This is a great small group starter that my friend Kevin told me about. Everyone shares their high points and low points of the week. I thought I'd use that format for this post.
High Point: I've finished our Federal taxes and created a budget for where that money is going.
Low Point: Our tax return is going toward debt and an emergency fund. No fun money in there. Okay, enough fun money for a few clothing items and a date.
High Point: I was able to spend an entire Saturday with my family. This rarely happens and it was so good.
Low Point: One of my former sunshine students called and was suicidal. She is in pine rest currently. I got to visit her over the weekend, but she's really struggling.
High Point: I went to GEMS last Wednesday and made a pot holder. It's cool. It was fun to use a sewing machine again. We are supposed to bring 2 small gifts for our cooks on the Domincan Republic trip. I'm going to try to make another one of these to bring down.
Low Point: A couple of other friends are really struggling right now. I feel pulled in so many directions this week with my time and who I spend it with. I want to be the one to rescue people much of the time and it's hard to not always be able to do that.
High Point: I got to meet up for lunch with several former co-workers from Sunshine. It was encouraging to hear how God is working in everyone's lives and ministries.
Low Point: Isaac fell at Broomball & cut his lip, which bled all over. He's doing better now, but it's always a bit scary when your child is injured.
High Point: I finally figured out for sure that I'm going to Chicago this weekend to stay with my friend Melissa who had baby Ella about a month ago. Friday I get to meet up with my cousin, Aunt & Uncle and Grandma. None of them have met Isaac yet. Then I'm heading to dinner with several of my college friends who I haven't seen in over a year. Then off to Melissa's. It'll be strange to leave Marc at home, but I'm looking forward to time away.
High Point: It was a great night at Breakaway on Sunday night. We're studying the 10 Commandments this semester and memorizing scripture as we go. It's been a great semester so far!
High Point: I think everyone in our household is healthy again!
High Point: I was thinking on Sunday morning how blessed I am to live in this amazing house. I love living right next to church/work and love having the space to have people live with us. I think one of the gifts God is developing in me is hospitality. Having this space is giving me more opportunity. If only a HGTV show would come makeover our living room. I did post pictures on rate my space hoping we get a horrible rating and they'll take pity on us and come rescue this room!
Anyone else feel like sharing? What were some of your highs and lows for the last week?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Cleaning off the camera card
Auntie Kerri and Isaac on Isaac's birthday.
Isaac tonight with his favorite book "Where's Spot?". He can pick this book out of a pile when you ask him, "Isaac, where's spot?" He loves to flip the little flaps and he shakes his head 'no' when you ask "Is he under the stairs?", "Is he in the piano?". I need to find a few other flap books so I don't get too sick of this one.
My nephews Noah & Levi came over for a sleepover during Christmas break. All 3 of us slept in the living room after a full night of movies, popcorn, and games.
On New Years Eve, we had a reunion of tons of current and former Sunshine Student Ministries people. This is Wendy, my West coast friend who is soon to be a Mid-westerner once again. Yay!
Isaac being Isaac.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
My little man
Isaac knows what a camera is now. He squints his eyes and gives a cheesy grin whenever you point one at him.
Hanging out with Auntie Kerri
Daddy took me sledding for the first time. I think it was about 60 degrees the day after this picture was taken!
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Biggest Loser & faith development
I had the priviledge of going to the Elder meeting tonight to present the work of the Missional Action Team I've been on since last May, and also to be present at the POF for 4 high school boys.
I cannot sit through POF's without crying. Each boy read a statement of what they believe and shared a bit about the spiritual influences in their lives. Each statment had the same core beliefs, but were as different as each individual in how they articulated those beliefs. It is a beautiful thing to hear these boys speak from their heart about their love for the Lord.
One thing disappointed me, however. Pastor Steve asked them the question "What does it mean to be Reformed" and no-one had an answer. I asked the Seniors this same question several weeks ago at a meeting we had, and no-one had an answer then either. This is not only disappointing, but maddening. These boys (and all my students, generally) have been raised in Christian homes, attended Christian schools and have been somewhat active in the life of our CRC church. How have they gotten to their Senior year and their Profession of Faith without gaining some insight into what it means to be a Reformed Christian?
