Yesterday I went to a training for people who work with kids in childcare settings...usually these trainings feature one BIG BANG workshop, and several very lame workshops. This one was on par for the course. When I went I had to choose between a track of workshops, each of which featured one workshop I was interested in and the rest that made me want to sleep reading them. So I skirted the system. When I went to the first workshop, which was o.k., the teacher did not have an updated list of who was supposed to be there. Afterwards I went and got a list of all the different tracks with their workshop titles, descriptions, and locations. I mixed and matched the rest of the day. Some of the things I learned were:
* Ways to deal with autistic children (many apparently love m & m's and will do anything for one; yes, just one)
* That arts and crafts are not for me
* That supposedly, and I don't agree, 5th graders love games with sight words. Sight words include words like do, sit, go, seat, stop, and many other basics. The woman who led this has a preschool background - I think she was way out of her league. Her game ideas included sight words, tracing objects on paper, and putting on music and dancing to it. A waste of time it was, yes.
* Team building...in a nutshell, putting a diaper on a baby doll without looking while tied to another person also not looking who is supposed to help does something miraculous for your staff. I'm not sure how, or what.
The BIG BANG at this training I think was the lunch - turkey sandwich on a croissant (mmmmm), sunchips, and grandma's cookies.
Since I lost my copy of "Organic God" I needed a new book; I went and bought Josh Harris's "Stop Dating the Church". It seems like a book that really applies to me as I've never completely settled down to a church and been committed to just them. I've always been head over heels at first, then the wonder wears off and I find myself pointing out "her faults" to people. Hopefully this book will help bring about some positive change in me.
As of like Thursday I can't take my Robbie Seay Band cd out of my cd player, and my mom cannot take her Randy Travis cd out of her's. Mine: because I really like the cd and want to listen to it over and over; my mom: because she broke the cd player and now can only listen to that cd.
And lastly, I went to Lifechurch.tv in Hendersonville again Saturday night. The power went out right before the service. I'm going again Sunday morning instead of to College Heights Baptist Church in Gallatin, my usual Sunday morning adventure. They still attempted to have church, we watched music videos and Dave Ramsey's message on a laptop. I actually wouldn't go again this morning except that now my brother wants to go (cause i've been going on about how much I like that church). I didn't put my offering in the plate cause, frankly, I couldn't see it. Hopefully today, with daylight available and all, I can.
The people there are really nice and seem to really love Jesus; i'm pretty sure by looking at them that they are people who would not be welcomed into greeter and leadership roles at many evangelical-like churches...the spiked hair, multi-colored dye do's, piercings, plugs, tattoos, and lots of black t-shirts and blue jeans. I do imagine that these people would make excellent disciples had Jesus chosen his incarnation for 1975. They don't really fit in with the religious folks, but their passion for following Him and ability to relate to anyone (not just hollisters) is appealing. I also don't think that their mansions and mercedes would get in the way of their devotion to Christ, since (as far as I can tell) these people are not spending much time in mansions and mercedes.
By the way, I think it's funny to hear pastors at churches talk about reaching out to people no matter what they look like. Yet whenever I see those same pastors out at lunch or somewhere else during the week, they're always with the same people. People with medium level to high level incomes who give lots of money to their church, dress like them, and love to play golf.
I hate golf, so needless to say i've never been to lunch with my pastor back home. I do have a medium level income, but don't give a lot of it to my church (just a menial amount by most standards).
After you read this (Jesse!)...
READ - Ephesians chapter 1.
LISTEN TO - Robbie Seay Band, anyone song...but if you download a specific one I would recommend Love Wins or Beautiful, Scandalous Night.
CHECK OUT - www.servolution.org
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Who steals a book about God?
During my break today I managed to (finally) get my laundry done. I understand that this is nothing extraordinary, but I had been putting it off. I think the last time I did my laundry was 3 weeks ago. In times like that you learn what your fashion limits are - and I have none. I wore every clean article of clothing I could find until I decided to stop holding out on my dirty clothes. If truth be told, I only did finally wash my clothes mainly because I was on my last pair of underwear (and sort of cause I had no other plans for my break).
While my clothes were washing/drying I read Margaret Feinberg's book "Organic God". It is really good and I read like 70 pages in that hour. Stupid me puts the book on a table, folds my clothes, loads them up in my car, then drives away - minus the book. I go back a few hours later and the book is gone. I would like to be able to say that I hope whoever took the book gets a lot out of it and draws really close to God through it, but i'm a HUGE grudge holder....maybe in a couple weeks i'll be able to wish the person well (maybe after they reimburse me the $15 the book cost).
