I read a most interesting article tonight called "Divinity of the Mind". It may bore some of you into a good nights sleep, but I found it quite fascinating. It was essentially an interview with a completely non-religious scientist that has been studying the activity of the human brain (via bran scan) in subjects during prayer and meditation.
Of course to keep things variable he studied three groups...... Franciscan nuns, Buddhists, and Pentecostal Christians. Wow, what a crew!
During the Franciscan nuns' prayers their frontal lobes were highly active which is the part of your brain that is used during intense focus. Makes sense. But the part of their brain that identifies the body with its surroundings became very inactive. Which the scientist said would make the person feel slightly transcendent or oceanic. Similar activity was present during the Buddhist meditation. The major difference was that the nuns had activity in the part of the brain that controls language (they were chanting prayers), while the Buddhists' visual sensors were active (Buddhists focus on an object in their hand).
Then along came the Pentecostal Christians. The scientist was shocked by what he found. They were moving around, dancing, and speaking in tongues. Their brains were very active, but not in the frontal lobes. They seemed to be completely unfocused on praying and singing. And yet consumed in it. And while they were speaking in tongues the language parts of their brains were totally inactive (obviously that should have been the area of the brain that was highly active). He seemed fascinated by the fact and said he guessed it made perfect sense if you were to believe that tongues were being spoken from an outside force.
He was intrigued by how active our mind is during spiritual experiences. I think he was surprised by his own findings. He knew he was definitely on to something.
Unfortunately, the scientist remained uncommitted to any final hypothesis. He is determined to continue to search for evidence of God in the human mind.
Hmmmmmm........very interesting.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Spouting Poetry
My very good friend left this poem by Maya Angelou in my box yesterday. Loved it, thought I'd share........
Christians
When I say... "I'm a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean living"
I'm whispering "I was lost."
Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say "I'm a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride
I'm confessing that I stumble
And I need Christ to be my guide.
When I say "I'm a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And I need His strength to carry on.
When I say "I'm a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting that I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.
When I say "I'm a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I'm worth it.
When I say "I'm a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say "I'm a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God good grace, somehow!
Have a BLESSED day!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Two really odd events happened this weekend that brought this verse to mind.
Event One: My daughter had a birthday sleepover on Friday. Her "party room" was beautifully decorated with a winter theme. Blues and silvers and sparkles everywhere. We were set with makeup and fingernail polish and all the supplies preteens need for a makeover.
She had invited nine or ten girls and seven showed up. So far, so good. The evening went great. They had a blast and stayed up very late. I finally forced the lights out after midnight. When the thunderstorm came, I waited for them to come squeeling into my room, but the storm blew over with no drama. I thought to myself, "They are really growing up."
Little did I know, there was plenty of drama taking place in the party room! Saturday I got quite the earfull. One of the little girls from school claimed to have become a witch, and during the storm proceeded to pray to some foreign god, chanting incantations, and calling the corners. Whoa!!!! Right under my own roof!
I asked my daughter what they did, and her response made me very proud. She and two of the other friends began witnessing to her, they prayed for her (which made her very agitated), and finally got her talked down I guess. I was upset that no one came and told me what was taking place, but I couldn't have been happier with them immediately turning to God.
The really sad part is that there is a very disturbed and confused eleven year old playing with some very dangerous concepts. I am honestly still debating on how to proceed. Talk to the parents? Are the parents the source? Do I want to even go there? No! But I am sure that it's my responsibility as a Christian to do something.
Event two: One of my closest friends attempted suicide and came very close to succeeding. This is not the first time. To be honest I don't even know how many times this makes. Maybe five? It was pills this time. Some kind of pain killer/anti-anxiety, I don't know. She took enough to do the job, but she got sick and didn't keep it all down. Thank you Lord!
I have never understood her. While she had a very tramatic childhood, she now has a great husband, two beautiful kids, no major concerns of any kind. Just her past. Which haunts her more than I know, obviously. I want to just grab her and say, "Think of those kids, think of your husband, what if you accidently do it one of these days?!". Actually I have said it, many times. But it never helps. She told me once that she sometimes doesn't feel alone. She has heard whispers that terrify her. My immediate reaction.... spiritual attack. I went to see her today and am going to give her my very best effort to help her get right again with God and get her life back. He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of sound mind. Those whom Christ set free are free indeed, right!
