Some Days Are Diamonds

Maybe you've heard the expression: "Some days are diamonds, some days are rust". Yesterday turned into a Diamond Day unexpectedly at our weekly church staff meeting.

Those of you in bloggie-land who have ever had the responsibility of recruiting Sunday School teachers know that it can be a slippery business. You get two and you lose one. Someone moves, someone's schedule changes--you know the drill. Just when you think you have all your teachers in place you're looking for someone else. We thought we had all the classes covered for the new Sunday School year that starts this Sunday when we lost one of the preschool teachers a week ago. Praying and scratching our heads on the CE committee had not yielded any inspiration, so I mentioned the need in staff meeting.

Two hours later I got a call from one of the pastors to say that his wife had been wanting to get more involved with the children and when he mentioned this need to her she stepped up to fill it. Now we are all set--for the moment. Halleluijah!

But that's not all. The Bible in 90 Days classes need TV/DVD players. (There is a short presentation shown each week in the class that puts the previous week's readings in perspective). As I went through the list of when and where each class meets in order to get the moving of the a/v equipment on the custodian's schedule, we all realized that we were coming up short in the TV department.

Not to worry, one of the staff called her husband who runs a warehouse for his company and often has scratched equipment on hand. Not only did he have two 27 inch TV's but he also had the heavy-duty wheeled carts (which, friends, cost more than the TV's). He is donating them to the church. Problem solved.

Yesterday one 10 day old prayer was answered and one prayer that I hadn't had time to pray was answered. It's so easy to overlook the blessings that come to us. I needed to acknowledge that yesterday was a Diamond Day--praise God!

That Explains A Lot!

This is too good: apparently if you translate "Jedi Council" into Chinese and then back into English, it comes out as "Presbyterian Church. Check it out here.

Thanks go out to John and Jeff the Baptist for the link.

90 for 90 and Counting

Here are the towers of ninety Bibles that are sitting in my office waiting for the start of our Bible in 90 Days groups in two weeks. I'm still getting commitments, so another order is on the way. Where will I put them?

What a great way to kick off the 20th anniversary celebration of our church!

Apologies for the Previous Link--UPDATE HERE'S THE LINK

UPDATE: AUG.18-- One of my readers sent me a link to the article referred to below and in the previous post that does NOT require registration or subscription.

Here it is. Many thanks, J2!

A commenter pointed out that the link in my previous post about the Lakewood Church requires a subscription to view. I didn't copy and save the article linked because when I viewed it and linked it in the post there was no problem reading the entire article without registration or subscription. They must change that free viewing after a certain period of time.

I don't link articles that require registration without a warning. I never came across a site that required a subscription, but I'm sure it's not unique. I'm sorry about that and will try to avoid it in the future.

British view of Lakewood Church

Thanks to Will Spotts who sent me an interesting viewpoint from the United Kingdom on all things Lakewood. The British author of the piece attended the Oasis of Love this weekend, described his experience and interviewed Joel Osteen.

Something I didn't know: they use dry ice to enhance the worship atmosphere. Something I'd heard before: the songs described as "Jesus is my boyfriend" music. Something I will hear again: there are SO many people attending.

We're going to continue to hear a lot about the phenomenon of Lakewood Church.

Moderating the Webring

I've agreed to be the regular Wednesday moderator of the RevGalBlogPals webring. The RevGals have their own blog and several of us have agreed to take turns doing a "highlights" or "best of the ring". We now have 45 members of the webring, so it takes some time to check all the blogs and pick a few to highlight.

Since one of the moderators is out of town today, I agreed to cover for her. If you're interested in checking out the post and the webring blog (which has our merchandise on it!) here is the link.

Life Lessons from What Not to Wear

Babs is an avid fan of The Learning Channel's What Not To Wear. She watches as many episodes as she can and while she has been living at home this summer she has had me join her. I confess that I love it, too. It may be a guilty pleasure because it focuses on improving the outward appearance of its subjects. But invariably those chosen reflect that the outward change boosted their self-confidence, self-esteem and sometimes helped them embrace changes in their lives.

Unlike shows like Extreme Makeover, or the many plastic surgery shows on the cable channel, WNTW focuses on enhancing the person, not remaking them into someone else. There are no nose jobs, tooth capping, liposuction, chin and cheek implants, etc. Just new clothes, hair styling and maybe color, and direction on choosing styles and colors that work for the life and preferences of the subject.

