Friday Five: Seasons Change...

Reverend Mother over at RevGalBlogPals laid down the challenge for the Friday five; It's Labor Day weekend here in the United States, also known as Summer's Last Hurrah. So let's say goodbye to summer and hello to the autumn. (People in other climes, feel free to adapt as needed.)

1. Share a highlight from this summer. (If you please, don't just say "our vacation to the Canadian Rockies." Give us a little detail or image. Help us live vicariously through you!)

It was on our vacation to the Smokies. It was after the long climb up Clingman's Dome with the kids. It had taken a lot of effort to the top. The kids had complained the whole way up, even though we had taken rest stops. We got to the top, and what a view from the top of the observation tower. It was a beautiful clear day to be able to really see the Smokies. It was worth the walk up. Unbelievable, Awesome moment. The kids were excitedly chattering and, looking from one side to the other. While I had vertigo at the top, and set down to enjoy the view. (Thought you would like that last part.) All the way down the mountain the kids were chattering about the view, the scenery. MC and VISA can't pay for that, and no money can buy that.

2. Are you glad to see this summer end? Why or why not? What end to Summer are you talking about? It is still hot as hades here and will be for awhile. I will however be glad when it is finally over to enjoy a little respite from this unbearable heat.

3. Name one or two things you're looking forward to this fall.
I am looking forward to an end to this unbearable heat. I am looking forward to the changing of the colors. I am looking forward to being able to be outdoors more.

4. Do you have any special preparations or activities to mark the transition from one season to another? (Cleaning of house, putting away summer clothes, one last trip to the beach) Hadn't thought about that one. Mmm, usually it is going through the kid's summer clothes, culling them out and beginning to get more of their fall school clothes out. But I suspect they will be wearing their summer clothes for awhile.

5.
I'll know that fall is really here when the spiders are out making their spider webs that I walk through on our trail, the leaves begin to change, its not so hot, there is a little more breeze in the air, plus everything in the church cranks up, all the conference reports are due, and I have my yearly evaluation.

Here is my bonus; Last night SEC football was on TV, LSU beat Miss. St.;that means college football is here and that means Fall is here! Yea. (I'll just pretend it isn't as hot as it is.) (Just so nobody is mad at me; Louisville won big time, Rutgers crushed their opponent and Boise State was unstoppable.)(Monday is the Bowden Bowl, FSU vs. Clemson. Saturday's big games are Georgia Tech at Notre Dame and No. 15 Tennessee at No. 12 Cal. While around here the big question is this, can Alabama, Crimson Tide do any better under its new Coach, Saban and will they beat Auburn this year? Second, will Auburn win its opener against Kansas St? And in my backyard the question is will the UNA Lions continue their winning ways? One more thing Virginia Tech plays its opening game this weekend, it will be quite different this year after last year's shootings. Okay enough football.)

Ministerial Integrity Workshop

I just spent 2 and 1/2 days in training on Ministerial Integrity in Birmingham, AL. I was training to be a trainer and presenter on our conference Ministerial Integrity Team. We were fortunate to be taught by Marie Fortune and her colleague Luis A. Carriere from Faith Trust Institute. Perhaps you have read some of their books, seen their videos and materials due to your denomination or conference teaching Ministerial Integrity. I have already been through our conference education twice now or more. I also taught the material for South GA and SAL/ West Florida UMC conferences in the late 80's and 90's. At that time there were a large number of suits happening in different denominations and conferences that led them to do something about it.

It is sad that even today there are cases of betrayal of trust by clergy and other church staff. But being aware that the church is one of the places people who are perpetrators use to get to their victims is important knowledge. Marie also said that now that Clergy have been educated and that there are guidelines, that they are seeing clergy who cross the boundaries and their excuse is that the rules don't apply to them. So now there are savvy offenders abusing their power and position. It is an issue that continues to plague the church, a place that is suppose to be safe, and a place of trust.

We reviewed the North Alabama policy and procedures as well. Marie says that we are on the right track. I think you can have the right stuff in place, but it is also in the implementation of the policy and procedures. The Bishop we have now has a policy of one strike and your out, whereas that has not always been the case. And initially I think some of the action on the conference's part was to protect the conference and the institution, not the victim(s). But I do see a change in that. I hope we get better and better at this.

I am not even go into the Roman Catholic thing, that's a whole other ball of wax, that could take pages to write about. It is enough to look at our own situation and seek to do the right thing in our churches and our denominations. I believe we have a biblical and theological mandate to do so.

