Dear Friends in Christ -
I occurred to me today that - WOW - I'm leaving for Ecuador in 7 short days. Sometimes big things like this sneak up on me because I'm not prone to enough anxiety to jar me into grasping the reality that SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
But, something big IS about to happen. Seven people from three different churches in our deanery are praying daily, trying to learn a few more words of Spanish, gathering essentials like insect repellant, cameras and hats, and getting ready to pack.
The volume of emails that have been flying back and forth signal that people in Ecuador are working hard to prepare for our arrival. The sweet fragrance of their generous hospitality is gently wafting through the e-waves.
How can I best prepare for this experience? Notice what's here. I need to really see and hear and taste and smell and touch HERE so that when I get THERE and go about seeing and hearing and tasting and smelling and touching I can make some connections and be a bridge-builder. Between cultures. Between peoples. Between 'you' and 'me.'
"Blessed are the peacemakers." That's what the Bible says. So how exactly to we MAKE peace?! Well studies show that we treat people we know better than people we don't know, so it seems that making connections is the first step in making peace.
Now, you might be thinking: 'Why is she talking about peace? We're not at war with Ecuador." Indeed, we're not at war with Ecuador. But I submit to you that there's a lot more to making peace than not being at war. Real PEACE has to do with living in harmony with each other, with living in a state of freedom that allows appreciation of differences and creative energies to flow.
Please pray that as our ministry team members do the outside preparation - packing our bags, finding our passports, etc. - that God helps us with the inside, heart preparation May God make us peacemakers that we may be known as children of God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A good laugh . . . about money!
Dear Friends in Christ -
So here's the joke a heard today in the Finance Committee meeting (see, we do have some fun!):
One day, a $20 bill was talking to a $1 bill.
The $1 bill said, 'So, what have you been up to lately?'
The $20 bill said, 'Well, I've really been getting around. I've been to a couple great restaurants, and I've been out to the movies. I've travelled a good bit and even made it to a foreign country recently. What have you been doing lately?'
The $1 bill said, 'Well, I've been pretty active, too. I've been shuffling back and forth between the bank and several churches in town.'
The $20 bill said, 'What's a church?'
Perhaps part of evangelism is introducing our money to Jesus! :-)
Have a great sunny Sunday!
Blessings,
Janet+
So here's the joke a heard today in the Finance Committee meeting (see, we do have some fun!):
One day, a $20 bill was talking to a $1 bill.
The $1 bill said, 'So, what have you been up to lately?'
The $20 bill said, 'Well, I've really been getting around. I've been to a couple great restaurants, and I've been out to the movies. I've travelled a good bit and even made it to a foreign country recently. What have you been doing lately?'
The $1 bill said, 'Well, I've been pretty active, too. I've been shuffling back and forth between the bank and several churches in town.'
The $20 bill said, 'What's a church?'
Perhaps part of evangelism is introducing our money to Jesus! :-)
Have a great sunny Sunday!
Blessings,
Janet+
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Today's quotable quote . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
Here's the quotable quote I'm pondering on this blustery Fall Saturday:
"Life will either make you better or bitter."
I've certainly observed the truth of that. I wonder, though, what makes the difference? If God's saving love and care are available for all of us, how is it that some of us seem to grow stronger and have enough hope to carry on, while others grow more depleated and defeated?
Some time ago, a priest friend of mine said, "You must always remember that people are doing the best they can." Hmmm. On the one hand, it makes sense that no one intentionally does a bad job of living. On the other hand, it's tragic that many folks can't manage to do more than make one questionable choice after another, and/or fall into one bad situation after another.
"Life isn't fair." I think every parent on the planet has probably said that to her/his children. And likely with a knowing note of resignation in their voice due to personal experience with unfairness.
But here's another truism that's just as important, though perhaps less often cited: "God is here." Helping, healing, holding. Always. Tapping into God's presence and power is sometimes challenging, but it's possible. Always. Sometimes connecting with God's presence and power takes only a fleeting prayer; other times it requires a long obedience in the same direction. Either way, connecting with God is often the difference between 'better' and 'bitter.'
Faithfully praying into 'better' -,
Janet+
Here's the quotable quote I'm pondering on this blustery Fall Saturday:
"Life will either make you better or bitter."