These are the things on my mind today. Pretty heavy.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Seven Characters We Need In Church
I found this on Christianity Today.
It's long, but I thought worth the read.....
Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 compare the church to a body. In order to function, a body needs a lot of different parts. And each part needs special abilities. What kind of abilities? I thought of seven characters who'd fit in well. In fact, I think every church needs a …
Professor X
In the X-Men films, Magneto believes that mutants must take care of themselves in a world that hates them. Professor X believes humans and mutants can and must live together.
Magneto's plan doesn't sound that evil, really. But Professor X is able to see the lie behind Magneto's thinking. Just because a path seems easy and attractive, it isn't always right. Knowing the difference is discernment. We need people like Professor X in the church because of their ability to know right and wrong.
In church, Professor X would help his congregation stay on the right track and discern what the Bible says about certain issues. God would speak through him in distinguishing truth from error and deciding if teachings really come from God. We see this a lot in the Bible. My favorite example is in Acts 5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira tell lies from Satan, but God uses Peter to discern the truth.
Other discerners: Morpheus in The Matrix and Yoda in Star Wars.
Mrs. Beaver
The first time Mrs. Beaver meets the young heroes of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, she says, "Come inside, we'll get you some food." From there, she works to provide for them while Mr. Beaver tells them all about Narnia. She stirs the pot on the fire. She feeds the kids. Keeps them all warm.
She is the behind-the-scenes server and helper. In the church, these people do tasks—however small—to free others to use their own gifts for ministry. So who's Mrs. Beaver in your church? It's the person in the kitchen washing dishes after a big fundraiser. Or the guys setting up chairs. Or the people working in the nursery. In John 13:1-17, Jesus gave the ultimate lesson in serving when he washed his disciples feet. Jesus (who modeled many gifts including teaching and leading) modeled humbleness by doing the small tasks for others. This is shown in a neat way in Bruce Almighty. When Bruce first meets God, he is a humble janitor. That's Jesus—a helper and server. Like Mrs. Beaver, this janitor knows that every church needs those who do the dirty work.
Other servers/helpers: Jin from Lost and Edna 'E' Mode in The Incredibles.
Pierre Dulaine
In Take the Lead, Pierre Dulaine is able to reach rough, lost kids considered unteachable. How does he do it? By dancing.
Through basic dance principles—like leading and following—Pierre teaches his students about life. He makes his lessons relevant to their daily experiences. He spots their talents and skills and not only encourages them to use those skills, but shows them how.
At your church, Pierre would be the youth pastor who uses great illustrations, tells powerful stories and offers understandable and practical ways to live out your faith. He'd have the gift to make God's Word come alive and make sense. He'd also care deeply about each student and encourage them to find their own role. This is what Ephesians 4:12 means when it says that God appointed teachers "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
Other teachers: Hank Hill from King of the Hill and Coach Boone from Remember the Titans.
Summer Hathaway
When fake substitute teacher Dewey Finn forms a band out of his class in School of Rock, he makes ambitious, responsible and organized Summer Hathaway the band manager. "I'll be busy rocking out," Dewey tells her. "It's up to you to make sure everyone is doing their jobs." And she does. With a clipboard and many checklists, Summer makes sure everyone is where they need to be, schedules gigs and keeps track of the band's gear.
In your church, Summer is the person who keeps everything in order and on schedule. This is the gift of administration. In the original Greek, "administrate" means to steer or guide. Administrators in your church, like Summer, keep things running so the leaders can concentrate on doing what God has called them to do.
Other administrators: Alfred in the Batman films and C-3PO in Star Wars.
Will Turner
When the governor's daughter, Elizabeth, is kidnapped in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the commodore wants to play it safe. But a lowly peasant blacksmith, Will Turner, steps up with a new plan. Before it is over, Will becomes a trusted leader. When being chased by pirates, Will commands the crew to take a stand. Though Will's plan seems crazy, his crew trusts his leadership and guidance.