One of the things the Ministerial Integrity workshop does is also have you look at how you are taking care of yourself or how are you not taking care of yourself, as that can become a set up for burnout and then acting without thinking. Although, I am doing a pretty good job taking care of myself according to my score, there are some areas I can work on, and I know it. For five years I was isolated as a female clergy person from peers. I try to keep good boundaries and not make laity my friends, yes I am friendly though. I worked hard at seeing people, friends in other places. I am now in a somewhat isolating situation again, and it reminds me I have to work just as hard at taking care of my relationship needs as before. During the past few days I was sitting with and conversing with some of my peers and realized I need to be intentional as I can to get with them. One of the things I shared at the workshop was how important revgalblogpals had become to me and the relationships I had made with people I connect with through the internet. Marie and Luis affirmed that and said that that is a lot of what our present generation was doing.

If you ever get the opportunity to hear or learn from Marie Fortune, all I can say is take the time. And if you want to learn more, read articles, get information and be inspired you can go to their website Faith Trust Institute. It is a wealth of knowledge.

Anne Lamott & her recent book

I love the book discussion group that happens once a month at RevGalBlogPals. It has challenged me to read some books that I might otherwise miss. I had the privilege to host the recent discussion on Anne Lamott's book Grace (Eventually) Thoughts on Faith. It was the first of her books to read. I liked it so much I bought the other two; Traveling Mercies:Some Thoughts on Faith, and Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. I plan to read her others that she has written as well.

Lamott has an interesting way of saying things and writing.

"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Traveling Mercies

"Laughter is carbonated holiness." (Plan B)

"I wish grace and healing were more abracadabra kinds of things," she writes, "that delicate silver bells would ring to announce grace's arrival. But no, it's clog and slog and scotch, on the floor, in silence, in the dark." Grace (Eventually)

"There is not much truth being told in the world. There never was. This has proven to be a major disappointment to some of us." Grace(Eventually)

What she does write about in these series is about her recovery, her parenting, her faith, and God's grace. Now don't we need to hear about that more with such honesty and realism. Some of what she writes will make you uncomfortable, it did me. But perhaps we need to be a little uncomfortable.

I invite you to go over to RevGalBlogPals and read the book discussion that is going on over there about this book. And go get the book and read it.

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edifying Friday five

Sally at revgalblogpals sets the pace for this Friday Five: "I have spent the week at Summer School studying the Gospel and Western culture, we have looked at art, literature, music, film and popular culture in their myriad expressions. With that in mind I bring you the cultural Friday 5."

Name a

1. Book I'm thinking, I'm reading

2. Piece of music good music, it doesn't matter if its country, rock and roll or classical as long as it is well done.

3. Work of art I love art, I am moved by art, I am using art now as a way to pray.

4. Film I am a visual person, and I like films.

5. Unusual engagement with popular culture: Dance, tattoos, body art and cine'poems

That have helped/ challenged you on your spiritual journey.

Bonus: Is engagement essential to your Christian faith, how and why? Engagement? I have to be engaged? I have to engage myself? I have to allow myself to be engaged? Be in the world but not of the world? Get out of my Christian bubble?
I am having trouble writing this, as I am trying to multitask at the same time. Sorry I wasn't more specific.

On a sadder note of news items

Christianity Today also reported at its

Weblog: Juanita Bynum 'Battered' by Bishop-Husband Outside Hotel

1. No charges filed in fight between prominent preacher couple
Juanita Bynum is one of the most prominent female preachers in America. Her husband, Thomas W. Weeks III, founded a series of churches called Global Destiny. The two married in 2002 in a televised ceremony; her ring famously sported a 7.76-carat diamond. But the couple has apparently been in for a rough patch lately,and they met at an Atlanta hotel to try to reconcile. It apparently didn't go well. At 4 a.m., the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, a physical fight broke out and a bellman had to pull Weeks off of Bynum. "She was bruised up and battered," a police officer told the paper. "She had purple bruising around her neck and upper torso." No charges have been filed against Weeks, the paper reports. (Associated Press) carried a report too.

I don't know either one of them, but it does say to me it doesn't matter if you are a Christian or a Preacher, you can have problems too, and you can be the abuser or the abused. The Atlanta Constitution now says that charges have been charged by Bynum against Weeks.

It has been sad to watch and read the unraveling of Michael Vick's life and career. It has made me sick to know about his involvement in Dog Fighting.

ow New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury defended Michael Vick, calling dogfighting a sport and comparing it to hunting. Marbury spoke Monday about the federal dogfighting conspiracy charges against Vick while promoting his basketball shoe in Albany, N.Y. "I think it's tough," Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9. "I think, you know, we don't say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors." On Monday, Vick said through a lawyer that he will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. He also faces possible prosecution in Virginia. "I think it's tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down," Marbury said. "I think he's one of the superb athletes, and he's a good human being. I just think that he fell into a bad situation."

Uh Stephon, Hello, it is not a sport, it is a crime. It and cruel to the dogs. Don't you watch Animal Planet and their Animal Cops?

