Uphill idealist

God has a way of working dot-to-dot of our lives. For the last almost two years, I’ve been searching for a continuing education program specific to the ministry situation here at First Lutheran Church . I knew it had to be something I could do from Jamestown, it had to require a minimal amount of travel, it needed to engage my heart and mind and it had to apply to and assist me in the work I do on a daily basis. In February, my husband came across a book called, “The God bearing life.” by: Kenda Creasy Dean . In this book he learned about a Certificate program specific to current trends in youth and family ministry that fit all the requirements I’d hoped to find. Upon learning about the program, I discovered that the first retreat and intensive training week was to be held the last week of April 2010. In order for me to go to this training, many arrangements had to be made. Housing had to be secured for the week, my family had to work out the details of their lives with their mom abse...

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34 Going on a treasure hunt requires a few essential items: comfortable shoes, a sense of adventure, a water bottle, a compass, and of course a treasure map marked with a big black X to mark the spot of the chest overflowing with coins and jewels. The treasure that we seek can be like that in this photo, or it could be something altogether different. But, in some way we all are searching and looking for something in life. The desires of our hearts are revealed by the things we search for and spend our time with. While good work ethic and effort are wonderful qualities to posses, they can sometimes fool us into thinking we are the sole captains of our own ships or fleet of ships, depending on who you are. God desires for us to seek after his kingdom first. God desires for us to seek after Him first, before we go on any wild goose chases or self-propelled treasure hunts. This week as you work, play and spend time with fa...

Today is traditionally my Sleeping with Bread post day where I follow the examen of discussion on the things or circumstances of the last week. This time around, the question of voices or direction came to the surface. So instead of a biographic review, I decided to speak via the medium of prose. As I wrestle with what voices (past and present) motivate the direction of life, this felt to me to be an appropriate way of sharing bread this week. Blessings to you all and may your bread be bountiful this week! Image "His masters voice" taken from en.wikipedia.org VOICES... Voices surround me. Abound within a without of me. And fill as far as the eyes can hear. Can my ears see what they say - or push away from the things I can't stand to hear. Voices support me. And some would like to thwart me. From the places my life needs to go. Can my heart sustain what repeats in my brain - or flutter on impulse to and fro. Clarity and vision would be the position that I'd like t...

Image from www.hbci.com In my elementary school office, the secretary had a poster on the wall that said something like this, "Garbage in, garbage out - I'm not a garbage dump so don't leave your rubbish here!" Above these words was a drawing of a cherubic boy with rumpled hair, big ears, a tattered t-shirt, mo shoes and hand me down overalls. The secretary's poster was a reminder to all that children were important and the way they should be treated and spoken too as treasure, not trash. If people are treated like trash, then they will often reproduce what they are provided. Apparently, by hanging this poster the secretary was doing her best to develop and environment of treasure-seeking. The voices that we've heard our whole lives have a way of molding and directing our paths. I attended a session at Princeton Seminary last Wednesday at the Youth Ministry Institute called, "From voices to vision." In this class, we addressed the different voices t...

Image from AJM Networking . When someone is a VIP they are bound to receive some wonderful treatment, adoration of fans, and world wide attention. VIP's are treated special and are sometimes seen as "better than" the average person. After all they are very important people. Right before Jesus ascension into heaven Jesus gives his followers a new commandment. John 13:34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Jesus could have given any instruction to his followers that day, but he choose to emphasize the primary and life-long importance of living a life of love. The love we have and share with the people around us is better than anything we could give or receive, even all those things a VIP might be likely to have. To become a VID(Very Important Disciple) , one needs to look first to the needs of others and go about the busines...

The meals shared too many to count... Just like T.S. Eliot - "My life is measured in coffee spoons." - or in my case, tea. So much laughter, questions, nerves and chatter - until we relax in the space of that moment and before we know it we become friends. Then change moves in again like the breeze of a lake and pushes us to shift yet again. To a new place, to a concept that we'd only hoped we'd start to understand and then with some discussion, some conflict and a listening ear and mind - our hearts grow larger. We are community - growing again. Then the cars were waiting, the trains and planes sighed with us as we boarded and headed back to where we came from - but we are not the same. We are changed, grown, challenged and loved in this community - this new family. I know we won't wait for the reunion to talk again because I already miss you. Thank you for being my home away from home, thank you for being my tribe, thank you for being yourself and encouraging m...

Good morning blogverse. This morning I'm in Philadelphia and it is sunny and a warm 70 degrees. How nice for the town to welcome me in such a temperate way. For the next five days I will be taking part in the Youth Ministry Institute at Princeton Seminary. This weekend is the beginning of a two-year masters level certificate program. I'm so excited as to what I will learn and experience in the next few days, and a little nervous too. My family is great and supportive of all this, but I will miss them so much in the next week. So in line with a prayer exercise what my friend Marlaena used when on her last mission team trip, I'd like to ask you to pray for me and my family in a specific manner over the next few days. This is a great opportunity, and I want to make the most of it. I know your prayer support will assist me in that goal greatly! So here's the outline: Saturday April 24: Pray for Tara's heart. As today she will meet many new people and her cohort member...