Why? Because Will has the leadership qualities of confidence, decision-making and courage. He models trustworthiness and shows what it means to work hard. Will doesn't lead like a dictator, but works as a team with Captain Jack and Elizabeth. He isn't always the first to speak on issues, but he guides others—sometimes quietly—to address them. He presents an example of what is right and just. This is a big part of what leadership in the church is about: standing before people to direct and motivate them to accomplish goals. Hebrews 13:17 says that leaders "are watching over you, and they must answer to God."
Other leaders: Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings and Peter Pevensie in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Simpson is so smart that she used to change her own diapers. And now, even though she's only 8, Lisa often uses her wisdom to guide others. Whenever something in Springfield is not right, Lisa is the person always popping her head up and saying, "We need to fix this!"
When Homer joined the Stonecutters club, Lisa discovered they only concentrated on power and fun. Lisa told her dad, "Getting what you want all the time leaves you unfulfilled and joyless." Her warnings help Homer see that the group should actually be helping other people. Like Lisa, people in the church with the gift of wisdom make their knowledge practical and useful by helping others understand how it impacts their daily life and decision-making.
Other wisdom-lenders: Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid.
Hagrid
Romans 12:8 says that if a person's gift is "showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully" (NIV). Nobody displays that better than Hogwart's groundskeeper/professor Hagrid. There are few people with a bigger heart than Hagrid. He gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, he has compassion for animals no one else would go near, and does it all with a big goofy grin. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Draco Malfoy does everything he can to make life miserable for Hagrid. What's Hagrid do? He does his best to be nothing but kind to Malfoy.
At your church, Hagrid would offer genuine sympathy, speak words of love and compassion. He'd be everyone's shoulder to cry on. And that's one big shoulder.
Other mercy-givers: Rachel Dawes from Batman Begins and Lucy from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Who are You?
You may not have any cartoons or talking animals in your congregation, but you do have people with lots of roles and gifts. Who has a gift of teaching? Who is serving? Who offers mercy? How do they all work together?
And how do you fit in? What gifts do you have?
It's long, but I thought worth the read.....
Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 compare the church to a body. In order to function, a body needs a lot of different parts. And each part needs special abilities. What kind of abilities? I thought of seven characters who'd fit in well. In fact, I think every church needs a …
Professor X
In the X-Men films, Magneto believes that mutants must take care of themselves in a world that hates them. Professor X believes humans and mutants can and must live together.
Magneto's plan doesn't sound that evil, really. But Professor X is able to see the lie behind Magneto's thinking. Just because a path seems easy and attractive, it isn't always right. Knowing the difference is discernment. We need people like Professor X in the church because of their ability to know right and wrong.
In church, Professor X would help his congregation stay on the right track and discern what the Bible says about certain issues. God would speak through him in distinguishing truth from error and deciding if teachings really come from God. We see this a lot in the Bible. My favorite example is in Acts 5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira tell lies from Satan, but God uses Peter to discern the truth.
Other discerners: Morpheus in The Matrix and Yoda in Star Wars.
Mrs. Beaver
The first time Mrs. Beaver meets the young heroes of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, she says, "Come inside, we'll get you some food." From there, she works to provide for them while Mr. Beaver tells them all about Narnia. She stirs the pot on the fire. She feeds the kids. Keeps them all warm.
She is the behind-the-scenes server and helper. In the church, these people do tasks—however small—to free others to use their own gifts for ministry. So who's Mrs. Beaver in your church? It's the person in the kitchen washing dishes after a big fundraiser. Or the guys setting up chairs. Or the people working in the nursery. In John 13:1-17, Jesus gave the ultimate lesson in serving when he washed his disciples feet. Jesus (who modeled many gifts including teaching and leading) modeled humbleness by doing the small tasks for others. This is shown in a neat way in Bruce Almighty. When Bruce first meets God, he is a humble janitor. That's Jesus—a helper and server. Like Mrs. Beaver, this janitor knows that every church needs those who do the dirty work.
Other servers/helpers: Jin from Lost and Edna 'E' Mode in The Incredibles.
