Every Wednesday our church has a program called Snack Time for children from Kindergarten to 5th grade. It's an abbreviated version of Vacation Bible School, with crafts, snacks, singing, bible lessons, games and more. I just heard one little girl running down the stairs yell back to her friends "Hurry up, we're going to miss Snack Time!".
Wednesday night the High School group meets. We've been off the last couple of weeks for a much needed break...on my part anyway. Both weeks I've received a text messages from one of the teenagers asking "Is there youth group tonight?". I talked with his mom this afternoon and she said he was up late last night doing his chores because if he didn't get them done he couldn't come to youth group tonight.
Today I received an email from a friend asking "Is R.A.W. ever coming back?" R.A.W. stands for "Real Authentic Worship" in my world, NOT the Wrestling program on TV but a small group gathering in which we sing, read scripture and pray. Some would call it a worship service but without a sermon. (We're looking at starting back up in October, BTW.)
Right now I'm pondering what makes these things so meaningful to each specific person that they are so excited and eager to return? I'm also wondering if they would be so excited about coming to a worship service on a Sunday morning? Or is there something different about these times, and if there is, what is it? I'm pondering the disconnect between young adults and formal Sunday Morning/Saturday Night Church. I guess this is my day for pondering.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Presbymeme II
Presbyterian Gal tagged me for the Presbymeme II last week when I was on vacation and not really focused on blogging (except for a little storm watching and ranting). But I'm back home and ready to answer the questions! Here's the rules:
No matter where you find yourself, no matter what you are doing, God is calling you to shine where you are. In all situations, shine where you are.
3) If you could have all Presbyterians read just one of your previous posts, what would it be and why?
This one. It talks about one of the issues that I hear about the most in the church (worship music) and my experience with how God can use music to reach us...featuring above named song.
4) What are three PC(USA) flavored blogs you read on a regular basis?
Just three? Presbyterian Gal, Cheesehead in Paradise, and Yeah, but Houdini didn't have these hips. There are a lot more though.
5) If the PC(USA) were a movie, what would it be and why?
This one...
Only 25 words? New (stepmom) vs. Established (mom) and how they figure out how to work together for the good of the the children and how they had to learn from each other in order for each to survive. Maybe it's more my hope for the PC(USA).
Okay so I don't know many who haven't done this meme so I'm gonna say if you are in the PC(USA) and you haven't done this yet consider yourself tagged!
- In about 25 words each, answer the five questions below.
- Tag 3 Presbyterian bloggers and send them a note to let them know they were tagged.
- Be sure to link to this original post.
1) What is your favorite faith-based hymn, song or chorus?
It's a combo Hymn-Praise Song...Take My Life (and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee) with a chorus by Chris Tomlin. Super combo of older and newer.
2) What was the context, content and/or topic of the last sermon that truly touched, convicted, inspired, challenged, comforted and/or otherwise moved you?No matter where you find yourself, no matter what you are doing, God is calling you to shine where you are. In all situations, shine where you are.
3) If you could have all Presbyterians read just one of your previous posts, what would it be and why?
This one. It talks about one of the issues that I hear about the most in the church (worship music) and my experience with how God can use music to reach us...featuring above named song.
4) What are three PC(USA) flavored blogs you read on a regular basis?
Just three? Presbyterian Gal, Cheesehead in Paradise, and Yeah, but Houdini didn't have these hips. There are a lot more though.
5) If the PC(USA) were a movie, what would it be and why?
This one...
Only 25 words? New (stepmom) vs. Established (mom) and how they figure out how to work together for the good of the the children and how they had to learn from each other in order for each to survive. Maybe it's more my hope for the PC(USA).
Okay so I don't know many who haven't done this meme so I'm gonna say if you are in the PC(USA) and you haven't done this yet consider yourself tagged!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Political Ranting
Yo Momma and I are in Oregon getting a little culture this week...just think Shakespeare. We've seen a couple of great plays, eaten at our favorite restaurant, walked through the town, walked through the park, relaxed on our balcony with our books and we've been watching a little news too...which is never a good thing because I get myself all worked up and then Yo Momma has to listen to me steam for awhile. I've been steaming all day though and think maybe it's time to let a little of that steam out...I don't normally talk politics (with anyone outside my family and very close friends) so this may be a once in a blog time thing.