One of the things I really like about the show is that the two "stylists", Stacey and Clinton, take the time to study the lifestyle of their chosen subject and then discuss it with them before making recommendations. There have been many shows featuring young mothers who spend more time on their children than themselves. Stacey and Clinton tell them that they are important, too, and help them change their style in realistic ways. They always consider the work requirements and the style preferences of their subjects and point out ways they can look better within that context.

They try to understand the individual first and then help them second. Stacey and Clinton don't try to make the mom into a high fashion model. They don't try to turn the casual clothes lover or a young punk rocker into a tailored preppy. Often they are psychologists, helping people accept the inevitable changes in life. That thirty year old woman still dressing like a pre-teen for example. The young man still wearing that collection of ragged college fraternity t-shirts several years later in an executive type business enviornment. Those who are overweight are urged to self-acceptance. One of their standard pep talks is that whether or not you lose weight in the future you deserve to look and feel your best right now, in the present moment.

We want to think that we can change our lives for the better--and isn't that the promise of the Christian faith? We often try to change others: our family members, our friends, and our co-workers. We want to make them over into something more pleasing to us without respecting their individuality and needs. Our "make over" impulse would be better directed in loving others more than loving our need to change them.

Who knew? The Golden Rule of Jesus observed in What Not To Wear.

Finding Jesus On My Plate Department

Jesus just keeps popping up the oddest places! This time his image was found on a pierogi (Polish dumpling).

The woman who cooked the pierogi is now selling it on ebay.

I hear the person who bought the Jesus grilled cheese sandwich on ebay is bidding for this. Building a Jesus-themed food collection?

PUP Won't Make Ordination Recommendations

The Presbyterian Outlook is reporting today that the Theological Task Force for Peace, Unity and Purity will not take a position on ordination of non-celibate homosexuals. The link is here for those who want to read the Outlook's story.

The Task Force draft states that it "was not asked to take a position on human sexuality or ordination and we have not attempted to do so". However, your average member in the pew who may have been following the work of the group was certainly not under that impression. Most expected a recommendation on this controversial subject from the group.

The Outlook says that the PUP will issue draft recommendations but they won't be forthcoming until after their last meeting August 24-25. We will have to wait until then to see what they have in mind.

St. Cassarole had a post and a number of comments on the work of the PUP yesterday which are worth reading if you are interested.

Windows: Style vs. Function

I'm home this morning listening to the din of workmen replacing the windows that rotted in our kitchen and utility room. The windows rotted because they are wood windows and wood rots quickly in our hot, humid, wet climate. When my great-grandparents built their first home in deepest east Texas, it was made of cypress which does not rot. You cannot buy cypress today--I guess the swamps it grew in have disappeared and it can't be successfully cultivated.

Our house is about 20 years old. When it was built all the houses in the neighborhood sported wood windows because they were considered to be the most desirable in appearance. There are still neighborhoods that require wood windows in the homes, through zoning or neighborhood deed restrictions. In those neighborhoods you are forced to replace the rotten windows with windows that you know will soon rot also. Fortunately that is not the case for us. We can put in metal windows, and we are: window by window by window around the house. If I planned to try to sell the house I'd have to make them all match. But since we plan to stay indefinitely, we're taking our time and stretching out the cost.

Wooden windows seem like a metaphor for things that we insist on having because we think they are stylish or chic--but that aren't practical or functional. Things like three inch heels (I just made a trip to Nordstrom's shoe department yesterday with Babs), teeny-tiny purses that you can't get your wallet into, tile floors that look pretty but give you shin splints, white carpet in the children's playroom and on the stairs, and tv/dvd/satellite remotes that look like the deck of an aircraft carrier and require an engineering degree to decipher.

So out with the stylish rotten windows and in with the waterproof "quotidian" ones! If El Jefe had his way no house in our part of the world would have any exterior wood--it would all be brick, metal, plastic or hardee plank. Not too stylish but way functional.

The Importance of Being a "Martha"

I've come to believe in the Field of Dreams adage, with a twist--instead of "if you build it, they will come", "if you feed them they will come." There is so much in the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, that emphasizes the importance of sharing food in community.