Pierre Dulaine
In Take the Lead, Pierre Dulaine is able to reach rough, lost kids considered unteachable. How does he do it? By dancing.
Through basic dance principles—like leading and following—Pierre teaches his students about life. He makes his lessons relevant to their daily experiences. He spots their talents and skills and not only encourages them to use those skills, but shows them how.
At your church, Pierre would be the youth pastor who uses great illustrations, tells powerful stories and offers understandable and practical ways to live out your faith. He'd have the gift to make God's Word come alive and make sense. He'd also care deeply about each student and encourage them to find their own role. This is what Ephesians 4:12 means when it says that God appointed teachers "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
Other teachers: Hank Hill from King of the Hill and Coach Boone from Remember the Titans.
Summer Hathaway
When fake substitute teacher Dewey Finn forms a band out of his class in School of Rock, he makes ambitious, responsible and organized Summer Hathaway the band manager. "I'll be busy rocking out," Dewey tells her. "It's up to you to make sure everyone is doing their jobs." And she does. With a clipboard and many checklists, Summer makes sure everyone is where they need to be, schedules gigs and keeps track of the band's gear.
In your church, Summer is the person who keeps everything in order and on schedule. This is the gift of administration. In the original Greek, "administrate" means to steer or guide. Administrators in your church, like Summer, keep things running so the leaders can concentrate on doing what God has called them to do.
Other administrators: Alfred in the Batman films and C-3PO in Star Wars.
Will Turner
When the governor's daughter, Elizabeth, is kidnapped in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the commodore wants to play it safe. But a lowly peasant blacksmith, Will Turner, steps up with a new plan. Before it is over, Will becomes a trusted leader. When being chased by pirates, Will commands the crew to take a stand. Though Will's plan seems crazy, his crew trusts his leadership and guidance.
Why? Because Will has the leadership qualities of confidence, decision-making and courage. He models trustworthiness and shows what it means to work hard. Will doesn't lead like a dictator, but works as a team with Captain Jack and Elizabeth. He isn't always the first to speak on issues, but he guides others—sometimes quietly—to address them. He presents an example of what is right and just. This is a big part of what leadership in the church is about: standing before people to direct and motivate them to accomplish goals. Hebrews 13:17 says that leaders "are watching over you, and they must answer to God."
Other leaders: Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings and Peter Pevensie in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Simpson is so smart that she used to change her own diapers. And now, even though she's only 8, Lisa often uses her wisdom to guide others. Whenever something in Springfield is not right, Lisa is the person always popping her head up and saying, "We need to fix this!"
When Homer joined the Stonecutters club, Lisa discovered they only concentrated on power and fun. Lisa told her dad, "Getting what you want all the time leaves you unfulfilled and joyless." Her warnings help Homer see that the group should actually be helping other people. Like Lisa, people in the church with the gift of wisdom make their knowledge practical and useful by helping others understand how it impacts their daily life and decision-making.
Other wisdom-lenders: Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid.
Hagrid
Romans 12:8 says that if a person's gift is "showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully" (NIV). Nobody displays that better than Hogwart's groundskeeper/professor Hagrid. There are few people with a bigger heart than Hagrid. He gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, he has compassion for animals no one else would go near, and does it all with a big goofy grin. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Draco Malfoy does everything he can to make life miserable for Hagrid. What's Hagrid do? He does his best to be nothing but kind to Malfoy.
At your church, Hagrid would offer genuine sympathy, speak words of love and compassion. He'd be everyone's shoulder to cry on. And that's one big shoulder.
Other mercy-givers: Rachel Dawes from Batman Begins and Lucy from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Who are You?
You may not have any cartoons or talking animals in your congregation, but you do have people with lots of roles and gifts. Who has a gift of teaching? Who is serving? Who offers mercy? How do they all work together?
And how do you fit in? What gifts do you have?
Nothing I Will Ever Do
Whew! Had a very busy week. Sorry to drop off the face of the earth for a few days. I've got a few minutes of downtime, so I thought I'd jot down a thought or two.