Haven't you seen them rescue dogs who were being trained to be fight dogs? And don't you know that there is a strong connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence. Rethink your position Mr. Marbury, go out on a call with the Humane Society and find out the truth. I know you are standing up for Michael Vick, but you are standing on the wrong reason. And frankly we didn't break him down, he did it to himself and allowed himself to make the choices he made and to be with the group he was with. I went and looked it up, dogfighting is a felony in Alabama.

Here is a hard working Female Pastor

I could not believe my eyes when checking out Christianity Today, that they had an article on a Female Pastor and her churches, plus that she is United Methodist.

But here is some of the article and the link to it.
I admire this woman!
And kudos to Christianity Today for carrying this article.

After the Fire
A Methodist pastor and her two congregations discover hope amid the ashes of adversity.
By Ken Walker

After experiencing events during the past year that are best described as miraculous, Methodist minister Julia Bolling knows something about the power of prayer.

Bolling, who also works as a part-time hospital chaplain, serves a United Methodist church in Huntington, West Virginia, and another in Glenwood, about 20 miles northeast of Huntington. After conducting Sunday-morning services at Guyandotte United Methodist, she leads evening worship at Glenwood United Methodist. With fewer than 15 members in June of 2006, the latter congregation was already struggling. Then a fire gutted the sanctuary.

Investigators believed the blaze was the result of arson. But what seemed like a death knell sparked a series of developments that are leading to renewal within this country congregation.

Miracles keep coming

All these events have encouraged Pastor Bolling, who has been in her two-church position since June of 2004.

"The congregation at Glenwood has taught me a lot," she says. "They have accepted this tragedy. They're puzzled, confused, and hurt, but they're not angry. They said, 'We've got to pray for whoever did this.'

"It has brought everyone in the church together. It has brought the whole community together."

I have not had to minister to a church that has experienced this kind of tragedy. I have heard good and bad things can come from things like this. The church I attended while in Seminary burned a couple of years after I had been gone. It was arson. It was really a hard time for the church.

We have a church in our district, that burned. It has been a struggle. Then we also have a church in the South West District that burned and seems to be handling things well. Of course we are also notorious for the two young Birmingham Southern (A fine United Methodist College) Students who burned churches in rural areas and have been sentenced this year.

I can only imagine what it is like for these church members and for their Pastor to make their way through after the fire. I would think it is possible, but difficult.

Interestingly enough, I did not find one news item at the UMC.org website nor the West Virginia Conference website about these churches and their Pastor.

Not ticks, but chiggers

To follow up with the tiny tick story, I have been meaning to write this, and other posts. I meant to play the friday five and didn't. I have had a lot of meant toos, and get around to its as well. However we had a death that took place that took lots of my time with the family and the situation.

I got all the tiny ticks off that day. Bob went out and mowed the path. Since that day I have been wearing long pants and my hiking boots. They seem to be attracted to light clothing and shoes. Bob did find one tick on him the next day. But you know what I found later, was chiggers. I have chiggers from that walk, all up and down my legs. I am miserable from the itching and the tiny bumps. Been using a lot of benedryl and steriod cream. It is starting to feel better.

But the chigger bites got me thinking of things that get "under my skin". I read where the chigger doesn't actually get under your skin, rather they attach and inject a fluid into the tissue which dissolves it. The fluid injection causes welts to appear which may last for two weeks, and some people are very allergic to the fluid. But none the less, it does feel like something has gotten under your skin, and you can't get it to stop itching. I have to live with these welts for 2 weeks? yuck. I haven't had chigger bites in a long time. Oh well.

But it got me started thinking about though the things I let get me "under my skin". You know what I mean, things people say or do. My kids know how to get under my skin quicker than anything. I also let people who say they are going to do things and then don't get under my skin. I let those who know something that needs to be done, and then put it off hoping some one else will do it get under my skin. Next thing I know I got a lot of things bothering me, causing me to itch and be uncomfortable. I wish I didn't let people's words and actions get under my skin so much, but they do.

I have been trying to practice that principle of letting them go to God and and letting their behavior and actions go to God and not let them bother me so much. And I have been trying to practice the principle of not worrying so much about these things and how will they get done, and when will they get done, and will I have to do it myself. It is very hard to do. But I think it also involves the principle of speaking up about the behavior and the effect it has on persons, me and others. Saying it in a way that states that, and letting it go.

Some people exhibit an allergic reaction to the fluid of the chigger which may result in severe swelling, itching, and fever. I think some of my "allergic reaction" to people who get under my skin is related to some of my issues I have not finished working through and am presently working on in therapy. I often have what is called post traumatic reactions to things, and it takes me awhile to sort through all my feelings and reaction. I am working on these things so I don't have such allergic reactions. I can't really tell you what all I am doing presentl y but it involves some body work, journaling, art, meditation, imagery. Yes, that is work and time and energy, but it is time, work and energy well spent.