In the Old Testament the laws that restrict the sharing of food to those who are part of the Covenant People sets the Jewish people apart and makes them distinctive for their observance of the kosher dietary laws. The community becomes defined by the foods consumed and the way in which they are prepared. Food becomes symbolic of the religious and historical experience of the people in the Passover meal.

In the New Testament, Christ multiplies the loaves and fishes and turns the water into wine at a wedding. He is depicted in the Gospels eating and drinking with his friends and followers and is criticized for it. He directed the disciples at the Last Supper to remember Him by continuing to gather together for meals--breaking the bread and sharing the wine.

As summer is ebbing away, we are planning for the resumption of our regular programs and activities at the church. A glance at the calendar for the coming months shows a number of events that involve sharing food together. One of the great strengths of the Alpha program is the inclusion of a shared meal as an integral part of the group meeting time. I have wanted to see us offer a regular opportunity for shared meals together with group study and discussion even when Alpha was not in session.

Now one of our young "Marthas" has stepped forward to offer to take responsibility for making that happen. It's a very big job, but a rewarding one. I am convinced that one of the most important spiritual gifts is the gift of hospitality and that it is often underrated--maybe because it is still seen as "women's work." Without that gift we would be poor indeed. Thanks, "Martha."

Traveling Mercies Granted

Discovery landed safely this morning in California. I posted "Traveling Mercies" when it lifted off and talked about my friend C., the rocket scientist/chair of the Christian Education Committee, whose engineering team was in charge of the safety measures for this mission.

Thanks be to God for answering my prayer for the safe return of the crew. Congratulations to C. and her team for a job well-done!

The Apologetics of Bono

I wrote this post about the U2 leader Bono for Locusts and Honey today.

Ah, School Days

It sure seems too early for school to start. Tonight our church school has its first open house for parents and children to "meet the teacher" and find their new classroom for the year. Our school follows the local public school calendar, so despite the fact that the Texas legislature passed a law this spring saying that public schools could not begin until AFTER Labor Day, they also allowed school districts to apply for "exemption" from this. You guessed it--most districts were granted the exemption. You've really got to watch those pesky loopholes!

One of the changes we will see is shorter Thanksgiving and spring breaks--that's so school will be over by the first of June and still meet the required number of days. A couple of years ago the local school district had a week long Thanksgiving break, a "winter" break of nearly a month, and about 10 days spring break.

When I was growing up in south Texas, no one would have dreamed of having school begin in August, because none of the schools were air conditioned. Much of September had some of the hottest days of the year. Each classroom had one or more very large floor fans that droned in the background, making for very sleepy afternoons.

Pushing school terms earlier and earlier into August and later and later into June seems to be part of the "hurried child" syndrome of our society. Yes, yes, I know the rejoinder: we no longer are an agricultural society that needs a summer break so the children can work the fields, blah blah blah. And I do remember when I was happy to see school start because I welcomed the return of the school routine for me and the girls.

But we pressure children constantly so that every spare moment is filled with study, practices, classes, arranged playdates etc. Something is wrong, people, when mothers keep day-planners for their three year olds. Somehow that seems tied in to the compressing of summer vacation to me.

A Calvinist Among the Arminians

I've agreed to a gig as "guest blogger" on Locusts and Honey this next week for John, who is moving to Orlando to begin his seminary studies. John was one of the first bloggers I became acquainted with when I became interested in the blogosphere, and he has offered me advice, help and encouragement along the way. Joel Thomas, a Methodist Minister in Wales will be the other guest blogger if technical issues get resolved.

John is well-known in the faith-based blogosphere for his Methodist Metablogging Weekly Round-ups and his profiles of Methodist bloggers such as our own fellow member of the RevGalBlogPals webring Reverend Mommy (a/k/a Theresa Coleman). So what is he thinking, inviting a Calvinist to address all those Arminians? Seriously, I was flattered to be invited to post to his readers.

But here is the challenge: since John posts every day (and sometimes more than once), I want to keep his blog current with something fresh everyday. It will help if Joel is able to post as well! At the same time, I want to keep up my own blog with different material.

Dear RevGalBlogPals and other gentle readers, if you have suggestions I'd love to hear them. I do plan to do a post about our webring, because I am sure that some of John's readers would be interested in checking it out. It should be an interesting week, at the end of which I may be all blogged out!

