His, hers, and hours

This past Sunday's bible study lesson was on giving. It is a challenge to communicate to 11th and 12th grade girls as it is, but especially when they only had three hours of sleep the night before. Prom was Saturday, and the two girls that made it to Life Changing Bible Study were barely coherent at best. It was a good lesson, though, out of 2Corinthians. We talked about giving with the right motives and the right attitude, and making sure that our hearts were in the right place so that our giving would truly be an expression of our worship. And my personal favorite, that God would be glorified and praised because of our generosity. Good stuff!

I know that this lesson is referring to material wealth, but my mind tends to turn towards time. For some, parting with the cash is a big thing. But I think many people can very comfortably put a few dollars into the collection plate each week, even with a cheerful heart, but regard their time as a precious commodity. And it is just that. A very precious commodity. We only have so many hours on this planet, and then we're out of here!

Time has really been on my mind lately. As I am going through all of these changes (as mentioned in my previous post), I am really trying to reevaluate where my time is spent. I love to give my time to serving. The ministries that I have the pleasure of serving in are awesome, and right where I need to be, I'm sure. I feel like I was hand-crafted to be in creative arts and working with youth. But my heart is aching for some other groups lately, and I am confused a little by all of it. And not only is my heart pulling me that direction, but the opportunities are there as well.

First of all, addicts have been on my heart. I have personally experienced addiction. Not as deep as some, but probably deeper than a lot of folks. And I come from a family that has been plagued with addiction in one form or another. So I guess I have an understanding and a sympathy for those who suffer with addiction. And it is suffering for some. I have friends and family members and know of many others who have sincerely wanted to get off of their crutch. They hate who they are. They are miserable on it, but feel like they are dying without it.I have been attending meetings with a group of people who also have a heart for addicts and want to do something about the drug problem that has saturated our area. A friend also mentioned starting a service or small group at our church for those who have addiction problems, and that I might be a good person to be involved in that, and that idea has really stuck to me.

Then there is the next group. Children. I have no particular calling to teach or work with large groups of young children. I am good with my own girls, but I admit that we've got our own thing going, and it works. However, I am very drawn to children who have rough lives. Poor living conditions, abusive or negligent parents, etc. At one point, I was dead set that, if I was chosen, I would join the Jr. Axillary this year. They do so much for the kids through DHS! They supply clothing, toys, school items, and many other necessities. It is an excellent organization!

But then I came across opportunity #2 in the children's department. C.A.S.A. I don't know what that stands for yet, but they are an awesome group! They are volunteer advocates for children who have been sent to foster homes. You spend time with these little children to learn the details of their home life. Then you talk to their doctors and schools and gather all the information needed to represent them for their court hearing. It keeps the child from having to testify before a judge and possibly stand face to face with their perpetrator. You stick with your child throughout the process until they are either reconciled with their family or placed in adoption. I love this whole concept. I cannot imagine a 6 year old being pulled out of their terrible home, taken to a total stranger's house, and then the court battle begins. These advocates really keep these already hurting children from going through more trauma. Wow, I want to do that, too!

That's my problem, I want to do all of these new projects without giving up the others! And I still have a family, oh yeah......and a job. However, that is a part of my change. I have officially cut back to three days a week, and we'll see what happens from there! WOOHOO! So there's 16-18 extra hours per week. But, we are also opening the Coffee House again, and Beyond Walls (our outreach band at church) is kicking it into high gear starting next month.

So help me pray for clarity. I am really trying not to commit to anything new, yet. I want to be the very best I can be for the Kingdom, so I am trying to understand where exactly that is.

I found these two verses in 2 Corinthians, and they gave a lot of hope and peace....

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Just Thinking Aloud

At our last leadership meeting our pastor brought up a very interesting theory on the generational connectivity needs of Christians. For example, the older generation looks to the intellectual aspects, the baby boomers started the movement in search of an experience with God, and so on and so on. So potentially, you can have a single congregation looking for an encounter that meets the needs of the intellectual, experiential, those who want something real, something that changes them, and something to act upon. Wow! What a challenge for leadership!

I am a self proclaimed arty-farty, so anything that appeals to the senses, anything I can experience is great for me. However, that doesn't cut it. I want to know God and understand more about him.

I read blogs that discuss this kind of thing, and there are basically three major categories.

First, you have the traditional church, that has been around for eons. Some claim it's broke, I don't know about that. Most of us over 25, as well as countless others throughout the ages, met Jesus Christ to the sweet old tune of "Just as I am". That being said, people are looking for something different, and many of those churches are struggling and closing their doors.

Then you have the experiential charismatic churches founded on the "Jesus Movement" as I have heard it said. They have experienced AWESOME movements of the Holy Spirit. They have changed the face of worship forever. I gather that they gave birth to the mega-church that has seeker services for the lost in which a rock show performance is given and the gospel is presented in a non-threatening fashion. And it works, thousands are being saving!


Now I am hearing more and more about this third group. They are somewhere in the middle, I guess. They are tired of the huge performance based services because they lack the meat of traditional service. They want to be connected with other members of the body of Christ and feel that 36,000 members in a church are a few too many (ya think?). They feel like it is too manufactured and superficial. But they are not necessarily on board with the traditional church either, they want to experience God in a tangible way. They want the manifest Holy presence that they found in the charismatic church. Tricky!

And this group is growing like crazy.

I am reading more and more material all the time that God's people want a real encounter with him in all of these areas. Which makes since, considering Christ told us to love him with our minds, bodies, and our hearts. I think that's the key, the heart.

I just think about these things in perspective to my home church. How do we meet the needs of all of these people? How do we reach the lost, stay connected to the saved, keep everyone well fed on the word, and in the tangible presence of the Almighty?

We serve an awesome, sovereign God. Let's just pray that he will make us the glorified body of Christ that we are meant to be.