one point, Jesus healed a blind man, and the Pharisees questioned him about the event. When he didn't give them the answer they wanted to hear, they kicked him out of the temple. For him, and for some of us, crossing religious authorities can lead to being ostracized. But for many of us, fear drives our decisions. It's much safe to get along by going along, keep the blinders over our eyes, and avoid making waves. And we keep going along to avoid the guilt and blame we'd suffer if we said, "Enough is enough!"
But another factor keeps us locked into toxic religion: when powerful people promise we'll get wealthy and healthy by following their directions.
Malcolm Gladwell observes that our preoccupation with the acquisition of things is our primary faith challenge, because it steals our hearts away from God and isolates us from people in need. We may get a new house or car or pretty dress or electronic gadget, and we enjoy it for a while. But soon we notice that somebody else has a nicer one or a newer one, and the fire of desire burns hot. It's hard to be committed to God's purpose, God's plan, and God's promise when they don't include a fifty-inch plasma television set with the latest audio equipment.
My talk that morning included an update on my recovery from the cussing habit my father passed on to me (384 days and counting!). As soon as my update was finished, a well-dressed family from New Orleans, sitting near the front of the church, got up and left. Was it something I said? I would have thought they'd be impressed that I've stopped cussing!
We've had dozens, maybe hundreds, of well-dressed people come to St. John's, but most of them came only one time. They look around, and they feel uncomfortable with the needy people they see sitting next to them in the pew. At that moment, they have a decision to make. The question may not be formulated in a crystal clear way in their thinking, but it's instinctive: Do I want to stay here and be part of a gut-level, caring community, or do I want to go down the street to a church where people look, smell, and sound more like me?
(Of missions trips) Observers report, though, that the most significant change occurs in the hearts of those who go, not the ones who are the recipients of their efforts.
Just a word of advice for today's blog. If you notice someone doing something wrong (illegal, immoral, unethical, unbiblical, etc.), please confront them. If you don't, you're basically an accomplice, especially as a believer, regarding another believer. What you could lose on earth will be less than you could lose in the spiritual realm. Do the right thing, at all times.
Have a blessed sunny Tuesday.
Most of us are wary of taking bold stands, because we don't trust our anger to be a form of holy disgust. To be honest, there's every reason to have that hesitation. The vast majority of anger and defiance that we see - in others and in ourselves - isn't holy at all. The goal of these emotions isn't justice and restoration; it's revenge.
Complacency isn't a fruit of the Spirit, and passivity and fear aren't products of a life of faith. Holy disgust crystallizes our thinking and propels us into action.
We are naturally in awe of powerful people, and we assume that they achieved power because they've earned it. Or maybe we've seen what happens when someone questions the motives or actions of these leaders. At one point, Jesus healed a blind man, and the Pharisees questioned him about the event. When he didn't give them the answer they wanted to hear, they kicked him out of the temple. For him, and for some of us, crossing religious authorities can lead to being ostracized. But for many of us, fear drives our decisions. It's much safe to get along by going along, keep the blinders over our eyes, and avoid making waves. And we keep going along to avoid the guilt and blame we'd suffer if we said, "Enough is enough!"
But another factor keeps us locked into toxic religion: when powerful people promise we'll get wealthy and healthy by following their directions.
Malcolm Gladwell observes that our preoccupation with the acquisition of things is our primary faith challenge, because it steals our hearts away from God and isolates us from people in need. We may get a new house or car or pretty dress or electronic gadget, and we enjoy it for a while. But soon we notice that somebody else has a nicer one or a newer one, and the fire of desire burns hot. It's hard to be committed to God's purpose, God's plan, and God's promise when they don't include a fifty-inch plasma television set with the latest audio equipment.
My talk that morning included an update on my recovery from the cussing habit my father passed on to me (384 days and counting!). As soon as my update was finished, a well-dressed family from New Orleans, sitting near the front of the church, got up and left. Was it something I said? I would have thought they'd be impressed that I've stopped cussing!
We've had dozens, maybe hundreds, of well-dressed people come to St. John's, but most of them came only one time. They look around, and they feel uncomfortable with the needy people they see sitting next to them in the pew. At that moment, they have a decision to make. The question may not be formulated in a crystal clear way in their thinking, but it's instinctive: Do I want to stay here and be part of a gut-level, caring community, or do I want to go down the street to a church where people look, smell, and sound more like me?