Many years ago, when I was dating my husband and we were getting closer, my parents were coming for a visit and to meet Bob. Well, the day before they got there I had the worse case of hives. I had not had them up until that time. I was so anxious about their visit and their meeting Bob that it got under my skin, and my nerves went into overtime work. Needless to say I got through it, and the hives went away. But one of the things I was having to do at that time with my parents were setting boundaries, healthy ones. As I have set healthy boundaries with them, I have been able to set healthy boundaries with myself and others.

I just thought I had to be a wide open person, and give people anything they wanted or needed. And that I had to put up with whatever people did or said. I don't. Healthy boundaries are a part of not letting people get under my skin. Perhaps I am now in a time of setting healthy boundaries for myself in some different places in my life.

Tiny Ticks

I was going to write more about my books I am reading, but this came to me this morning as stirring something in my soul .

Bob and I have been making a concerted effort to get out and walk everyday in the woods behind our house. We do as soon as he comes back from dropping the kids off at school, before the heat becomes unbearable. We take the dogs cause they love it too. When we come back we look for ticks. Monday I had one on my leg, but not Tuesday. Today though I kept feeling something crawling on my legs, but couldn't find it. Finally I saw little dots appear on my shorts, and realized they were little tiny baby ticks, some call them invisible ticks. I ran got a credit card to scrape them off.

Now I am not good at making metaphors or similes, but it made me think of the little things I let pile up in my room, my office, my house, until they are big mounds of stuff to clean up. And this led me to think of the little things I ignore in my own life, my emotions, my spiritual life, my habits, that eventually pile up and get the best of me. And get between me and God, me and my relationships, me and myself. I then have to go through and do a thorough house cleaning. Instead if I had taken care of the little thing in the first place, I wouldn't have to be putting major energy and time out on the this huge pile of junk, clutter, weeds, mess whatever you want to call it. If I had spent that time in prayer and meditation to begin with. If I had not eaten the first bite. If I had acknowledged and dealt with a problem, conflict, anger in the first place.....

I am not a disciplined orderly person, it takes me work to be one, but I have realized over the years it pays to be one. I won't be able to get all these ticks the first time, but they certainly they have my attention and I'll be on guard for them. I remember one time two of our dogs got loose and ran away into the woods for almost a week. Finally found them, they were covered in burrs, ticks, fleas, you name it, and stunk to high heaven. It took us forever to get all the present stuff off of them, and then to get the ones that kept cropping up later as well.

I am now going to get these little baby ticks off to the best of my ability, so I don't have a bigger mess later. I am not going to take my first bite, I will spend time in prayer and meditation this morning, I will pay attention to my feelings and acknowledge and deal with them as needed. Just for today...so I am not having to clean up a bigger mess later.

Monday doings

• Got the title to my Honda Odyssey today, its now officially paid off. No more big car payments. Now will it last. I really put the mileage on it while living in Wadley. It will have to last, I am not buying a new car for awhile. I don't seem to be putting as much mileage on it these days. But most of all, thank God it is paid off.
  

• Kids are really enjoying being back in school, can you believe it? The girls already have homework, but not Zach yet. He was jealous that he didn't have homework. Bob tried to explain it to him, that it will come soon enough. Katy goes around singing "I am happy, I love my school. I love my teacher. I love my desk. Happy happy Katy." Kara just cannot say her teacher's name yet, but she'll get it. Zachary thinks that his teacher is beautiful and wants to marry her.

• Our one day VBS is over. It was a great success. The kids had a great time. In fact everybody had a great time. I am not sure if the adults had more fun or the kids. We had a big water slide out front for the kids to slide on at the end of the day. It was a sight to be hold and in fact cars were slowing down to get a look. We agreed it was good PR. I think we are going to do it this way again. We have all been talking about what a fun good time we all had getting ready and doing it. In fact I used it in my sermon Sunday. They did a great job. We had men and women working it. And we had a good group of kid, especially the older age group. Yea!
  

• Sunday I preached on Passionate Spirituality from the NCD eight characteristics of a healthy growing church. In the end people came up and were talking about the sermon. Like I said I talked about how God was in the planning, the day of VBS. People were grinning while I was preaching. The Grand niece of two of our members came and played violin for our special music. She listens to U Tube, teachers herself the piece and then plays it. What a gift, and she is only 11. She did a great job.