I've certainly observed the truth of that. I wonder, though, what makes the difference? If God's saving love and care are available for all of us, how is it that some of us seem to grow stronger and have enough hope to carry on, while others grow more depleated and defeated?
Some time ago, a priest friend of mine said, "You must always remember that people are doing the best they can." Hmmm. On the one hand, it makes sense that no one intentionally does a bad job of living. On the other hand, it's tragic that many folks can't manage to do more than make one questionable choice after another, and/or fall into one bad situation after another.
"Life isn't fair." I think every parent on the planet has probably said that to her/his children. And likely with a knowing note of resignation in their voice due to personal experience with unfairness.
But here's another truism that's just as important, though perhaps less often cited: "God is here." Helping, healing, holding. Always. Tapping into God's presence and power is sometimes challenging, but it's possible. Always. Sometimes connecting with God's presence and power takes only a fleeting prayer; other times it requires a long obedience in the same direction. Either way, connecting with God is often the difference between 'better' and 'bitter.'
Faithfully praying into 'better' -,
Janet+
Thursday, October 14, 2010
aaaaRRRRRRRRGGH!
Dear Friends in Christ -
I've been betrayed. Again.
Betrayal is, unfortunately, a common occurance in life. Relying on someone, and then finding that they've cheated you. I don't know about you, but I have sort of a "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, and I'm not sticking around for long" policy. And that rule of thumb works pretty well for a me in relationships.
Human relationships, at least.
This week my betrayer was electronic: my computer. I would like to throw the stupid thing over altogether - over the cliff, that is! But I NEEEEEED it. So I've allowed a very nice fellow from "customer support" to talk me back from the edge. Again. For now.
Nancy's computer crashed and died this week. Mine has a "little glitch" which is supposed to have been mended. And for an untold number of weeks, a good chunk of my email (25%?!) has been somewhat randomly disappearing as "spam." If you've sent me an email to which I haven't responded, you may be a victim of my computer's betrayal too. Sorry! If you haven't heard back from me about whatever you were emailing about, please write again . . . hopefully this time I'll get the message. Sigh.
Hope - nope; I don't think I can call it that . . . DESPERATE DEPENDENCY springs eternal . . . so I'm sending this message electronically!!! Oh, the irony!
Still not done grinding my teeth, but trying to move on . . .
Blessings,
Janet+
I've been betrayed. Again.
Betrayal is, unfortunately, a common occurance in life. Relying on someone, and then finding that they've cheated you. I don't know about you, but I have sort of a "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, and I'm not sticking around for long" policy. And that rule of thumb works pretty well for a me in relationships.
Human relationships, at least.
This week my betrayer was electronic: my computer. I would like to throw the stupid thing over altogether - over the cliff, that is! But I NEEEEEED it. So I've allowed a very nice fellow from "customer support" to talk me back from the edge. Again. For now.
Nancy's computer crashed and died this week. Mine has a "little glitch" which is supposed to have been mended. And for an untold number of weeks, a good chunk of my email (25%?!) has been somewhat randomly disappearing as "spam." If you've sent me an email to which I haven't responded, you may be a victim of my computer's betrayal too. Sorry! If you haven't heard back from me about whatever you were emailing about, please write again . . . hopefully this time I'll get the message. Sigh.
Hope - nope; I don't think I can call it that . . . DESPERATE DEPENDENCY springs eternal . . . so I'm sending this message electronically!!! Oh, the irony!
Still not done grinding my teeth, but trying to move on . . .
Blessings,
Janet+
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wild Church
Dear Friends in Christ -
Churches that have WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION for God and for the good are doing some really unexpected and powerful things. Here's a story I heard last week about one such church:
A church in Massachusetts decided that they could make a difference in their community by picking up the garbage that was littering their neighborhood and making everyone feel low about the place where they live. They set seven dates for litter pick-up and got to work. After the first few, people started noticing what they were doing. Neighbors started being curious about a church that would do something for others, something of no clear benefit to themselves. Their good efforts were written up in the local newspaper. They mayor of the town noticed, and he worked to get them funds for a handicapped ramp for their church.
Someone who was with me when the story was told said, "You know what's interesting about that? It's something that didn't cost any money. And something that lifted the church up and gave community a positive boost, even in this economy."
Yes indeed! And it gets me to wondering: what might our wild, outsized passion draw us to do in our community?
Wondering and wondering . . .
