Way to go! July 1, 2008

 

For the longest time, I have heard that computers and cell phones are getting in the way of our time with God.  I have heard that we are so busy and so disconnected that we miss what he is saying.  We are never truly quiet.

Last night, as I sat in a small group, we wondered, “If that is the case, why is the church so hesitant to embrace this technology?”  Why doesn’t the church leadership embrace blogging and twitter?  What is the hesitation to build an online community? 

Well, just as I said that, our children’s pastor mentioned that she wants to start blogging.  She even wants to start a blog for the children’s activities in the church.  I LOVE HER!!  Can I just state, for the record, that I LOVE CINDY BAILEY!!  She is so awesome that it makes me want to have kids just so they can hang with her at church every weekend.  I love that she is wanting to step out of her comfort zone at an age that she could coast into retirement.  (I won’t divulge her age, but let’s just say she has 10x the energy I do!!)

Then, as I leave the meeting, I check my email to find out that Scott Woody, our multi-site pastor has started a blog.  OMG the excitement that I feel!  Let me tell you, the stories that he will tell on this blog are going to be hilarious!  I can’t wait to see how his mind works.  Actually, I’m a little scared of that!!

So, now that Scott has started his blog, prove me right!  Go over and welcome him to the community that we call blogging!  Show the skeptics that we really are forming a community here on the world wide web!!!

 

(Edit:  Now that I have posted this, I found that Cindy Bailey already set up the blog for our children’s program.  Did I mention that I love her?  Anyways, go and welcome her to blogging, as well!!)

Really? June 27, 2008

Read this.  Any comments?  I am speechless.

I don’t get it! June 24, 2008

Hunger is a problem I just don’t understand.

I know that might sound like a crazy statement, but I really don’t.  I don’t understand that, if you knew someone hungry, you could let them go without.  I don’t understand how you could let children starve while you throw away scraps of food at every meal.  I don’t understand how you can eat out every meal without making any sacrifices to help the people you know.

Here’s the deal.  I do all of that stuff.  And, I don’t know anyone hungry.

I am beginning to think that the problem is not money or people being willing to sacrifice.  Maybe the problem is we don’t KNOW anyone that is hungry.

Maybe the problem is that we are not aware of things in people’s lives the contribute to their hunger.  Maybe there is a part of the world that is in crisis and we don’t know it.  For me, that’s another part of the problem.

I didn’t know much about the Global Food Crisis that I have heard about on the news.  In a nutshell, the rising cost of food is causing many people who survive on just $1 a day to spend upwards of 80% of their budget on food.  You can get more information about it here.

Now, here is the tricky part.  Once we KNOW, what do we do?

Compassion International has started a fund to help alleviate this problem.  This fund will go to purchase food vouchers for those in need.  It will also be used to purchase seeds and agricultural tools to help families provide food for themselves and produce extra income.  It will also provide supplemental nutritional services at Compassion-assisted centers.

Now that we KNOW, what will we do?

Compassion International is hosting a day of fasting and prayer tomorrow.  If you can’t help financially, please commit to joining me and thousands of others while we honor the victims affected by this crisis and pray for them.

Now that we KNOW, what will we do?

You can donate here.  You can be a part of Compassion International’s day of fasting and pray by getting information here.

Now that we KNOW, what will we do?  Now that I KNOW, what will I do?

 

I’ve got cool friends! June 24, 2008

 

I am a day late on posting this, but better late than never!

I have tons of ideas.  TONS!!  But, it is not very often that I follow through with lots of them.  Somehow, the dream and vision are better than the hard work.

Well, let me tell you about some people who, not only are following through, but making a difference.

My friend, Kristin, is part of a group over at Inspired to Action.  They are totally committed to blogging about cares and concerns they have and making others aware of them.  Not only that, but they offer suggestions about what we can do to make a difference.

So, yesterday, they started what is called the 40 Day Fast.  It is Kat’s brainchild and it is a brilliant idea!  This is year two and last year was so successful that more people wanted to get involved.

Each day, someone will fast, pray, and blog about something that has affected them and an organization that they support and are passionate about.  You can read all of their stories, follow along, and be inspired to make a difference.

You can get a list of the bloggers and the days they are writing here.  And, while you are at it, go check out Kristin, Kat, and Inspired to Action and let them know what a great job they are doing and what a difference they are making.

 And, then, go to Brody’s blog and let him know that I finally posted something for his Positive Post Tuesday!!!

 

I’m gonna be a mom!! June 18, 2008

Did that title scare anyone?

Don’t fret.  I am not “having” a baby.  My oldest niece, Sierra, is coming to live with me for a while.  Well, it looks like the month of July.

Can I just tell you that nothing makes me happier!  I can’t wait.

This is what she (on right) has been doing for me for the last two days with her sister, Brooke (left), and a friend, Kira (center).

Is this what having kids is all about?  If so, sign me up!!

Back in the saddle again! June 16, 2008

I wrote this really cool post last night about my trip to Nashville.  Trust me. . . it was awesome.  Then, I went to hit save and it only came back with the title.

Who knows?  I will take full responsibility because of my limited computer knowledge, but I just thought I knew hot to save.  Apparently no.  So, now you get the cliff notes version as I am back, busy at work!

(No smart comments on the fact that I am so busy at work that I have time to write a blog post!)