Response to March of the Penguins

Blessed are you, O Lord Our God, King of the Universe, that Thou has Not Made Me a Penguin.

For Lo, the penguin parents march 70 miles several times to mate, incubate the egg and nurture the chick in temperatures averaging minus 58 degrees F. And further, lo, at the end of this 9 month cycle, their chick is grown and the parents part from him and each other and then, instead of happily retiring and awaiting the blessing of grand-chicks, MUST START THE WHOLE THING ALL OVER AGAIN UNTIL THEY DIE.

Verily, if thou thinkest that man's life is full of sound and fury signifying nothing, then consider the penguin and count your blessings.

Gratuitous advice: If you go see this movie (which has amazing photography), wear long pants and take a sweater. Trust me -- you'll be glad you did after viewing blizzards, ice and snow for an hour and a half in an overcooled theatre.

Movement Against Moving Time

If you want to join the Movement Against Moving Time ( see previous post), here's the plan:

For Republicans--write your congressperson/senator with the message that no real conservative would support this type of meddling in the time of the people and you expect to see their name on a bill to reverse this indefensible statute.

For Democrats--write with the message that only those in thrall to special interests and without any concern for working families and the children would fail to join in sponsoring a bill to restore our time.

For Independents and Libertarians--write and tell your elected representatives that they can't tell you what time it is.

For Right-Wing Evangelicals--write and tell them that they are courting Divine Wrath by trying to meddle with God's creation of night and day.

For Progressive Christians-- object to the legislation on the grounds that it is not inclusive and
caters to the materialistic ambitions of the First World by prolonging the working day.

For Anyone Else Not Included--write your own objection here : ___________________.

Thanks to the Movement Against Moving Time, we really CAN all get along!

Which Biblical Plague are you?

This is SO NOT ME--I'm going to take it again and cheat. Thanks to John at Locusts and Honey for the tip.

Ladies who lunch but in a good way

For decades the Presbyterian Women organization reigned supreme in the old UPUCSA, PCUS and then the reunion church of today, the PCUSA. PW was based on a model using small groups called circles that met monthly for Bible study and fellowship in homes or at churches at different times. All women members of a church were deemed members of PW whether or not they joined a circle and could attend periodic meetings of the entire group. My grandmother was a faithful member of PW in the church in which I grew up. My mother wasn't, but she wasn't a joiner of groups of any kind.

In the last 30 years the PW organization has declined even more than the PCUSA. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that its model no longer fit the needs of the younger women of the church. In my own congregation, PW dissolved a number of years ago because no new leadership could be found. The two circle groups we had at the time still meet but operate as small groups and there is no overarching PW organization.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the chartering of our church in October, one of the young women in the church approached me with the idea that it was time to plan a luncheon for the women of the church to celebrate the anniversary together. As the number of small groups grew in the church, she felt that many women felt disconnected and isolated--especially those who work during the week. It is time to see if another type of women's group can be formed that can offer fellowship and mutual support, inspiration and strengthening of faith, and outreach to the community. The Lunch would be a chance to try it out, and to invite friends and family to join us.

It must be another inspired idea. Everyone we asked to help was eager to sign on. Everyone we have talked to is enthusiastic about attending. Now we have a group meeting who have chosen an inspirational speaker, a date, a place and a time for the luncheon. We are including a mission component in the price of admission (your $ plus one nice used outfit for the area Thrift Shop supported by our church).

There are a lot of jokes in the Bayou City about the Ladies Who Lunch. We want to plan an event so we can be the Ladies Who Lunch But In a Good Way. Does your church have a women's organization other than PW (or equivalent denominational group), and if so how is it organized and what does it do?

Daylight Savings Perfidy

While we weren't looking, Congress passed legislation extending Daylight Savings Time. Now it will begin in March and go through Halloween "so kids can trick-or-treat one hour longer in daylight."

Red state, blue state, Democrat, Republican, Independent, conservative evangelical or liberal "progressive" Christian, Jew, Muslim or Hindu--can we please all agree that Congress should quit meddling with our time?

It will probably require an amendment to the Constitution:
"Congress shall make no laws changing the time of the states."

Who's with me?