Saw this sign at Starbucks and just about died. Enjoy what the US public school system produces. If you can't read the sign it says:
"Comming soon...sugar-free mocha"
Yes, comming. Ugh.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
First day of reading with the plan
So, I learned really fast that I need to sloooow down. I had read through Genesis 7 before I actually realized I was only supposed to read through Genesis 2. Oops. Well, I'm forcing myself to really meditate on what I've read, even rereading (which I HATE, but have to learn to love). So here's some thoughts on today's reading:
- Psalm 1: "God's Word is so vital we must bathe our thoughts constantly in its principles."
- Matthew 1-2: Can you ever really get tired of the Christmas story?
- Proverbs 1:23 (I know I read ahead but I couldn't help it!): "Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise." SWEET!
Restart your fresh start
One of the cool things that comes with visiting the folks is getting to go to their church, Mission Valley Christian Fellowship. MVCF is very similar to Palm Valley in that it has a strong vision and no building. They set up every Sunday at a different hotel depending on availability. Pastor Leo is always fun to hear with his passion for God being visible at all times. However, Sunday he was sick and Pastor Rob, his son-in-law, preached in the morning. Youth pastor, Lyle, preached Sunday night.
Wow, what a blessing! Pastor Rob has this amazing ability to lead you into worship patterns. I don't know if that makes any sense, but you'll be tooling along listening passively and Zap! something will convict you and you'll find yourself meditating on it until the next Zap! Quite frankly, I only really hear 50% of his sermon, but the 50% that I hear really sticks. He spoke about the importance of reading the Bible, not in a "I know everything" tone, but in a "Gee, I really blew it this year" tone which was refreshing. He spoke about how God is gracious in that he gives fresh starts, not just on January 1st. Listen to the actual sermon here.
Pastor Lyle, who cracks me up, followed up on Sunday night talking about how God is gracious enough to help you "restart your fresh start". He talked about the importance of being in the Word (hmmm...a theme here) and how he feels that God used Pastor Leo's illness to really convict him of his need to be in the Word constantly. He used the example of Joash, a young man who was in the Word, fell out and then totally blew it. Click here to listen to the sermon.
So as I start this "Route 66" journey with Palm Valley it's encouraging to know that other leaders are following after God's heart by reading His Word and urging others to do the same.
No matter where you are this January 1st know that you can "restart your fresh start" and get in step with God by reading His personal revelation to you.
Wow, what a blessing! Pastor Rob has this amazing ability to lead you into worship patterns. I don't know if that makes any sense, but you'll be tooling along listening passively and Zap! something will convict you and you'll find yourself meditating on it until the next Zap! Quite frankly, I only really hear 50% of his sermon, but the 50% that I hear really sticks. He spoke about the importance of reading the Bible, not in a "I know everything" tone, but in a "Gee, I really blew it this year" tone which was refreshing. He spoke about how God is gracious in that he gives fresh starts, not just on January 1st. Listen to the actual sermon here.
Pastor Lyle, who cracks me up, followed up on Sunday night talking about how God is gracious enough to help you "restart your fresh start". He talked about the importance of being in the Word (hmmm...a theme here) and how he feels that God used Pastor Leo's illness to really convict him of his need to be in the Word constantly. He used the example of Joash, a young man who was in the Word, fell out and then totally blew it. Click here to listen to the sermon.
So as I start this "Route 66" journey with Palm Valley it's encouraging to know that other leaders are following after God's heart by reading His Word and urging others to do the same.
No matter where you are this January 1st know that you can "restart your fresh start" and get in step with God by reading His personal revelation to you.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Blessings and curses are choices
Most of my life I've heard that my attitude affects everything I do, but suddenly within the last few weeks this has made sense. Deep, real meaning has come from my experiences.
I've struggled this year with respecting my administrators mostly because we've had major changes that have been theoretically in our best interests, but in application are sucking the joy out of teaching. Discouragement is wide-spread and I have a co-worker so negative that people are avoiding her as much as possible. I know I walk in the opposite direction whenever I see her.
Anyway, it's evaluation time and people are on edge anyway, but the process is so beleagured this year, it's almost comical. Almost. I had some choices to make. I could put on the sour face, complain endlessly about the paperwork, and make my administrator as miserable as possible. But then I remembered two things:
1) John Waller's song The Blessing reminded me that I had a choice to either be a blessing for life or a curse for death and
2) in John Eldridge's book Waking the Dead he talks about how Satan plants suggestions in our minds and if we agree with them, it allows him to gain a foothold.
So as the thought of saying things like, "This took me forever and now you want me to do more!" ran through my mind, I banished it, knowing that it would not bring blessing and it was not from God. Due to the extra work required for my evaluation, the post conference took 3 separate sessions to cover everything and each time it was a battle for my attitude: blessings or curses. Everytime I chose blessing and it made a world of difference. Has my situation changed? No. Has my administrator changed? No. But I have. I've grown and mature in a very tangible way.
I've struggled this year with respecting my administrators mostly because we've had major changes that have been theoretically in our best interests, but in application are sucking the joy out of teaching. Discouragement is wide-spread and I have a co-worker so negative that people are avoiding her as much as possible. I know I walk in the opposite direction whenever I see her.