The blame could be placed several places. The school, the church, the students themselves and the parents. I'm sure all have contributed in one way or another to this shameful truth.
I've browsed at the Christian High religion curriculum lately and been completely discouraged by it. One Senior actually said to me last week that it seemed as though many of the religion teachers wern't all that passionate about their faith. I put a little blame here.
Our church doesn't have an active adult education. If the students don't see their parents engaging in continued study of the word, of doctorine and Biblical truths, why should they have to? I believe many of my students parents are truly faithful and passionate followers of the Lord, I see it lived out in their lives, but I fear that doctorine has lost it's place of importance in our faith. How many parents are spending time talking about this stuff in their homes? I put a little blame here.
I'm the youth pastor. This is my problem. And it's a big problem. I take some of the blame.
A youth pastor friend of mine compares faith to the Biggest Loser. He's speaking my language when he uses this show as a metaphor...I'm a bit obsessed. Anyhow, he says that the contestants on the show wouldn't really listen to or trust Bob & Jillian if they were overweight and rarely exercised. They believe them and are inspired by them, because they truly eat, drink and breath fitness. You just look at them and can see they care about their bodies and how they treat them. They are fit.
When my students look at me, do they see someone who eats, drinks and breaths the word of God? Do they trust what I say or do they look at me as an 'overweight, unfit trainer?
I long to know God's word more. I want to devour it, spend hours studying it every day, just like the contestants spend hours a day in the gym.
I can come up with excuse after excuse for why I don't feel like I'm in 'trainer' shape right now. That's what the contestants do for years - that's why they end up on the Biggest Loser. Yikes.
No more excuses.
I cannot sit through POF's without crying. Each boy read a statement of what they believe and shared a bit about the spiritual influences in their lives. Each statment had the same core beliefs, but were as different as each individual in how they articulated those beliefs. It is a beautiful thing to hear these boys speak from their heart about their love for the Lord.
One thing disappointed me, however. Pastor Steve asked them the question "What does it mean to be Reformed" and no-one had an answer. I asked the Seniors this same question several weeks ago at a meeting we had, and no-one had an answer then either. This is not only disappointing, but maddening. These boys (and all my students, generally) have been raised in Christian homes, attended Christian schools and have been somewhat active in the life of our CRC church. How have they gotten to their Senior year and their Profession of Faith without gaining some insight into what it means to be a Reformed Christian?
The blame could be placed several places. The school, the church, the students themselves and the parents. I'm sure all have contributed in one way or another to this shameful truth.
I've browsed at the Christian High religion curriculum lately and been completely discouraged by it. One Senior actually said to me last week that it seemed as though many of the religion teachers wern't all that passionate about their faith. I put a little blame here.
Our church doesn't have an active adult education. If the students don't see their parents engaging in continued study of the word, of doctorine and Biblical truths, why should they have to? I believe many of my students parents are truly faithful and passionate followers of the Lord, I see it lived out in their lives, but I fear that doctorine has lost it's place of importance in our faith. How many parents are spending time talking about this stuff in their homes? I put a little blame here.
I'm the youth pastor. This is my problem. And it's a big problem. I take some of the blame.
A youth pastor friend of mine compares faith to the Biggest Loser. He's speaking my language when he uses this show as a metaphor...I'm a bit obsessed. Anyhow, he says that the contestants on the show wouldn't really listen to or trust Bob & Jillian if they were overweight and rarely exercised. They believe them and are inspired by them, because they truly eat, drink and breath fitness. You just look at them and can see they care about their bodies and how they treat them. They are fit.
When my students look at me, do they see someone who eats, drinks and breaths the word of God? Do they trust what I say or do they look at me as an 'overweight, unfit trainer?
I long to know God's word more. I want to devour it, spend hours studying it every day, just like the contestants spend hours a day in the gym.
I can come up with excuse after excuse for why I don't feel like I'm in 'trainer' shape right now. That's what the contestants do for years - that's why they end up on the Biggest Loser. Yikes.
No more excuses.
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