(Of missions trips) Observers report, though, that the most significant change occurs in the hearts of those who go, not the ones who are the recipients of their efforts.
Just a word of advice for today's blog. If you notice someone doing something wrong (illegal, immoral, unethical, unbiblical, etc.), please confront them. If you don't, you're basically an accomplice, especially as a believer, regarding another believer. What you could lose on earth will be less than you could lose in the spiritual realm. Do the right thing, at all times.
Have a blessed sunny Tuesday.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Touch Continued
We'll continue with my highlights from the book Touch by Pastor Rudy Rasmus. We'll start with Chapter 4, Through His Eyes.
Expectations are premeditated resentments.
Fear is the root of these expectations. We're afraid that person - a family member or a stranger - will crack the shell of safety that we've carefully constructed to protect ourselves.
Until our own fears are cast out by God's great love for us, we'll continue to see every person as a stepping-stone to reaching our own selfish goals or a threat to our safety and significance.
"If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance" (2 Cor. 1:6 NIV). Did you get that? His distress helped him minister more effectively because he could identify with others' sufferings, and the comfort he experienced enabled him to pour out comfort to others who were hurting.
As we experience more of God's unconditional love - especially when we feel most unlovable - we'll be more secure. Then we won't see others as threats, and we'll be able to truly love them.
Truth is the foundation of a caring community. Faith, though, doesn't insulate us from trouble; trust in God gives us strength and insight so that we can handle those troubles instead of being overwhelmed by them.
Those are all excellent thoughts to meditate on. As I read some of them, I went, "Ouch!" And some where, "Ain't that the truth!" I've had seasons of fear and seasons of great peace and faith. If you truly consider how very much God loves us, how very patient He is with us, and why He created us, I think you come up with a formula for not being fearful. What could we possibly be afraid of when God is in control? What could we ever go through that others haven't already gone through and made it through just fine? We have God, omni-everything. What on earth is there to be afraid of?
Have a blessed cloudy Mother's Day!
Expectations are premeditated resentments.
Fear is the root of these expectations. We're afraid that person - a family member or a stranger - will crack the shell of safety that we've carefully constructed to protect ourselves.
Until our own fears are cast out by God's great love for us, we'll continue to see every person as a stepping-stone to reaching our own selfish goals or a threat to our safety and significance.
"If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance" (2 Cor. 1:6 NIV). Did you get that? His distress helped him minister more effectively because he could identify with others' sufferings, and the comfort he experienced enabled him to pour out comfort to others who were hurting.
As we experience more of God's unconditional love - especially when we feel most unlovable - we'll be more secure. Then we won't see others as threats, and we'll be able to truly love them.
Truth is the foundation of a caring community. Faith, though, doesn't insulate us from trouble; trust in God gives us strength and insight so that we can handle those troubles instead of being overwhelmed by them.
Those are all excellent thoughts to meditate on. As I read some of them, I went, "Ouch!" And some where, "Ain't that the truth!" I've had seasons of fear and seasons of great peace and faith. If you truly consider how very much God loves us, how very patient He is with us, and why He created us, I think you come up with a formula for not being fearful. What could we possibly be afraid of when God is in control? What could we ever go through that others haven't already gone through and made it through just fine? We have God, omni-everything. What on earth is there to be afraid of?
Have a blessed cloudy Mother's Day!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Update
Greg is feeling much better. He'll be preaching this morning. This afternoon we'll be attending Kristen's play at 2:00 with family and friends. At 6:00 we have a membership class at our house. Fun, fun, fun!
Sascha is still recovering. Kristen has a cold. She's playing the bongos this morning for church and Greg decided not to bring the pulpit but to preach on a stool with a music stand. It's almost like having our own church building, not lugging those things to and from church. Nice!
Have a blessed sunny, breezy Sunday!
Sascha is still recovering. Kristen has a cold. She's playing the bongos this morning for church and Greg decided not to bring the pulpit but to preach on a stool with a music stand. It's almost like having our own church building, not lugging those things to and from church. Nice!
Have a blessed sunny, breezy Sunday!
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