What pattern is my life?

Last night at youth group we tie dyed some t-shirts to wind down to the end of summer vacation and to start off the new school year right. Tie dyes are always fun to make, but it's always good to know what kind of design you'd like to create before you start pouring the dye willy nilly. Depending on your choice of pattern( the spiral, the bulls-eye, the crinkle and many more) you need to rubber band the shirt in a particular way and apply the dye carefully so that you saturate the t-shirt enough to create a distinctive pattern.

Last evening as we began tie dyeing, Heather decided to go for the spiral pattern (which you can see here) while I made a bulls-eye pattern. All in all I think we both got the balance of pattern and dye saturation down rater well. There have been many times that I've made tie dyes that I either don't think about the pattern or over-saturate the shirt in dye and end up with a muddy brown ugly blend of a mess.

Our discussion at youth was about Jesus ministry of "proclaiming good news to the poor", " giving sight to the blind", "setting the oppressed free", "proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor." We talked about the disciples being and trying to live in a way that followed Jesus' example. The disciples are sometimes referred to as, "little Christs". I asked the students how we were doing as a church and a youth group as living like little Christs. I asked them if we were really telling the community about God's love, caring for the communities needs and living as beacons of hope to our small city.

For the most part, the students thought we were doing ok in these areas, from their perspective youth group provides them a safe place to spend time with their friends and have some cookies every now and then. One young man read the phrase about caring for the poor and said " When I come here and I'm hungry you always feed me. On a scale of 1-10 - you get a 10!" I still smile as I think of his funny yet sincere and thought provoking statement.

I looked at my tie dye shirt drying outdoors this morning, I began to wonder - "Am I really living a life that follows your pattern, Jesus?" On a scale of 1-10 am I seeing and responding in a little Christ way to those around me? Am I giving more than cookies and kool-aid to my students each week at youth group? When I look at my life, what pattern have I chosen to create, my own design or one that looks to G-d for direction and pacing.

Who would have thought that my student's lesson would speak back to me this morning in the form of a newly tie dyed shirt that just so happened to be a "life" brand inside the collar. What is my life's pattern? I pray it is one of light, hope, love and of course cookies every now and then.

On Friday, we all promised to wear our tie dyes together to keep us united as a group, even as we are in different places. Its my prayer that we are united as "little Christs" as well.
:)

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

For more on the concept of "little Christs" go to the blog yearns&groans by Will.

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

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