This past weekend I went on a girlfriends trip with some of the lovely ladies from church (see Kathy's blog for graphics). We had a lot of fun, did quite a bit of shopping in a very short amount of time, and stayed up late talking. It is always good to get away.
We also went to a women's function at the Second Baptist Church of Conway. They had brought in a speaker/singer named Kim Bolten. I had never heard of her, but she gave a lot of good insight. To me she was very tame, as I am completely spoiled to our loud and lively worship at home. Lisa and I got tickled at the ladies of Second Baptist. You could tell that was probably the most rambunctious worship music they had ever experienced. Funny how diverse we Christians are.
She said many things that touched and convicted me, but as always, there was one thing that really got me. She said, "Nothing you will ever do will make God love you more, but nothing you will ever do will make God love you less." I know, it's a very simple concept. But I don't think I knew that. I think I have been under the illusion that if I made all the right moves, was a servant, and faithfull, that God would love me more than He does right now. The other side of that is that if I screwed up too bad, He might not love me as much. Not that He would stop loving me altogether, just less.
But that's just not true, is it? How could God ever love us any more or any less when GOD IS LOVE ? And the love He has for us is perfect.
That's it, gotta run!
This past weekend I went on a girlfriends trip with some of the lovely ladies from church (see Kathy's blog for graphics). We had a lot of fun, did quite a bit of shopping in a very short amount of time, and stayed up late talking. It is always good to get away.
We also went to a women's function at the Second Baptist Church of Conway. They had brought in a speaker/singer named Kim Bolten. I had never heard of her, but she gave a lot of good insight. To me she was very tame, as I am completely spoiled to our loud and lively worship at home. Lisa and I got tickled at the ladies of Second Baptist. You could tell that was probably the most rambunctious worship music they had ever experienced. Funny how diverse we Christians are.
She said many things that touched and convicted me, but as always, there was one thing that really got me. She said, "Nothing you will ever do will make God love you more, but nothing you will ever do will make God love you less." I know, it's a very simple concept. But I don't think I knew that. I think I have been under the illusion that if I made all the right moves, was a servant, and faithfull, that God would love me more than He does right now. The other side of that is that if I screwed up too bad, He might not love me as much. Not that He would stop loving me altogether, just less.
But that's just not true, is it? How could God ever love us any more or any less when GOD IS LOVE ? And the love He has for us is perfect.
That's it, gotta run!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Known to be Wrong
Did I mention that I am known to be wrong about things from time to time? 'Cause I am.
I made a post on August 28th titled "The Rock and the Hard Place". You can read it if you want, but the jist of it was about being willing to expose yourself to the negative influences of the world in order to connect with lost people and hopefully establish a relationship in which you can witness to them. I quoted the 1 Thes. verse about seperating yourself from the appearance of evil, and questioned what degree of seperation that requires. I have been of the opinion that if you are a strong enough Christian, you could go into these worldy places and be okay and would have an excellent opportunity to reach people that you might otherwise never reach. Maybe I'm an optimist.
I haven't completely changed my thinking on that, but at the risk of completely leaving myself exposed for critisism, I am going to share my recent experience.
I went out with a group of friends that I haven't been around in ages as well as my brother and husband. We went to Altus to have a nice dinner and drinks. I volunteered to be the designated driver. Dinner went great, and I was glad I had decided to come. I thought to myself, "What's the big deal? I am having fun with my old friends. No guilt in this." When the time came to leave the restaurant, though, they weren't ready for the evening to end. So it was decided that we would walk down the street to the little pub and have more drinks. Okay, no big deal, we'll stay for a bit and go home, right? Not exactly.
I was okay for a while, the bar was relatively empty and it was karaoke night. If you have ever witnessed karaoke, you know it can be very entertaining. But of course, my group insisted that I sing something for them. I held up the resistence for quite some time, but as the group drank more and became more and more demanding, I caved and sang them a song. And that's when the guilt starting creeping in. My mind went ninety miles an hour! What are you doing in a pub singing karaoke!? What if your Sunday school girls could see you now!? Although I wasn't particulary committing any mortal sin, I knew that the Holy Spirit wanted me out of there.