Anyway, it's evaluation time and people are on edge anyway, but the process is so beleagured this year, it's almost comical. Almost. I had some choices to make. I could put on the sour face, complain endlessly about the paperwork, and make my administrator as miserable as possible. But then I remembered two things:
1) John Waller's song The Blessing reminded me that I had a choice to either be a blessing for life or a curse for death and
2) in John Eldridge's book Waking the Dead he talks about how Satan plants suggestions in our minds and if we agree with them, it allows him to gain a foothold.
So as the thought of saying things like, "This took me forever and now you want me to do more!" ran through my mind, I banished it, knowing that it would not bring blessing and it was not from God. Due to the extra work required for my evaluation, the post conference took 3 separate sessions to cover everything and each time it was a battle for my attitude: blessings or curses. Everytime I chose blessing and it made a world of difference. Has my situation changed? No. Has my administrator changed? No. But I have. I've grown and mature in a very tangible way.
Pet peeves
So as a former PK, one of my biggest pet peeves are people who just don't understand what it takes to lead, grow and maintain a ministry. At times, my dad was executive pastor, worship leader, visitation pastor, men's pastor, youth pastor, Sunday School coordinator and office manager at the same time. It's tiring and you work hard to follow your calling.
When other people start criticizing their church leaders, I get very wary. First of all, is this complaint valid? Is it a moral failing? Something that doesn't please God? 99% of the time, it ends up being something stupid and that really bothers me.
The most common complaint (besides what the pastor and/or pastor's spouse wears) is the music. I'm sorry, but this is not an Ipod. This is church. The worship leader has been hired because she or he has felt God's calling on their life and had that calling confirmed by the church leadership. Are they perfect? No, of course not. But for goodness' sake, have you forgotten that you are supposed to be worshiping your Creator not satisfying your need for good song?
When other people start criticizing their church leaders, I get very wary. First of all, is this complaint valid? Is it a moral failing? Something that doesn't please God? 99% of the time, it ends up being something stupid and that really bothers me.
The most common complaint (besides what the pastor and/or pastor's spouse wears) is the music. I'm sorry, but this is not an Ipod. This is church. The worship leader has been hired because she or he has felt God's calling on their life and had that calling confirmed by the church leadership. Are they perfect? No, of course not. But for goodness' sake, have you forgotten that you are supposed to be worshiping your Creator not satisfying your need for good song?
Yes, it's wonderful to get carried away by the music, but God asks for a worshipfilled heart and life, not a catchy tune. You can get that anywhere. What would happen if someone near you was totally out of tune? Would you still be able to worship or would you be resentful that the person was "ruining" worship time for you?
Worship isn't a feeling, it's a habit. You do it constantly, through everything you do. Music is just a fraction of the worship we give to God. Our everyday actions, words, and thoughts should consist of the majority of our worship. I have no formula, no ratio of how often you should read the Bible to how often you should pray. But if you're only "worshiping" on a Sunday with music you like that isn't really worship. It's singing along to a song. It might as well be the radio unless your heart and life reflect what is being sung.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Top Twenty Worst Theological Pick-up Lines
Found these on Parchment and Pen's blog and they are hilarious! Here are some of the highlights:
16. “You may not have chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
15. “I could not help but notice you were exegeting me instead of the text during the sermon.”
14. ”Your name must be grace, because you are irresistible.”
12. “Until this moment, I thought I had the gift of singleness.”
11. During communion say, “Can I get you another drink.”
9. “The Good Book said that I might be visited by angels unaware, but something must be wrong with my interpretation, because I am perfectly aware of you.”
8. “I noticed you crying during alter call, can I help?”
7. While giving her a TULIP say, ”This Totally depraved person has been Unconditionally drawn to you, Limiting himself to your Irresistible beauty that is Persevering beyond all others.”
6. “God may be the bread of life, but you are the butter.”
4. “Well, gouge out my eyes and cut off my hands. If I hang around you much longer, I won’t have any limbs left.”
3. “You must have missed The Fall line, because you are lookin’ righteous.”
Have to say #6 is my favorite!
16. “You may not have chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
15. “I could not help but notice you were exegeting me instead of the text during the sermon.”
14. ”Your name must be grace, because you are irresistible.”
12. “Until this moment, I thought I had the gift of singleness.”
11. During communion say, “Can I get you another drink.”
9. “The Good Book said that I might be visited by angels unaware, but something must be wrong with my interpretation, because I am perfectly aware of you.”
8. “I noticed you crying during alter call, can I help?”
7. While giving her a TULIP say, ”This Totally depraved person has been Unconditionally drawn to you, Limiting himself to your Irresistible beauty that is Persevering beyond all others.”
6. “God may be the bread of life, but you are the butter.”
4. “Well, gouge out my eyes and cut off my hands. If I hang around you much longer, I won’t have any limbs left.”
3. “You must have missed The Fall line, because you are lookin’ righteous.”
Have to say #6 is my favorite!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday night fun
Last night, a bunch of us girls from home team got together and had a guess what most would call a "night of fellowship". Each of us brought something to eat and we spent several hours playing Mexican trains(a domino game), munching on "puppy chow" and pizza and musing on our favorite euphemisms for medical problems. Deb, being the only registered nurse of our group, then told us some hilarious stories about medical terminology. It was a great time. I love these gals!
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