The first highlight of the trip. . . hanging with Kristin and Brody and their family.  Their family includes Randy, now, so it was nice to finally meet them.  Their kids are so well behaved and it is always fun to catch up with them.  I find myself looking forward to the next time I see them every time I leave!

The second. . . the Grand Ol’ Opry!  I loved that!  I am not this huge country music fan, but the people I went with are.  So, I was along for the ride.  I was so pleasantly surprised.  There is something so nostalgic about that place.  The music was cool. . . Marty Stewart is amazingly talented!!

The funny thing about being at the Opry was this group that performed called the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  They have a mentor, Joe Thompson, that is said to be the last surviving black traditional string player.  How ’bout he lives in Mebane, NC!?!  It was so weird to be sitting there and hear someone mention our hometown. . . tiny little Mebane.  Why don’t I know Joe Thompson??? You should totally check out their music. They were amazing performers!!

Anyways, I am back at work and am finding myself loving Nashville more every time I am there.  I can’t wait until the next adventure!!!

I’m it!! June 15, 2008

OK. . . my friend, Kristin, tagged me.  The idea is that I am supposed to share 10 interesting facts about myself and then pick some people to tag, for the same reason.

The dilemma is that I have friends who, mostly, have no idea what a blog is.  And, they aren’t even interested in mine.  The friends who are won’t follow through with this.

So, I am going to do my part. . . the chain might break with me, though!

1.   I hate feet!  I mean, they completely gross me out.  I put this first because that’s how strongly I feel about them.  I could NEVER give a pedicure.

2.   My college adviser told me I didn’t have a chance of getting into dental school.  TOLD HIM!!

3.   I am totally anal about my refrigerator and pantry.  I don’t keep much food in my house, at all.  But, the food that is there and has a label has to all be facing the same way.  I like the things to be in rows, evenly spaced.  I know. . . I need a hobby.

4.   I cannot stand the word “chunk.”  I won’t eat a salad with ham chunks on it.  I rarely eat chunky peanut butter simply because of the word.

5.   I like Gerber meat sticks.  OK, it’s baby food, I know.  My brother like them, too.

6.   Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny still come to see me.  If you don’t believe, they won’t come.  Maybe that explains the fact that they don’t visit you!

7.   I spent a summer in Mexico and one in Alaska doing dentistry.

8.   I have always said I wanted to adopt a child when I was in my 40’s.  Even when I was little.  All I heard was “That’s just not done.”  It’s not that weird these days, so we will see.  I have 2 more years to think and pray.

9.   I stay up really late at night and then love to catch a 15 minute disco nap in the middle of the day.  Most lunches you can find me napping on the couch in my office.

10.  My washing machine broke about 3 months ago and I have been doing laundry at my office.  My TV broke and I went out the next day and bought one. 

 

OK. . . there you have it.  I had to think hard to come up with 10 facts.  I think I might be pretty boring.  What’s interesting about you?  Share one fact!

Good Times June 11, 2008

8 pairs of shoes, 6 pairs of jeans, 6 tank tops, 7 shirts, 2 pairs of black pants, 3 bathing suits.

Leaving for Nashville tomorrow for 3 days.  Do you think I have enough to wear???

 

1 aunt, 2 nieces

This is the best way to pack for a trip!  I love it when Brooke and Sierra are with me.  Tons of fun!  PRICELESS!!

Small Whisper June 11, 2008

I love reading blogs.  I am learning a ton and getting to know people in a way that, admittedly, is a little weird.  I LOVE THAT!!

One of my favorites is here.  I don’t know Anne but “got to know her” through the Uganda bloggers with Compassion International.  I love hearing a woman’s perspective on life, church, leadership. . . you get the picture.

So, I am reading her blog today and she has this quote from an Erwin McManus podcast:

“We need to reclaim the movement of Jesus Christ - it’s not the place where people are forced to conform and be standardized. But a place where people are seen as unique and find their originality in Jesus Christ. …I think those of us who have been entrusted with followers of Christ must not simply cast vision and call people to it; We must create visional environments where dreams and visions of those who work with us and serve under at times, have their dreams and visions set free and ignited.”

HELLO!!!  That quote hits to the core of my un-settledness for the past 2 years.  And, there is great conversation about it at her blog. . . check it out.

So, today, God spoke to me via a blog.  He is so hip with the technology!!!

Crickets, crickets, crickets. . . June 9, 2008

Is anyone still reading this blog?  I can’t imagine why.  I would love to say that in the time I have been gone I have saved the world, found a cure for cancer, even learned to cook a simple meal.  No such luck.

I have been wrestling.  Not in the sweaty, inappropriate leotard wearing kind of way.  But, really struggling with some things.  I haven’t really been ready to hash all of that out.

This whole “God’s calling on your life” thing has really got me stumped.  I mean, how do you know what that is?  How do you know if you are on the right path?  How do you know if you are totally off base?

I have been praying.  I mean really praying.  Trying to spend time with God and just work on this relationship.  If I am honest. . . it ain’t working.

God is silent.  And, that pretty much stinks.  I mean, haven’t we been taught that if we keep doing these things that we will grow closer to God?  We will understand him more, know him more, feel closer to him.  Well, I know there is no time limit, but I am frustrated.

Has this happened to you?  What did you do?  Any suggestions?