Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Weekend Recap

It's the Tuesday after the Mockingbird conference.  So much happened in such a small time frame that I'm having trouble digesting it and sharing it.  Old friends, new friends, thought-provoking talks, helpful break-out sessions, and some outstanding food (and clearly drink as well).

With dear old friends.


So I will describe what Mockingbird is in the words of Dr. Paul F. M. Zahl.  Mockingbird as a ministry illustrates the following points on their blog.  We are helpless people in need of a savior.

Paul Zahl


1.  We do the opposite of what we're told.

This is true.  In fact, on Sunday night Alex and I had dinner with a friend and her 27 year old son.  He attended a religious school growing up that included mandatory chapel.  I asked him if he liked going.  He laughed and said "it made me want to go even less."  Direct quote.

It's a human condition (read: rebellion).  That is human nature.

2.  We have a bound will.  We do things we don't want to do.  We can't do what we want.

I want to get up early to read my Bible but I can't get my rear out of bed.  I want to have patience with my daughter at bed time but most often I don't.  I don't want to be short with my husband after a long day, but I can't help myself.  I can't help my selfish self.  I'm helpless when left to my own devices.

And knowing this about myself, I can have compassion for others because they can't help themselves either.  As Paul Zahl said, "you can't have compassion on someone who has a free will."  Do you get that?  Amazing insight.

3.  God speaks to us through the bad junk in our lives and in this world.  He resides in those dark places offering a way forward.

Life doesn't get better, then God shows up.  We don't create a neat, orderly situation and then invite God there.  We don't just have tea parties with God.

You know those feelings of inadequacies, the fear of losing your husband to another woman, the paralyzing situation of not knowing what your supposed to do with your life, that is where God is and that is where he comes to the rescue.

I once heard that "God meets us at the end of our rope."  And "The obstacle is the way forward."

Hey Ethan.  Thanks for posing for me.  The Rangers are winning in the background.


So, that is Mockingbird.  A group of Christian people who believe that we are rebellious, depraved, shackled people who worship a God who meets them in the darkness.  And when you meet God in that darkness, it tastes so sweet.  The embrace is warm and secure.  And light shines.

Check it out, if you haven't already.  Check out Mockingbird's blog.  Next year I plan to be taking some of you with me to NYC.

More dear friends, Mary, Liza, and Aya with our speaker Mark Galli, the senior managing editor of Christianity Today in the foreground.


Monday, March 21, 2011

Monday Morning Inspiration

It's Monday morning which is the the most peaceful time around my house.  I only have my littlest with me.  It's a time for me to regroup from the weekend.  Do some major laundry.  Look at the week ahead.  And of course, blog.

My sister visited us for 5 days and it was splendid.  We went downtown to the butterfly garden and the carousel.  We enjoyed the animals at the zoo--especially the octopus and Gibbon monkeys.  We enjoyed a of outdoor time in beautiful Spring weather.  My sis went to a bridal shower and then church with us.  She consulted with me on my photo editing.  And we watched a lot of nonsense tv at night.  It was lovely and relaxing and we wish it was Spring Break forever and she could stay here longer.

And then, to top off the weekend, Alex and I had the distinct pleasure of dining with some of the most inspiring and encouraging Christian leaders.  For the past year and a half, we've treasured our time with our interim rector (which means senior pastor) who is also our overseeing bishop who is also the retired bishop of South Carolina and his wonderful wife.  Then, yesterday, the archbishop of the Southern Cone came to preach and teach at our church.  And he and his beautiful joined the clergy of the church for a nice dinner at the rectory.  (Anglicans/Episcopalians have bishops.)

And it was inspiring because this wonderful Chilean couple is leading a so many South Americans to Jesus.  They are planting churches like crazy.  They are leading the mission field.  I shared with them about my time in Bolivia.  I spoke some Spanish.  And asked them a lot of questions.  And yet to be in a such a gathering, it was not pretentious.  It was normal.  And bad jokes were told and people laughed and talked about movies.

I was inspired to continue to reach out to my neighbors.  To continue to be a missionary in my neighborhood and in my church.  A global perspective is so healthy.  I'm just a tiny tool in a giant project.

And to top off all this inspiration which is "beyond inspiring" which is what I told Alex this morning who is keeping a tally of how many times I say "beyond" because it's a little annoying and I agree... is the story of Anthony Robles.  The NCAA national champion for the 125 pound category Anthony Robles.  He is the best wrestler in our nation at that weight today and he was born with 1 leg.

It reminds me of a camp t-shirt I received in high school.  On the front is an image of a river winding through rocks and reeds.  On the back it says The impeded river is the one that sings.


I had no idea what that meant at 14 but I liked it because I loved canoeing at camp.  It's like the lyrics of Amazing Grace.  Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.  As a teenager I thought about this phrase and didn't get it.

But now as a 29 year old, I'm starting to understand both of those more.  The impeded river is the one that sings.  Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.

Congratulations to Anthony Robles.  You are an inspiration to me!

What a great way to begin a week.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Inspiration

My love for Mumford and Sons continues.  Eloise can carry a really nice tune and sings phrases of their songs all the time.  When they use the f-word, we just say "mess" so no need to worry there.  I can can no longer go without printing their lyrics here.  But where do I start?  


Let's start with track #1.


Sigh No More
Serve God love me and men
This is not the end
Live unbruised we are friends
And I'm sorry
I'm sorry

Sigh no more, no more
One foot in sea, one on shore
My heart was never pure
You know me
You know me

And man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing

Love that will not betray you,
dismay you or enslave you
It will set you free
Be more like the man 
you were made to be.
There is a design,
An alignment to cry,
At my heart you see,
The beauty of love
as it was made to be

I've been lacking in inspiration lately when it comes to the blog.  What to write when our routine is becoming too predictable.  There isn't much to say when I'm just putting one foot in front of the other going through life.

But right now, my husband came home and then promptly took the children to our neighbor's house to see all their wild animals.  And I've been given a window of time to listen to M&S, upload some new photos, and tell you that I'm dreaming a lot about photography.  I'm reading some good books, developing and refining a vision, and hoping to take some gorgeous photos of many of you this Spring and Summer.  (I'm always confused as to whether Spring and Summer are supposed to be capitalized.  And I'm too lazy to look it up.  I always capitalize them because they play important roles in my life and I love the different seasons so much.  I'm a Christian.  Don't worry.  No mother earth worship here.  Just lovin' on the seasons.)


Serve God love me and men
This is not the end
Live unbruised we are friends
And I'm sorry
I'm sorry

Sigh no more, no more
One foot in sea, one on shore
My heart was never pure
You know me
You know me



And man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing



Love that will not betray you,
dismay you or enslave you
It will set you free
Be more like the man 
you were made to be.
There is a design,
An alignment to cry,
At my heart you see,
The beauty of love
as it was made to be


It's Lent, you might know.  And it's such a great time to get back in touch with our divided natures.  The self that wants to do good but can't or doesn't.  And then to remember that blood was shed so that we can be freed by a pure love that does not enslave.  A love that frees us from the evil inside that ensnares and traps and destroys.

And that's inspiring to me.