Ignorant Historian

“We order our worship services around our age groups, with music designed to remind each generation of whatever was playing at the youth rallies of their college days. Our congregations are made up of people who look, talk, and think just like we do. And it never occurs to us that this is the same kind of unity the world has to offer. Even in our churches, we seem to identify ourselves more according to the corporate brands we buy and the political parties we support than with each other.” – Adopted for Life by Russell Moore, p. 38

“Becoming a Christian might look more like falling in love than baking cookies.” – Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller, p. 155

“Beauty often seduces us on the road to truth.” – Wilson
“And triteness kicks us in the nuts.” – House, House, “Occam’s Razor”

“…it makes me wonder if secretly we don’t wish God were a genie who could deliver a few wishes here and there.  And that makes me wonder if what we really want from the formula are the wishes, not God.  It makes me wonder if what we really want is control, not a relationship.” – Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller, p. 12

“The quiet scares me ’cause it screams the truth” – “Sober” by Pink

“There’s something about patience that God deems necessary for our life in the age to come and so, whether through agriculture or discipleship or bodily development or eschatology or procreation, God makes us wait.” – Adopted for Life by Russell Moore, p. 142

“And I’ll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I’ve cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.” – “Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns

“He had forgotten how American children slept. They stretched out long and wide, dreaming of sugar-plums while they waited for handouts from tooth fairies.” – Run by An Patchett, 100

“It seems like, if you really knew the God who understands the physics of our existence, you would operate a little more cautiously, a little more compassionately, a little less like you are the center of the universe.” – Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller, p. 38

“…the masses of the people could not be held back from Nazism, so powerful was its appeal, and this same priest, who would not leave his people, went with them to Nazism, too.” – They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer, p. 219

Yesterday was an ending for me. Not OF me…I’m not posting this posthumously.

Side note: I have wondered what would happen to my blog if I die.  Not that I’m morbid or anything, but I’m not promised a single day more of life on this earth, so I don’t want to presume God will let me live until I’m 100.  Perhaps I should put my wishes for my blog in a will.  I’d hate for my last post to be one like this or this.  I’d hope to have something truly meaningful as my last blog words, you know?

End side note.

Yesterday was an ending because it was my last day teaching kindergarten Sunday School after 4 1/2 years.  I’ve had 5 different classes of students, each with their own style, and I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them.

I wasn’t looking to leave the kindergarten class.  While I’ve made no secret of the fact that it wasn’t my favorite age group, I was happy to be where I was needed.  I liked being in the same class year after year, as it’s something the kids look forward to after hearing their older siblings talk me up.

But one thing led to another, and I’ll now be teaching Sunday School for 5th and 6th grade girls.  I’ve asked several of the girls in that group what they would think about me being their teacher, and they loved the idea.  Always makes you feel good, because I love them too.

I actually wasn’t set on this move (I had other options) until Kids’ Camp.  Spending time with that age group reminded me of why I love it so much.  I have a few weeks before we start, but I’m already excited for it.

After 5 years of kindergarten, I’m finally graduating!

Photo by cryptic_star

• Camp was just as easy as I expected.
• It was also as exhausting as I expected.
• We had one girl get sick our first morning at camp.  Thankful, after spending the morning resting and taking it easy the rest of the day, she was back in tip-top shape the next day.
• It was a super hot week (the hottest in my 6 summers in NC), but our kids met our challenge to drink more, and more, and more water.
• It IS possible to be cold in 100 degree weather, if you’re standing in wet clothes.
• The girls kept their rooms neater than I did (the incentive of an ice cream party is a great motivator).
• Watching a game of dodge ball made me realize just how dishonest kids will be when they think no one is noticing.  But I was glad that our church’s kids were more honest than most.
• We had some great discussions started by some great questions from the kids.
• I look forward to going again next year!

While most people are enjoying a long weekend or getting back in the swing of things after the 4th, I’m heading off to a 3-night kid’s camp today.

While it’s not a “camp” camp (yay for using a college campus!), I’m looking forward to being at camp again.  I LOVED going to Girl Scout camp as a kid, and then later working 5 summers at a Girl Scout day camp.

Since this is the first year for us as a church, we’re only taking 8 kids.  And 4 adults…AWESOME ratio.  Plus, I already know the kids, so I know that we won’t have behavior issues in our group.  I look forward to getting to know them more.

So, since I’m going to be off doing the camp thang, I’m taking a blogging break.  I’ll be back Friday with an awesome camp update!

Photo by ex.libris

I don’t remember what I was doing, but somehow I stumbled on a website that would tell you demographic stats on specific US zip codes.

For kicks, I entered the zip code I grew up in.

For whatever reason, the results surprised me.

Compared to the rest of the US, this zip code has:

• a high number of high school and college graduates
• a high median income (though Kansas has a fairly low standard of living)
• a higher than average number of married couples
• 2/3 of adults working in white collar jobs
• only 4% of its residents below the poverty line (national average is around 15%)

I was born into privilege.