Did I mention my brother's paycheck, that I was supposed to cash for him, was inside the book - and already signed on the back? Good thing it was only for a measly $4. As best I can tell by that amout he must have worked approximately 20 minutes (give or take a few). How someone works (or why someone would work) only 20 minutes in a week i'll never know. Now that I think about it, I think I know a few people who only work 20 minutes per week - but they get paid for 30-40 hours. Scammers.
Then I return to work and find out horrible news - one of the kids that goes to a school that is served by my Y for before and after school programs has had his dad pass away. The kid doesn't actually participate in our programs, but I know who he is because I see him everyday at morning arrival (of which I help with). I was feeling bad already upon hearing that his dad passed away (no details), then it got worse when I read the story in the newspaper when I got home tonight.
At 2:30 in the morning, no one knows why, the guy goes the wrong way on the interstate (only minutes from his house) and collides head on into another vehicle, killing himself and the other car's driver. Police are not sure why he left home and headed the wrong way down the interstate. The kid's name is Logan, he's in 1st grade...I don't even know what to petition God for on the kid's behalf, i'm at a loss. What do you say to a child who has to deal with something like that? And what do I say to God about a situation like that? I feel bad praying the usuals: "help his family deal with this", "use this for good", etc.; I suspect that my prayers fall way short of what is needed for those families.
I got a good reminder today of that age old instruction to "keep your eye on the prize". Unfortunately it wasn't a symbolic gesture, or anything internal; I walked into a metal pole while looking the other way. I have a big bump on my forehead and I broke my glasses. I'm required by law to wear my glasses while I drive, and more importantly I need my glasses to see the score of March Madness games this weekend. If I had walked into the pole for even the slightest of good reasons I wouldn't feel so bad (a beautiful woman, memorizing a license plate after a hit and run, or something of that sort). I was looking at a lunch box - yes, a kid's lunch box - sitting on a desk. I thought it was one of my staff member's purse, I was trying to figure out whose it was. After I walked into the pole I went to see whose "purse" it was...and there it was, a 4th grader's empty lunch box.
What's funny is that one of my favorite TN Kids (Austin R. in Kindergarten) had a huge bump and bruise on his head this week. He said he was roller skating at Circus World, fell, and bumped his head on the bench when he went to go get some pizza at the concession stand. I teased him because his next line was hilarious: "...I'm really good at skating". I said "Are you serious, or kidding?" He says, "serious, I play hockey." He acts as if he's forgotten that he just told me he fell and bumped his head on the bench. I'm not sure if this is because he is in Kindergarten or because of some sort of brain damage caused by the fall. I'm hoping it's because he's in Kindergarten. So before he leaves today I tell him "please don't go rollerskating this weekend." 2 hours later I come out on the losing end of a battle between a metal pole and my forehead.
In Florida we (my people and I) refer to walking into a metal pole as a "Meghan Stephens". This can get kind of confusing, as we also refer to extreme front and back wedgies as "Meghan Stephens". But if you haven't just walked into a pole, you'll know why we're calling you "Meghan Stephens"...and making this shape with our hands ^... and you should make some adjustments to your bodily crevices areas.
After you read this....
Pray For - Logan and his family; and pray for God to open your eyes and ears in a new way to His love for you.
Check out - the Reject Apathy website
Try - substituting someone's name (at work or a family member) into everything you can think of. Make sure the person is a good sport first. For example, I work with a woman named Darisha. Where we work we play Kick Darisha and Dodge Darisha, we do Arts and Darisha projects, Andrew N. picks his nose and eats his Darishas, etc. etc. etc. Me and another person (hey Biggie!) have been pretty proficient at this in the past. If I remember right we consumed about 3 days work time (that's 24 hours) substituting one person's name. "Peanut butter and Marilyn sandwich" - hehe.
Read - Isaiah chapter 1, verses 15-23.
Think about - Reevaluate your part in God's desire to see the poor, oppressed, fatherless, and widows looked after. Is there anything you can do, big or small, to make a difference for good in someone's life who falls into one of these categories?
Listen to - "Hear Us From Heaven" by New Life Worship.