• One of the revgals talked about de accumulating from their library books they were no longer using. I really need to do that. I still have some from college and seminary days. But it seems like in the major changes in ministry in the last couple of years, I have bought a lot of new books. I can't keep up. I am slowly finishing ones I have bought and planned to read like, "They Love Jesus, but not the church". I really like that book, it has inspired me more to try to get out of my "Christian Bubble" into meeting people who are not church goers. I read "The Secret Life of Bees" which I also really liked. It got me looking for the Black Madonnas. It is interesting the different ones and different theories surrounding them. I am about to finish "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Berg. I like the eat part in Italy, although I would probably gain more weight than she did eating like she did. I had trouble reading about her time in India, its foreign to my world. I am just getting started with her time in Indonesia. But I had to remind myself she was in a time of seeking. But a lot of what I read these days are about NCD, trying to understand it, and how to implement the findings for our church.

• Last but not least, my back has been giving me fits for about a week. Lots of Ibprophen, heat, massages, and stretching. It gets better, and then starts back. I don't know what I did, but this is for the birds. I told one of the church members, if it doesn't get better this week, I am going to go see the chiropractor. I am walking around like a stoved up ole woman. My kids even told me I was old the other day. Thanks kids.

Well thats all the news from Lake Wilson, where all the women are really good looking, the men are too, and the kids are really above average!

The Friday Five: Busting the stress rocks!

I loved this picture that Sally put up for the Friday Five over at RGBP's, so I borrowed it. And this is what she offered:
I am off to spend a few days at the beach chilling out after a hectic few weeks and before I head off for Summer School...

So with that in mind this weeks questions are looking at how you deal with the stress monster!!!???

1. First, and before we start busting stress, what causes you the most stress, is it big things or the small stuff ? Both, The little things pile up and get too big, and the big things are always big. But in a way it is my perspective of these things and what is inside of me that gets triggered, whether I am negative to myself or get into "stinkin thinkin" as I call it or haven't been spending time with God.

2. Exercise or chocolate for stress busting ( or maybe something else) ? How about reading a book, taking a hot bath, talking with someone who cares, prayer and meditation.

3.What is your favorite music to chill out to? Anything that says rest and relaxation, but sometimes something to dance to as well sets me free.

4. Where do you go to chill? Mountains and/or beach.

5. Extrovert or introvert, do you relax at a party, or do you prefer a solitary walk? You know in my maturity, (I was going to say Old Age,) I have grown to appreciate both.

Bonus- share your favorite stress busting tip! Hot bath with soothing oils or bath salt, a book, a drink, can be cold or hot, some nice music and NO KIDS! (I don't do candles, have burnt myself or the cats too many times.) My really favorite was that we had a hot tub at our former house in Columbus, and we would go out at night and get in it and relax. Waah I need I want my hot tub back!!

Let us know in comments if you play and we'll trek on over. Sure why not come on over and relax. I'll run purchase a portable hot tub to use. ("Now where is that money to pay for it?" "Oh I can put it on credit, you say." "What and give myself more stress? No Way!)

Wedding pictures as promised

This is the mother of the bride in blue and the future mother of two brides to be in the green, me.

This is the father of the flowergirls, can you believe it, he can still wear his suit that he got married in. Not Fair! Not fair at all!

Here are the darling flowergirls of mine..... aren't they just beautiful! And they did so good in the wedding. They stood up there so solemly and turned their little baskets upside down emptying every last one of the flower petals on the floor. But isn't that what they were suppose to do with the flower petals?

Were having a heat wave....

Today the weather channel, and my google weather bar are flashing warnings about a major heat wave in our area. I didn't know we were ever out of one. But this one is apparently worse.

...A HEAT WAVE COULD BECOME MORE DANGEROUS DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS...

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REACH NEAR OR AROUND 100 DEGREES EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY. SOME LOCATIONS MAY REACH TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES...ESPECIALLY ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. WITH HUMIDITY ADDED IN...HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 104 TO 108...POSSIBLY EXCEEDING DANGEROUS LEVELS AROUND 110 DEGREES. ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING HEAT STRESS FACTOR WILL BE LIMITED NIGHTTIME RECOVERY COOLING EACH NIGHT...WITH LOWS ONLY IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS.

Well we live in an Urban area.

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST THE HEAT BY LIMITING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. SLOW DOWN IF YOU MUST BE OUTSIDE...AND TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS WHICH INCLUDE PLENTY OF WATER.

TARGET GROUPS ARE ATHLETES...OUTDOOR LABORERS...THE ELDERLY...AND YOUNG CHILDREN. HOWEVER...ANYONE CAN BE AFFLICTED BY HEAT EXHAUSTION.

BE AWARE OF SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION... AND IF YOU FEEL ANY SYMPTOMS...STOP IMMEDIATELY AND FIND A COOL PLACE TO REST. ALSO REMEMBER TO PROVIDE EXTRA WATER AND A SHADY PLACE FOR PETS.