Janet+
Churches that have WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION for God and for the good are doing some really unexpected and powerful things. Here's a story I heard last week about one such church:
A church in Massachusetts decided that they could make a difference in their community by picking up the garbage that was littering their neighborhood and making everyone feel low about the place where they live. They set seven dates for litter pick-up and got to work. After the first few, people started noticing what they were doing. Neighbors started being curious about a church that would do something for others, something of no clear benefit to themselves. Their good efforts were written up in the local newspaper. They mayor of the town noticed, and he worked to get them funds for a handicapped ramp for their church.
Someone who was with me when the story was told said, "You know what's interesting about that? It's something that didn't cost any money. And something that lifted the church up and gave community a positive boost, even in this economy."
Yes indeed! And it gets me to wondering: what might our wild, outsized passion draw us to do in our community?
Wondering and wondering . . .
Janet+
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Wild, outsized passion . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
What do you want your church to be? To do?
Tonight some of our adult leaders and our confirmation class talked about this question together during the beginning of our Ministry Team Meeting. If you weren't there, you missed out!!
Fundamentally, those of us who were gathered together agreed that we want to be a part of a church that
- helps the community
- prays and worships (a.k.a. - connects with God)
- shares how good God is
Do we dare help and pray and share in a way that makes us stand out as Christians?
I don't know about you, but I want our church to encourage the WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION that I sense stirring in our souls for God and for the good.
Hmmmm . . . how might this happen?? Here? Soon?
Blessings,
Janet+
What do you want your church to be? To do?
Tonight some of our adult leaders and our confirmation class talked about this question together during the beginning of our Ministry Team Meeting. If you weren't there, you missed out!!
Fundamentally, those of us who were gathered together agreed that we want to be a part of a church that
- helps the community
- prays and worships (a.k.a. - connects with God)
- shares how good God is
Do we dare help and pray and share in a way that makes us stand out as Christians?
I don't know about you, but I want our church to encourage the WILD, OUTSIZED PASSION that I sense stirring in our souls for God and for the good.
Hmmmm . . . how might this happen?? Here? Soon?
Blessings,
Janet+
Friday, October 8, 2010
Praying in new ways
Dear Friends in Christ -
Our mission team is traveling to Ecuador in just over two weeks. As part of the preparation of our hearts for this mission, we're committing pray the Lord's Prayer every day in Spanish.
As I prayed this prayer this morning, I realized that understanding of another language, another culture, begins with the willingness to open my heart and my mind, to take the risk to believe that I can understand, rather than protecting myself with "I can't."
As I pray this prayer, I hope that God will begin to build a bridge between me and the people I'll meet, making a way for us to understand and bless each other.
I invite you to pray it with our team. May the humble act of trying something new be a blessing to you, build a bridge in you.
Faithfully,
Janet+
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Padre nuestro que Estás en los cielos:
Santificado sea tu nombre,
venga tu reino,
sea hecha tu voluntad,
como en el cielo Así también en la tierra.
El pan nuestro de cada Día, Dánoslo hoy.
Perdónanos nuestras deudas,
como también nosotros perdonamos a nuestros deudores.
Y no nos metas en Tentación,
mas Líbranos del mal.
Porque tuyo es el reino, el poder
y la gloria por todos los siglos.
Amén.
Our mission team is traveling to Ecuador in just over two weeks. As part of the preparation of our hearts for this mission, we're committing pray the Lord's Prayer every day in Spanish.
As I prayed this prayer this morning, I realized that understanding of another language, another culture, begins with the willingness to open my heart and my mind, to take the risk to believe that I can understand, rather than protecting myself with "I can't."
As I pray this prayer, I hope that God will begin to build a bridge between me and the people I'll meet, making a way for us to understand and bless each other.
I invite you to pray it with our team. May the humble act of trying something new be a blessing to you, build a bridge in you.
Faithfully,
Janet+
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Padre nuestro que Estás en los cielos:
Santificado sea tu nombre,
venga tu reino,
sea hecha tu voluntad,
como en el cielo Así también en la tierra.
El pan nuestro de cada Día, Dánoslo hoy.
Perdónanos nuestras deudas,
como también nosotros perdonamos a nuestros deudores.
Y no nos metas en Tentación,
mas Líbranos del mal.
Porque tuyo es el reino, el poder
y la gloria por todos los siglos.
Amén.
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