Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Bedroom Move!
So we made the leap and moved bedrooms. Ryan and Andi (no, not Sparkie, too) are sharing a room ...
(yes, they each have their own bed, but Ryan had dresser drawers on his bed the first night)
Leigha is now safe and sound in her own room with a lowered mattress
She's sleeping better not just at night, but at supper, too!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Prayer Walk to Change ... ME
Our church had a prayer walk tonight to the park in our "neighborhood." This is several blocks around our church building we have claimed as our main outreach. I really like how our church leaders want to "serve" our neighbors, not "evangelize" them.
The prayer walk tonight showed me what a divide there is between our mostly-white congregation and our mostly-black neighborhood. I see the racial divide and it makes me sad. Until our two communities are integrated, both respecting and loving the other (and most of the change needs to come from us) we will never fully see God's vision for our community.
On a different note...Leigha learned a new trick tonight!
The prayer walk tonight showed me what a divide there is between our mostly-white congregation and our mostly-black neighborhood. I see the racial divide and it makes me sad. Until our two communities are integrated, both respecting and loving the other (and most of the change needs to come from us) we will never fully see God's vision for our community.
On a different note...Leigha learned a new trick tonight!
We'll be lowering her mattress tomorrow!!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
WCA Leadership Summit
The last two days I was at the Willow Creek Association's Leadership Summit. I was at one of the satellite locations - Community Christian Church in Naperville.
I heard Bill Hybels speak for the first time in my life and I just have to say - I have heard a lot of people - probably some of you reading my blog - say that the reason Willow Creek has seen that level of growth is because they water down the gospel. Well, let me say first hand - either Bill Hybels is a REALLY good actor, or he is the most Spirit-filled, Truth-speaking pastor I know.
I also heard from Gary Haugen, founder of the International Justice Mission. His organization rescues victims all over the world from oppression like slavery, child prostitution, and police brutality. He left his law career to fight for these victims and challenged us that we are God's plan for ending injustice, something God cares infinitely about!
Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, shared her story of seeing the injustice of the school system in America during college. Lower income schools had a higher drop out rate and fewer than 5% of students coming from those schools graduated college. She realized it wasn't for the reasons we assume (lack of parental involvement, environment), but that these students were not challenged and given the opportunity to excel. Her organization challenges recent college grads to teach in low income schools for two years, which not only improves these schools but encourages the teachers to fight for better schools the rest of their life.
John Burke, lead pastor a Gateway Church in Austin, TX, founded a church that loves people exactly where they are, but challenges them with the Truth of Christ. Get this - they don't believe it's their job to convert people or make them leave their sinful lives. That's God's job - they just love people (why doesn't every church look at it that way??)
The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN, lead by Efram Smith (one of the funniest guys I've heard speak and by far the coolest), is an inter-city church that strives to cross multi-cultural lines to heal our communities and look more like the body of Christ should. They use Hip Hop music and dance in their service, which I have to say would be a great change from an orchestra every now and then!!!
Chatherine Rohr, founder of Prison Entrepreneurship Program in Texas, left her corporate job, cashed out her 401k, and moved to Texas to teach inmates about creating business plans, finding resources, and giving back to the community they have been taking from for so long. Instead of the traditional 50+% of inmates that return to prison, less than 10% of her graduates return. Instead they start jobs and share their new faith in Christ with their community!
In the closing session, Billy Hybels recounted the life of Mother Theresa, who left her life of comfort to help the lowest caste group in Calcutta. She was faithful in small ways, so God used her in big ways. She wasn't looking for fame, she was committed to giving God her all and "denying him nothing."
The general theme through these speaker's lives was this: God has placed a unique passion on each of our lives - some for prisoners, our neighbors, inter-city schools. All of these passions are God's plan for healing this broken world, fighting injustice, spreading His love.
If my greatest passion is organizing my Pieces of Flair board on Facebook, I need to reevaluate my connectedness to Christ. I must surrender my all - life, family, Flair board, career and be willing to go where ever God leads me to whomever he sends me.
"God, bring it on!" must be my prayer and I must waste no time responding to his call. I haven't done this well in the past. I have failed due to fear, pride, and a multitude of other things. But I can't live my life for me anymore. I've tried - and it's boring.
This world has nothing for me! Following Jesus up the mountain, along the trail he has laid out for me is the only adventure worth pursuing! I can't wait to see what is over this first hill!
I heard Bill Hybels speak for the first time in my life and I just have to say - I have heard a lot of people - probably some of you reading my blog - say that the reason Willow Creek has seen that level of growth is because they water down the gospel. Well, let me say first hand - either Bill Hybels is a REALLY good actor, or he is the most Spirit-filled, Truth-speaking pastor I know.
I also heard from Gary Haugen, founder of the International Justice Mission. His organization rescues victims all over the world from oppression like slavery, child prostitution, and police brutality. He left his law career to fight for these victims and challenged us that we are God's plan for ending injustice, something God cares infinitely about!
Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, shared her story of seeing the injustice of the school system in America during college. Lower income schools had a higher drop out rate and fewer than 5% of students coming from those schools graduated college. She realized it wasn't for the reasons we assume (lack of parental involvement, environment), but that these students were not challenged and given the opportunity to excel. Her organization challenges recent college grads to teach in low income schools for two years, which not only improves these schools but encourages the teachers to fight for better schools the rest of their life.
John Burke, lead pastor a Gateway Church in Austin, TX, founded a church that loves people exactly where they are, but challenges them with the Truth of Christ. Get this - they don't believe it's their job to convert people or make them leave their sinful lives. That's God's job - they just love people (why doesn't every church look at it that way??)
The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN, lead by Efram Smith (one of the funniest guys I've heard speak and by far the coolest), is an inter-city church that strives to cross multi-cultural lines to heal our communities and look more like the body of Christ should. They use Hip Hop music and dance in their service, which I have to say would be a great change from an orchestra every now and then!!!
Chatherine Rohr, founder of Prison Entrepreneurship Program in Texas, left her corporate job, cashed out her 401k, and moved to Texas to teach inmates about creating business plans, finding resources, and giving back to the community they have been taking from for so long. Instead of the traditional 50+% of inmates that return to prison, less than 10% of her graduates return. Instead they start jobs and share their new faith in Christ with their community!
In the closing session, Billy Hybels recounted the life of Mother Theresa, who left her life of comfort to help the lowest caste group in Calcutta. She was faithful in small ways, so God used her in big ways. She wasn't looking for fame, she was committed to giving God her all and "denying him nothing."
The general theme through these speaker's lives was this: God has placed a unique passion on each of our lives - some for prisoners, our neighbors, inter-city schools. All of these passions are God's plan for healing this broken world, fighting injustice, spreading His love.
If my greatest passion is organizing my Pieces of Flair board on Facebook, I need to reevaluate my connectedness to Christ. I must surrender my all - life, family, Flair board, career and be willing to go where ever God leads me to whomever he sends me.
"God, bring it on!" must be my prayer and I must waste no time responding to his call. I haven't done this well in the past. I have failed due to fear, pride, and a multitude of other things. But I can't live my life for me anymore. I've tried - and it's boring.
This world has nothing for me! Following Jesus up the mountain, along the trail he has laid out for me is the only adventure worth pursuing! I can't wait to see what is over this first hill!
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