I am glad they added that part about pets. I sent my pet (Hubby) out to mow the yard this morning since this warning was made. I didn't want him to suffer heat exhaustion. I have a church member who didn't pay attention to the heat nor the symptoms and became very sick. He since has had a lot of problems, and can't do the kind of work he like to do. So please pay attention and be careful out there. I guess if the kids go out at all it will be to play in the pool. I guess our pets will mainly be staying inside. I guess I'll do my walking early in the morning or at the gym.

So a word of advise, be careful out there if you go out at all.

I bloggeth something

Yea, verily there comes in ones life a time when they just cannot bloggeth.
They sit with hands poised on the keyboard, but no words come forth, no meaningful thoughts, no funny happenings. Thou then step away from the computer to think about it, eat something, drink something, pray, clean up the bathroom, play with your kids, hoping that the word will come.

Sometimes writing sermons are like that, the first words, thoughts, feelings just don't come. It is a struggle to come up what to write or say. you feel like the Holy Spirit has failed your or the connection is not there. So you readjust yourself, try to reconnect if the connection is down, and hope you come up with what will sound meaningful.

But there is something different. The blogging world are people I don't see face to face. The people who read our blogs are not people we know.

So I force myself to bloggeth something. So I bloggeth that we are back down in the area where I served as Pastor for five years. My girls are flower girls for their former baby sitter who is getting married. My girs are so excited, my boy is jealous. The wedding is not in the church I preached at, but the church the groom is a member of, it is bigger. I am not the officiant, its Baptist, his pastor is officiating. I get to sit and participate. It feels funny to be back here after a year. Can't say why exactly, but I'll write about it later.

Sweat Work of Love

Building a new playground at church takes work, and lots of people. Its called Sweat Work of Love, especially on days like today when it is so hot you can fry eggs on the sidewalk.


It all began when I first moved here. A member of the church was sitting with the kids at church while Bob and I went to something, can't remember what. The kids had gone out to play on the then Swing set. Apparently one of the kids got hurt on it. As the church member investigated, it was loose parts on the slide. We tried to fix it and couldn't. The church member suggested it might need to be torn down. I was a bit hesitant being the new Pastor at the church. So I told her she needed to follow the Methodist way of going to the trustees who would then discuss it and then bring it before the Admin. Council. Way somehow or another the head trustee gave the person permission to tear it down without getting Admin Council approval. The next thing I know the husband and grandson were tearing it down. He told me it was full of dry rot, and holes from wood bees. I got him to save the accessories because they were okay. That would be one less thing we would have to pay for when we rebuilt it. Now you need to know this set got lots of wear and tear. We have a community basketball league and a school league that plays in our gymn, CLC center. And the kids get out there and play and play. We have this little courtyard area that it is set in, and there is a little memory garden in it too. This same couple said they would pay for a new playground if it was moved out of the courtyard over to the side of the church where there is this big open area.


Believe it or not it took us until this summer to get the new playground going, and it has evolved. We moved over the older metal swing set, put up a fence. Then someone donated another metal swing set. But the plans were to replace the wooden swing set. So we began looking and pricing. Those things are expensive these days! But hubby found one at Sam's he thought was a good one at a decent price. And guess what we got enough money to buy it to start building it. So now we are in the process of building the swing set. My hubby has taken it upon himself as a project. He bought it, got a trailer to haul it back on from our neighbor. But he forgot to get people there to meet him to unload it. (He thinks he can do it alone, that was what he had to do growing up.) But there were five boxes, three of which were over 200 pounds, one over 150 and one at 35. I helped with the 35 and the 150. I told him that he needed to start calling to get a man there to help him. After calling a bunch of the men he was able to get one man there to help him. IN the meantime, I had the idea of taking the boards out of the heavy ones until they were light enough to pull them off the trailer. Which I might say worked.


Well, now everyday, Bob and some of the men are over there working on the boards. Its a lot of work. A lot of Sweat work of love. Now people when they drive by see the new playground, instead of not being able to see it. My hope they can see that we love children and we care about children. And that they see these men at work for the Lord.


Here's what the new swing set will look like when it is done. I'll get pictures of the whole playground and post them.

What its Friday Five already?

Sally says; When I began work here at Downham Market a wise friend told me that after one year I would see a few changes and sense God at work- years two and three would cause me to question and to wonder why I had chosen to accept the post here and in year four I might see the beginnings of something new.And so with that in mind alongside yesterdays celebrations I bring you Friday 5 Looking back, looking forward..