So what did I do? I told my group I was ready to leave, but they weren't, and since I was the driver, I stayed a little longer. I am sure I was quite the site, sitting there like a little knotted up prude, completely out of my element. Finally, when the entire room began chiming in on the chorus of the ever popular song, "She f@#*ing hates me", the Holy Spirit yelled in my ear, "GET OUT!" I told my group I had to leave and drove home with the other non-drinker in the group who was also ready to leave and feeling uncomfortable.
The night was not over quite yet, but that's where I'll end the story.
So..... I told you all of that to say this.
Maybe I am not ready to be out there just yet. I didn't fall off the wagon and go nuts, whoop-ity-do! But did I really accomplish anything at all for the kingdom? I guess I tryed to set an example, but other than that, nada. All I know is that I'm really glad God loves me, and that He is merciful.
That's it, the lines are open.
I made a post on August 28th titled "The Rock and the Hard Place". You can read it if you want, but the jist of it was about being willing to expose yourself to the negative influences of the world in order to connect with lost people and hopefully establish a relationship in which you can witness to them. I quoted the 1 Thes. verse about seperating yourself from the appearance of evil, and questioned what degree of seperation that requires. I have been of the opinion that if you are a strong enough Christian, you could go into these worldy places and be okay and would have an excellent opportunity to reach people that you might otherwise never reach. Maybe I'm an optimist.
I haven't completely changed my thinking on that, but at the risk of completely leaving myself exposed for critisism, I am going to share my recent experience.
I went out with a group of friends that I haven't been around in ages as well as my brother and husband. We went to Altus to have a nice dinner and drinks. I volunteered to be the designated driver. Dinner went great, and I was glad I had decided to come. I thought to myself, "What's the big deal? I am having fun with my old friends. No guilt in this." When the time came to leave the restaurant, though, they weren't ready for the evening to end. So it was decided that we would walk down the street to the little pub and have more drinks. Okay, no big deal, we'll stay for a bit and go home, right? Not exactly.
I was okay for a while, the bar was relatively empty and it was karaoke night. If you have ever witnessed karaoke, you know it can be very entertaining. But of course, my group insisted that I sing something for them. I held up the resistence for quite some time, but as the group drank more and became more and more demanding, I caved and sang them a song. And that's when the guilt starting creeping in. My mind went ninety miles an hour! What are you doing in a pub singing karaoke!? What if your Sunday school girls could see you now!? Although I wasn't particulary committing any mortal sin, I knew that the Holy Spirit wanted me out of there.
So what did I do? I told my group I was ready to leave, but they weren't, and since I was the driver, I stayed a little longer. I am sure I was quite the site, sitting there like a little knotted up prude, completely out of my element. Finally, when the entire room began chiming in on the chorus of the ever popular song, "She f@#*ing hates me", the Holy Spirit yelled in my ear, "GET OUT!" I told my group I had to leave and drove home with the other non-drinker in the group who was also ready to leave and feeling uncomfortable.
The night was not over quite yet, but that's where I'll end the story.
So..... I told you all of that to say this.
Maybe I am not ready to be out there just yet. I didn't fall off the wagon and go nuts, whoop-ity-do! But did I really accomplish anything at all for the kingdom? I guess I tryed to set an example, but other than that, nada. All I know is that I'm really glad God loves me, and that He is merciful.
That's it, the lines are open.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Carnivale!
The Johnson County Fair is in town! It is a one of a kind event that brings out a colorful plethora of people marching down the fairway to a symphony of gospel singing, merry-go-round tunes, and the oh-so alluring bellow of the carnies. Throw in the pungent aroma of funnel cakes, farm animals, and overripe humans, and you've got the full mental picture. The funny thing..... I haven't missed it in years!
Last night, my eldest daughter and I decided to make our annual visit. As we made our rounds, I did what I always do, people watch. I don't know why, I just like to take it all in. I scope them out from head to toe, analyzing every detail. I listen to their conversations. I watch their body language. And since the fair crowd is made up of such a diverse group of people and many of them are teenagers, you see it all.