As a citizen of the United States of America who will be voting in the next election, I hope that I will be given all or as much information as possible about any candidate to make an informed and wise decision on my elected officials. I do not care if that candidate is male or female, Caucasian, Hispanic, African American, Asian or of any other ethnic group nor if they are Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green Party, Libertarian or what. I want to know their history, their values, their ideals and dreams. I want to know about their family life, their stance of many different issues and what experience they have had. I want to know what drives them, what makes them tick, what motivates them and most certainly how they may react in a tough situation. Most of all I want to know if they are going to be above board or if they are going to be sneaky and hateful (though I tend to believe that at some level all politicians are sneaky). If any public official has a problem with that then maybe they should rethink their day job.
Okay, rant on political issues now over. Thanks for reading.
As a citizen of the United States of America who will be voting in the next election, I hope that I will be given all or as much information as possible about any candidate to make an informed and wise decision on my elected officials. I do not care if that candidate is male or female, Caucasian, Hispanic, African American, Asian or of any other ethnic group nor if they are Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green Party, Libertarian or what. I want to know their history, their values, their ideals and dreams. I want to know about their family life, their stance of many different issues and what experience they have had. I want to know what drives them, what makes them tick, what motivates them and most certainly how they may react in a tough situation. Most of all I want to know if they are going to be above board or if they are going to be sneaky and hateful (though I tend to believe that at some level all politicians are sneaky). If any public official has a problem with that then maybe they should rethink their day job.
Okay, rant on political issues now over. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Sighs of relief
From the news on the Pearlington Blog there is less damage than originally suspected. Check it out here for yourself http://www,pearlington.blogspot.com
Yo Momma and I were talking today and there are two things we can do right away #1 send clean-up buckets to PDA and #2 start sending gift cards to Ben so that they can buy whatever supplies they need. Lowes or Home Depot. If you want to get one and send it my way I'll combine them all and send them to Ben...any amount is greatly appreciated!
In the meantime I'm going to enjoy my vacation and breathe a little easier...and figure out what my response is to the Presbymeme II that I just got tagged for! Thanks PG! :)
Yo Momma and I were talking today and there are two things we can do right away #1 send clean-up buckets to PDA and #2 start sending gift cards to Ben so that they can buy whatever supplies they need. Lowes or Home Depot. If you want to get one and send it my way I'll combine them all and send them to Ben...any amount is greatly appreciated!
In the meantime I'm going to enjoy my vacation and breathe a little easier...and figure out what my response is to the Presbymeme II that I just got tagged for! Thanks PG! :)
Monday, September 1, 2008
Storm watch Day 1
The news right now is that 100 homes in Pearlington have flooded. I've added a link to the Pearlington blog to my blogroll, so feel free to go there for the most updated information. I'll update when I hear again from Tom.
Watching from the road...
Watching from the road...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Storm watch w/update
It seems ironic to me that I'm sitting today watching the news, praying fervently for those I know in Pearlington and preparing to leave on vacation tomorrow. Three years ago as Hurricane Katrina headed towards the Gulf Coast I was going on vacation. This time, though, I'm will have news access the whole time I'm gone.
Today we've learned that our friends in Pearlington are under a mandatory evacuation notice. This morning I thought of Miss Sandra and the Bailey's who won't leave their homes easily. I thought Mr. Keyes and Ms. Shirley. I thought of the Taylor's and the Wake's and the Earl's. I'm praying for their safety, for their protection and for wisdom in the midst of anxiety and stress.
Last night on the news as the ticker tape scrolled across the screen I saw this: 7000 residents in the Gulf Coast still living in trailers. The residents of the Gulf Coast are still trying to resettle after Katrina, it seems so wrong that they have to brace for Gustav now. Yet as hard as we try we can't stop nature. So I watch, wait and fervently pray.