1. Share a moment/ time of real encouragement in your journey of faith Gosh, when I look back there have been lots of times of lots of encouragement in my journey of faith. I have been so fortunate that God has sent people my way to encourage me just when I was ready to turn away. I would have to say the biggest time was after two years of Invitro Fertilization and 2 failed pregnancies, I was devastated, depressed, and angry with God. This went on for some time. The encouragement I received? It came from those who walked with me, never saying much, but stayed with me. In the most recent years, it was the closest I have come to saying the H*** with God, with Christianity and with church. But since that time, I have known God's presence in a deep place in my soul. I pray I can be as encouraging for others. Thank you friends, and Thank you God.
2. Do you have a current vision / dream for your work/ family/ministry? Yes, I have a vision of helping this church grow as we work through Natural Church Development. This vision came to me before we actually started, but it all fits together in God's beautiful way. For my family I dream we can go back to China when the children are older and can appreciate it more. And that this visit helps them in their maturing and dealing with their adoptions. I pray that when Bob and I retire we can have some time together.
3.Money is no object and so you will..... Go to China, take a year off, go to the Holy Land, back to Germany and England, see some of the places I have not gotten to see but dreamed of, and then have time to write a book from the experiences. And then get invited on the speaking tour like the big dogs.
4. How do you see your way through the disappointments? What keeps you going? I have struggled most of my life with depression; besides medication, my husband, friends, therapist, supervisor, spritual mentor, and friends have held me up when I couldn't hold myself up. Faith, without a doubt faith in what I cannot always see ahead of me. Letting myself have and feel my feelings.
5. How important are your roots? Roots? What roots? I am one of those mix breed white anglo saxon and no telling where it all came from. I am often proud of being oh 4th generation Floridan, of course, I don't live there anymore. I am proud of my Eastman heritage, but someone lost the book with all the lines and family tree, so I don't know what all is there. So I am not hung up on it. I think my kids roots of being from China is important. I think it is going to hurt them to not find their biological parents, I pray that we have laid the groundwork for them to deal with their feelings, and that we remain supportive and accepting as well.

6. Bonus= what would you like to add ? This was a good Friday five. I think what I would add is to ask does any one need encouragement presently in their life?

I don't belong to the only true church

I had read in the news what the Pope had said about Christianity, and just let it slide right through my mind. I have had a lot on my mind as of recent, and a lot has slid through. But yesterday I read over at reverend mother her thoughts, and it reminded me about it again.

If you haven't read it; Catholic Church only true church.

Ya know, you think you are making progress on communion with the RCC, and you get told they are the only true church. (What are we fake churches?)

It says although Orthodox churches are true churches, they are defective because they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope. and then "It follows that these separated churches and communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation," (Whoops, I guess I am not saved either.)

The document adds that Protestant denominations — called Christian Communities born out of the Reformation — are not true churches, but ecclesial communities. (Just what are those?)

"These ecclesial communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood … cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called 'churches' in the proper sense," it said. (But we practice the sacraments.)

Reverend mother suggests they use the following Marketing Slogan. How’s this for a marketing slogan:

Christianity: Answering Questions Nobody’s Asking Anymore

Over the past 5 years the Methodist church has been in dialogs with the Catholic Church, and issued a report on these meetings called "Through Divine Love: The Church in Each Place and All Places." It said we have some parallels with the Catholic. (I guess we actually live in parallel universes.)

Thanks for reverend mother's comments, so what do you think?

I don't know how to say this, but I'll just say it, I don't believe in the Pope, I believe in Jesus.
And if that means I don't belong to the only true church, or not a Christian, than so be it. I'll just keep believing in and following Jesus to the best of my ability.

I just don't think it is about denominations anyway or even non denominational status.

What I get concerned about is how these kind of things are not a witness to God's love.

But as reverend mother said, she is moving on, and I am too. I am moving on to continue to share God's love with others.

Being involved in Natural Church Development.

I haven't blogged about this yet. But St. John voted to go through the Natural Church Development Process a good while back. We had someone come introduce the process to us. One of the things you do is get 30 people together and the Pastor do a survey on the church. We did our survey right before the Annual Conference meeting in June, so we waited until afterwards to send it in to get it scored. Then I was gone on vacation. So last Sunday we had a meeting with our Coach to go over our results. I also began a sermon series on Natural Church Development and the 8 Characteristics. Our meeting was well attended, and we had a good discussion on our strengths and our weak point. Now the leaders are sitting with the results and praying over it and what step to take next. I have also set aside Fridays as a day of prayer for the church with the sanctuary open to come by and pray, I have also provided prayer guides to give us focus.

The more I read about the process the more I learn, the more empowering it is.

So I am praying that whatever I am doing that is blockage to God's natural Growth forces, will be removed. And I am praying for God's growth forces to be released in our church. It is interesting, several of the leaders have already come forward with some creative ideas of steps to take to work on our weak point. And I am encouraging them to do them. Even before we got the results, we were already beginning to address some things we realized were missing in the church.