The main thing that caught my attention last night was the large amount of preteens and just barely teens (probably twelve to fifteen) that were headed down a dangerously rebellious path. It's like they were out there to prove to their peers how bad they could be. They were cruel and degrading to each other, chain smoking, using curses at any given opportunity. I kept moving Sara away from their groups to try to prevent her from exposure. All this was just standing in line for a turn on the tilt-a-whirl!
I thought to myself, "Where are these heathens from?", "Where are their parents?". The sad thing is they're from right here. Right where we could influence them. It really made me aware of the task at hand. We have an awesome youth ministry at our church. We have great leaders, and great kids that have been raised by great parents. Great! But there are still so many kids out there that are way off in left field! What are we as Christ followers going to do about it?
I have decided that someone needs to do a documentary at the fair. We need to interview these kids, and find out where they stand spiritually. Although I think I have a pretty good idea. Everything about them tells me that they are just searching for acceptance, someone to notice them, and care. (A documentary would make a great witnessing tool, too.)
When I think about what a monumental undertaking it is to try to reach this newest generation of teens, it is overwhelming. But there is always hope! Just this morning I woke up thinking about them again, and God brought something to my attention. He reminded me that I was just like them at that exact age. I was searching and going crazy, and there was probably some adult that was worried that I was frightfully out of control (Her name was probably Granny). He pulled me out of all that, and they are not beyond His reach, either. So I am recharged with a new conviction to reach the hellions of Clarksville. I just don't know exactly how yet.
Here's a start..... and a plug. Our band, Beyond Walls, plays at the fair on Saturday at 2:00p.m. Outreach ministry is our goal, so hopefully their will be some little ears there that can be influenced by some people who love Christ. And we can always pray!
(The awesome art piece is by one of my favorite artists, Mark Ryden)
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Whoa...too much information
How much do you let others in? This morning, that was the question on my mind. For years I had the opinion that if you don't let others in, they won't hurt you. I know a lot of people who share that opinion. Have relationships, but don't get too close.
I have made many new friends in the last couple of years, and as you read in my previous post (Ice Queen...), I am trying very hard to be real with everyone. I want them to know me, and the real me, not the person you put on for church and parent teacher meetings. I am really enjoying myself, too. It's great letting your hair down, so to speak. Even if it is not 100% all of the time.
So back to the question of the day. Should we discuss issues with friends deeper than weekend plans, funny life stories, and struggles with kids? Do we dare discuss the things that God is revealing to us, the changes that the Holy Spirit is urging us to make, visions that God has given us for our futures, ect.? Scary. Or at least it is to me. That is a very vulnerable position to be in. In Luke, the bible says that when the wise men were telling about what God had done in their lives, Mary kept those things to herself and pondered them.
I had convinced myself this morning that it was fine for me to keep my God stuff to myself. People aren't really comfortable talking about that anyway, right? Then I read my friend's blog (kathyhickey.blogspot.com). She quoted an email she got from Rick Warren. The article addressed just this issue and it says that we should discuss the deeper life issues with our friends and let them know what God is doing in our lives so that they can support and offer guidance (or at least that's how I took it).
So which is it, keep and ponder? Or do we lay ourselves out there? This is a tough one for me. I am just not sure. I know that God has called us to have real and meaningful relationships with our brothers and sisters. However, when I do open up in that area, I often feel like I've said too much. On the flip side, lately I have the need to talk to some great and wise person that won't think I'm crazy and ask a few questions. The most great and wise person I know and trust is God, so here we are again.
Just curious, how open are you to your friends?
I have made many new friends in the last couple of years, and as you read in my previous post (Ice Queen...), I am trying very hard to be real with everyone. I want them to know me, and the real me, not the person you put on for church and parent teacher meetings. I am really enjoying myself, too. It's great letting your hair down, so to speak. Even if it is not 100% all of the time.
So back to the question of the day. Should we discuss issues with friends deeper than weekend plans, funny life stories, and struggles with kids? Do we dare discuss the things that God is revealing to us, the changes that the Holy Spirit is urging us to make, visions that God has given us for our futures, ect.? Scary. Or at least it is to me. That is a very vulnerable position to be in. In Luke, the bible says that when the wise men were telling about what God had done in their lives, Mary kept those things to herself and pondered them.