UPDATE: For those who know Ben and Sue, they've evacuated (Tom's with them) and are concerned about storm surges. The news isn't saying much about anything other than NOLA so I'll update when I hear from Tom again. Pray!
Today we've learned that our friends in Pearlington are under a mandatory evacuation notice. This morning I thought of Miss Sandra and the Bailey's who won't leave their homes easily. I thought Mr. Keyes and Ms. Shirley. I thought of the Taylor's and the Wake's and the Earl's. I'm praying for their safety, for their protection and for wisdom in the midst of anxiety and stress.
Last night on the news as the ticker tape scrolled across the screen I saw this: 7000 residents in the Gulf Coast still living in trailers. The residents of the Gulf Coast are still trying to resettle after Katrina, it seems so wrong that they have to brace for Gustav now. Yet as hard as we try we can't stop nature. So I watch, wait and fervently pray.
UPDATE: For those who know Ben and Sue, they've evacuated (Tom's with them) and are concerned about storm surges. The news isn't saying much about anything other than NOLA so I'll update when I hear from Tom again. Pray!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Remembering and watching
When our team first arrived in Pearlington it was really late at night and dark. We couldn't see much but then we hadn't seen much in the hour it had taken to drive into Pearlington from New Orleans either. We didn't notice the tinkertoy design of the I-10 bridge, we didn't see the apartment buildings on the side of the abandoned or the homes that were destroyed. We didn't notice, not because we weren't looking, but because it was dark, so very dark. There weren't streetlights or lights on in homes. It was dark.
The morning brought a new vision to our eyes. Destruction surrounded us. The boat washed up on land that we'd seen pictures of was in the backyard of the camp we were staying in. That first glimpse of Pearlington 8 months after Hurricane Katrina ripped through is not something I will soon forget. Nor will I forget what it was like to return each of the subsequent trips. It's been humbling to be a small part of the recovery of Pearlington...and frustrating. Each time we go we witness the struggle of rebuilding, for every 5 steps forward it feels like we take 4 steps back but yet there is a constant movement forward.
Last March as we drove from Pearlington back into New Orleans at the end of our 6th trip we saw more signs of life, more streetlights, major work on the I-10 bridge that took it from being right on the water to rising high into the air, more businesses and more cars. I felt truly hopeful as we left, hopeful that someday soon the work would be done and life would return to whatever normal is for the Gulf Coast.
Today, as the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina comes around my heart is a little heavy and I'm feeling a little extra anxious for the Gulf Coast as Gustav begins to pick up steam. While remembering the horror of Katrina, I'm watching the preparations for Gustav and praying desperately that this storm doesn't bring the destruction that all are preparing for, that the hope that has been recently found again will not be lost and that all the work that has gone into making homes on the Gulf Coast more hurricane ready will not be tested this season. Praying for the residents of the Gulf Coast and remembering.
The morning brought a new vision to our eyes. Destruction surrounded us. The boat washed up on land that we'd seen pictures of was in the backyard of the camp we were staying in. That first glimpse of Pearlington 8 months after Hurricane Katrina ripped through is not something I will soon forget. Nor will I forget what it was like to return each of the subsequent trips. It's been humbling to be a small part of the recovery of Pearlington...and frustrating. Each time we go we witness the struggle of rebuilding, for every 5 steps forward it feels like we take 4 steps back but yet there is a constant movement forward.
Last March as we drove from Pearlington back into New Orleans at the end of our 6th trip we saw more signs of life, more streetlights, major work on the I-10 bridge that took it from being right on the water to rising high into the air, more businesses and more cars. I felt truly hopeful as we left, hopeful that someday soon the work would be done and life would return to whatever normal is for the Gulf Coast.
Today, as the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina comes around my heart is a little heavy and I'm feeling a little extra anxious for the Gulf Coast as Gustav begins to pick up steam. While remembering the horror of Katrina, I'm watching the preparations for Gustav and praying desperately that this storm doesn't bring the destruction that all are preparing for, that the hope that has been recently found again will not be lost and that all the work that has gone into making homes on the Gulf Coast more hurricane ready will not be tested this season. Praying for the residents of the Gulf Coast and remembering.
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