- DQ -
While my clothes were washing/drying I read Margaret Feinberg's book "Organic God". It is really good and I read like 70 pages in that hour. Stupid me puts the book on a table, folds my clothes, loads them up in my car, then drives away - minus the book. I go back a few hours later and the book is gone. I would like to be able to say that I hope whoever took the book gets a lot out of it and draws really close to God through it, but i'm a HUGE grudge holder....maybe in a couple weeks i'll be able to wish the person well (maybe after they reimburse me the $15 the book cost).
Did I mention my brother's paycheck, that I was supposed to cash for him, was inside the book - and already signed on the back? Good thing it was only for a measly $4. As best I can tell by that amout he must have worked approximately 20 minutes (give or take a few). How someone works (or why someone would work) only 20 minutes in a week i'll never know. Now that I think about it, I think I know a few people who only work 20 minutes per week - but they get paid for 30-40 hours. Scammers.
Then I return to work and find out horrible news - one of the kids that goes to a school that is served by my Y for before and after school programs has had his dad pass away. The kid doesn't actually participate in our programs, but I know who he is because I see him everyday at morning arrival (of which I help with). I was feeling bad already upon hearing that his dad passed away (no details), then it got worse when I read the story in the newspaper when I got home tonight.
At 2:30 in the morning, no one knows why, the guy goes the wrong way on the interstate (only minutes from his house) and collides head on into another vehicle, killing himself and the other car's driver. Police are not sure why he left home and headed the wrong way down the interstate. The kid's name is Logan, he's in 1st grade...I don't even know what to petition God for on the kid's behalf, i'm at a loss. What do you say to a child who has to deal with something like that? And what do I say to God about a situation like that? I feel bad praying the usuals: "help his family deal with this", "use this for good", etc.; I suspect that my prayers fall way short of what is needed for those families.
I got a good reminder today of that age old instruction to "keep your eye on the prize". Unfortunately it wasn't a symbolic gesture, or anything internal; I walked into a metal pole while looking the other way. I have a big bump on my forehead and I broke my glasses. I'm required by law to wear my glasses while I drive, and more importantly I need my glasses to see the score of March Madness games this weekend. If I had walked into the pole for even the slightest of good reasons I wouldn't feel so bad (a beautiful woman, memorizing a license plate after a hit and run, or something of that sort). I was looking at a lunch box - yes, a kid's lunch box - sitting on a desk. I thought it was one of my staff member's purse, I was trying to figure out whose it was. After I walked into the pole I went to see whose "purse" it was...and there it was, a 4th grader's empty lunch box.
What's funny is that one of my favorite TN Kids (Austin R. in Kindergarten) had a huge bump and bruise on his head this week. He said he was roller skating at Circus World, fell, and bumped his head on the bench when he went to go get some pizza at the concession stand. I teased him because his next line was hilarious: "...I'm really good at skating". I said "Are you serious, or kidding?" He says, "serious, I play hockey." He acts as if he's forgotten that he just told me he fell and bumped his head on the bench. I'm not sure if this is because he is in Kindergarten or because of some sort of brain damage caused by the fall. I'm hoping it's because he's in Kindergarten. So before he leaves today I tell him "please don't go rollerskating this weekend." 2 hours later I come out on the losing end of a battle between a metal pole and my forehead.
In Florida we (my people and I) refer to walking into a metal pole as a "Meghan Stephens". This can get kind of confusing, as we also refer to extreme front and back wedgies as "Meghan Stephens". But if you haven't just walked into a pole, you'll know why we're calling you "Meghan Stephens"...and making this shape with our hands ^... and you should make some adjustments to your bodily crevices areas.
After you read this....
Pray For - Logan and his family; and pray for God to open your eyes and ears in a new way to His love for you.
Check out - the Reject Apathy website
Try - substituting someone's name (at work or a family member) into everything you can think of. Make sure the person is a good sport first. For example, I work with a woman named Darisha. Where we work we play Kick Darisha and Dodge Darisha, we do Arts and Darisha projects, Andrew N. picks his nose and eats his Darishas, etc. etc. etc. Me and another person (hey Biggie!) have been pretty proficient at this in the past. If I remember right we consumed about 3 days work time (that's 24 hours) substituting one person's name. "Peanut butter and Marilyn sandwich" - hehe.
Read - Isaiah chapter 1, verses 15-23.
Think about - Reevaluate your part in God's desire to see the poor, oppressed, fatherless, and widows looked after. Is there anything you can do, big or small, to make a difference for good in someone's life who falls into one of these categories?
Listen to - "Hear Us From Heaven" by New Life Worship.
- DQ -
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