I had convinced myself this morning that it was fine for me to keep my God stuff to myself. People aren't really comfortable talking about that anyway, right? Then I read my friend's blog (kathyhickey.blogspot.com). She quoted an email she got from Rick Warren. The article addressed just this issue and it says that we should discuss the deeper life issues with our friends and let them know what God is doing in our lives so that they can support and offer guidance (or at least that's how I took it).
So which is it, keep and ponder? Or do we lay ourselves out there? This is a tough one for me. I am just not sure. I know that God has called us to have real and meaningful relationships with our brothers and sisters. However, when I do open up in that area, I often feel like I've said too much. On the flip side, lately I have the need to talk to some great and wise person that won't think I'm crazy and ask a few questions. The most great and wise person I know and trust is God, so here we are again.
Just curious, how open are you to your friends?
Monday, September 04, 2006
My Brother's Keeper
My brother is one of the most difficult and complex people I have ever met. He is incredibly talented and intelligent, and that's not just coming from a proud big sis. He is a student at Tech and I have heard several other people comment on what a wiz he is. He is also one of the most musically inclined people I know. He is awesome on a guitar, plays drums, bass, sings, whatever he decides to try. He also writes music. But not like me. He is one of these truly sick individuals that are actually capable of orchestrating in their mind.
The sad part is, he is kind of wasting it right now. He has a lot of issues. We had a messed up childhood and both of us headed down the wrong path for years. Addiction and alchoholism is a part of the Meadows family crest, and we got trapped in that lifestyle like so many before us. Praise God, He saved me from all of that. Just had to take one little step. But my brother is not saved and he is still stuck in that place, and it's starting to take a toll on him.
He's not just unsaved, he is almost anti-Christian. We had a very warped example of what it is to follow Christ as children, and I don't think he has ever forgotten about that. I witness to him all the time in a completely non-threatening way, careful to shut up when it's time, but he doesn't seem to be budging.
So here's the good news. Challenging as it may be. He has decided, for whatever reaason, that he wants to help me record and write my Christian music. Awesome! He also wants me to help him record and write with him on his ideas, too. My husband, who is not a believer in Christ, but a believer in God is totally into learning everything he can to help us record and produce. He ordered a computer today that was loaded with whatever it needs to be loaded with for musical purposes. And he has decided to turn my shop into a recording studio.
I am excited because this is an excellent way for me to get to witness to my lost boys without being in their face. Music really ministers to both of them. This could be what gets them to the alter so to speak. It will be challenging, we are all three leaders. We've got two alpha males and a control freak. Who wants to be a fly on my wall? Pray that God will give me patience, and just the right words, because the opportunity is there.
The sad part is, he is kind of wasting it right now. He has a lot of issues. We had a messed up childhood and both of us headed down the wrong path for years. Addiction and alchoholism is a part of the Meadows family crest, and we got trapped in that lifestyle like so many before us. Praise God, He saved me from all of that. Just had to take one little step. But my brother is not saved and he is still stuck in that place, and it's starting to take a toll on him.
He's not just unsaved, he is almost anti-Christian. We had a very warped example of what it is to follow Christ as children, and I don't think he has ever forgotten about that. I witness to him all the time in a completely non-threatening way, careful to shut up when it's time, but he doesn't seem to be budging.
So here's the good news. Challenging as it may be. He has decided, for whatever reaason, that he wants to help me record and write my Christian music. Awesome! He also wants me to help him record and write with him on his ideas, too. My husband, who is not a believer in Christ, but a believer in God is totally into learning everything he can to help us record and produce. He ordered a computer today that was loaded with whatever it needs to be loaded with for musical purposes. And he has decided to turn my shop into a recording studio.
I am excited because this is an excellent way for me to get to witness to my lost boys without being in their face. Music really ministers to both of them. This could be what gets them to the alter so to speak. It will be challenging, we are all three leaders. We've got two alpha males and a control freak. Who wants to be a fly on my wall? Pray that God will give me patience, and just the right words, because the opportunity is there.
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