Not only am I a part of the 4.5% of the world population who lives in the US, I’m among the 6% of that population that has a Master’s Degree.  While I myself don’t quite make enough to reach the US median household income in the US, it’s just me, so obviously my costs are much lower than most.

I was born (and raised) into privilege.

I thank God for the blessings He’s given me and my parents who gave me so much, but that’s not what I want to talk about.

I’m a numbers person, so when you show me my blessings numerically, it really sinks in.  I’ve always known that I was overwhelmingly blessed, but when everyone around me is too, it’s easy to forget.

These thoughts were already on my mind, when I started reading Radical.

Here are a few things that David Platt said that stood out to me:

“We are an affluent people living in an impoverished world.  If we make only $10,000 a year, we are wealthier than 84% of the world, and if we make $50,000 a year, we are wealthier than 99% of the world.” – p. 194

“But the reality is, if you and I have running water, shelter over our heads, clothes to wear, food to eat, and some means of transportation (even if it’s public transportation), then we are in the top 15% of the world’s people for wealth.” – p. 115

“The reality is that most everything in our lives in the American culture would be classified as a luxury, not a necessity. The computer I am writing this book on, the spoon and fork I will eat my dinner with later this evening, and the bed and pillow I will sleep on tonight (in additon to many other things in my life) are all luxuries.” – p. 127

All this merely starts to illustrate how blessed we are in America.  Yet we, the Church, wrap ourselves up in our own cares, ignoring the extensive needs of those all around us (even if we have to close our eyes to them).  If you’re like me, these facts might make you pause for moment, but then you shut them out because they make life too uncomfortable.

I don’t want to live comfortably at the expense of others (and that’s what it is…I don’t “deserve” a better life and haven’t earned it…I didn’t choose to be born here, to my parents).

I’m still thinking through what the implications of all of this.  I don’t have everything (anything) figured out.

While I don’t have much “stuff” by American standards, I’m sure if I added up the costs of everything I owned, I’d be shocked.  I do have more than I need.

I’m sorely tempted to give some of my income away and turn around and spend the rest on my own excesses.  I can placate myself by saying that I give more than most.   But would I except that excuse from my own child?  ”Mommy, I know I didn’t clean up my room like you asked, but I spent 2 minutes more on it than any of my friends.”

That’s not what God has called me to.

Photo by 96dpi

I wish I could let you live a Sunday through my eyes.  I’d be the last one to claim that our church is perfect.  You wouldn’t have to spend time with us long to see we’re a group of sinners.

But every day there’s also evidence of the grace that God’s given us as He grows and stretches us.  I’ve been part of groups before that I have loved dearly, but there is still something special about the local church, the body of Christ.

I know that I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without these people in my life.  From a pastor who faithful speaks the truth from the pulpit to friends who will encourage and sharpen me, I can hardly help but grow closer to God.

Being vulnerable with others isn’t always easy for me.  Yet there are little things that remind me that it is right and good.

A hug from a good friend after a mutual sharing of struggles.

Material things, talents and gifts not held possessively, but shared with all who may use them.

“How are you?” asked as a question, not a greeting.

And it’s these little things that make me fall in love with my church all over again.

Photo by Aunt Owwee

Thankful for people cutting me slack

I thank God He’s given me food on my table in abundance.

I thank God that He’s given me family and friends who love me and show me more grace than I deserve.

I thank God for giving us quick travel that I may visit my family who’s over 1,000 miles away on this day.

I thank God for giving me not only a well-paying job in these times, but a job that I like.

I thank God for allowing me to be part of a church who, though not perfect, is seeking to grow together towards christlikeness.

Most of all, I thank God for giving His Son to save a wretch like me.

So happy Thanksgiving, and remember to thank God for the many blessings he’s given you…no matter how many or how few, they’re more than we deserve.

Photos by CarbonNYC, Julie McLeod,  aka Kath, me, Phillie Casablanca, and DrGBB

Thanksgiving meal with people I love

(though I could say the same thing when I have Thanksgiving with my family later this week!)

Here’s an excerpt of my Q&A session with the kindergarten Sunday school class about my upcoming trip to Turkey:

Child: When are you going?

After Party on the Block (our Halloween alternative…helps the kids know that it’s still in the future).

Child: Are you coming back?

Yes, I’ll be coming back.

Child: How long will you be gone?

I’ll be gone for one Sunday (I’ll be gone Friday, November 6th until Saturday, November 15th).

Child: Will you go to jail?

If they put me in jail, they will get in a lot of trouble.

Child: How will you get there?

By three planes…one of which will take from now (it was about 10 AM) until dinnertime.

Child: What time of day will it be when you come back?

In the evening, I think.

That’s what the children wanted to know about my trip, what do you want to know?