If you want to know more about Natural Church Development, you can go here. I am very proud of our leaders for being willing to go through the process, and how they are handling things so far. Change is hard as you know.

Friday Five: Harry Potter who else?

Friday, July 13, 2007

Friday Five: Wotcher, Harry! ...or not
(Don't miss the big news in the post below! Mark your calendars!)As you may have seen in this Wednesday's Festival, Pottermania has hit the RevGals---though not all of them. Yes, I am all over Harry like a Seeker on the Snitch, but I know there are others who will be ecstatic to see the July madness end.

So today's F5 is a Choose Your Own Adventure: do the magical version or the Muggle one, or both:Option 1: Accio Friday Five!

1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why? I have to chose, really? Seriously? You got to be joking.

2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know?

I would imagine I am like Rubeus Hagrid. I would like to get to know Harry of course.

3. How careful are you about spoilers?a) bring 'em on--even if I know the destination, the journey's still goodb) eh, I'd rather not know what happens, but I'm not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slipc) I will sequester myself in a geodesic dome to avoid finding anything out You know, I can handle them or prefer not to have them. I don't really like it when I am told the ending.

4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7.5. Rowling has said she's not planning any prequels or sequels, but are there characters or storylines (past or future) that you would like to see pursued? I certainly hope she isn't done. I mean doesn't she want to get another million or so, and then she can buy England instead of just being richer than the Queen. If she were to do this, I would love to see a story about pre Harry, about his parents, etc. or Harry gets married to Sally, whoops, I have the wrong movie.

Option 2: Please Mommy, Anything But Those Blankety-Blank Books! And we do mean anything: I haven't heard that one yet, mine love books.

1. Former U.S. First Lady "Lady Bird" Johnson died this week. In honor of her love of the land and the environment, share your favorite flower or wildflower. Yes, lets honor her, I like the small little wild purple violets. They are so dainty.

2. A man flew almost 200 miles in a lawn chair, held aloft by helium balloons. Share something zany you'd like to try someday. Not that, but maybe fly in a glider, does that count?

3. Do you have an iPhone? If not, would you want one? No and no.

4. Speaking of which, Blendtec Blenders put an iPhone in one of their super-duper blenders as part of their "Will It Blend?" series. What would YOU like to see ground up, whizzed up or otherwise pulverized in a blender? I seriously would like to see parts of the Discipline and the Itinerate system and the hierarchy and all the commissions, and structures we have up above us in the Methodist Church, but don't ask me what I would do after that.

5. According to News of the Weird, a jury in Weld County, Colo., declined to hold Kathleen Ensz accountable for leaving a flier containing her dog's droppings on the doorstep of U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, apparently agreeing with Ensz that she was merely exercising free speech. What do you think? Is doggy doo-doo protected by the First Amendment? Most definitely, especially in a case like that, and a few other nameless ones.

Home Sweet Home

We are home, after a long trip back from Tenn. Drove most of the way back in good rain. Thank you Lord for the rain, you know we have been so dry. Now spare those states taht are flooding from continued down pours.

I want to thank the Martins for taking care of our animals while we were gone. And thank you to our neighbor for mowing our front yard too. And the house wasn't bad at all.

The kids were tired and went to bed to early, and here I am still up catching up on email and blogging while I can.

We had a great vacation. The last full day there we played more putt putt which the kids really liked. Good thing the Resort had one of their own you could play for free. And we took them to the petting zoo. Now that was really a blast, and the kids didn't want to leave. When I asked them which ones they like the best, they said, they liked them all. Got to talking to the caretaker, and learned a lot more about their story and how they take care of the animals. It was obvious they were taken care of.

The kids want to go back to Tenn. soon. I do too. They will be a little older and will be able to do more hikes.

Friday Five:Hasty Edition

Reverend Mother offers the following at Revgalblogpals: Whoops! I have been in a family-induced haze these few days, with the July 4 holiday and taking time off while relatives are visiting. So I literally lost track of what day it was!So rather than make you guys wait even one minute longer for the five, I'll dig up an oldie:

Today, what are you:

1. Wearing Colorful Polo shirt, khaki shorts, crocs.

2. Reading The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd; They Like the Jesus, but Not the Church, Dan Kimball: Natural Church Development and The Implementation Guide, Schwartz.

3. Eating Pizza, Dark chocolate Mms and anything that is good for a long road trip.

4. Doing Traveling back from our vacation to home, it is a long trip, so I am also trying to keep the kids from getting too bored.

5. Pondering How bad is the house going to be when we get home? Will these kids ever stop arguing? And how will I write my sermon for Sunday?