nice to meetcha

Have you ever stopped to think about how difficult it can be to get to know someone? Yeah, me neither. That is- not until recently. I guess I had never really considered how hard it is to introduce myself to random Joe or Jane on the street (more like, in the coffeehouse). In truth, I don't know if I've really had to start many conversations out of the blue. I mean, think about it... Haven't you, for the most part, found yourself primarily developing relationships with people that you either work or go to school with? And outside of those things we converse and meet people that share common interests with us. We'll be in the same club, league, or church, etc... I guess I haven't often made a habit of just approaching someone and initiating a conversation. (That may be why I don't have any good pick-up lines either, hmmmmm)

Now, to my point. Currently, the focus of my time has been spending that time trying to meet people. Not people necessarily from the church, but people in public. That's just tough. I'm sure there are some of you out there that are quite skilled at this- me, not so much. I never want to be a bother or to be an interruption. When it comes right down to it, I really may be afraid of what someone will think of me or how the response will turn out. All of this said, please pray that I would be bold and without fear. Pray that I would be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit within me. Pray that I would meet people who have been prepared to hear the Good News of Christ Jesus.

(Oh, and if you know any good pick-up lines- pass 'em on friend!)

just a quick note

It's been a couple of weeks since I've made my way down to St. Charles (just outside of St. Louis). I've started to become familiar with the area and I'm growing to know the people of the church. I'm at Crosswinds Church which is a pretty young church all-in-all. We're currently working to renovate a building in order to transform it from being an unemployment office building to becoming useful for the varieties of ministries within the church. I have yet to get my off and running with the pastoral counseling I'll be doing while I'm here, but I will likely start in with that shortly. As more details come... you'll be the first to hear about it!

the rolling start

It's Monday. To be honest, I've never been a huge fan of Mondays (not like there are a ton of people who love the day anyway). However, today I feel as if it marks the true beginning of my involvement here in Missouri. I took the first week to become familiar with the area and now it's time to put rubber to road. I now have some direction as to what I'm doing with my time and intend to get rolling as quickly as possible. My time is going to be filled with building relationships. I love the fact that, in order to be truly effective in ministry, I have to spend time sharing in the lives of others. That's not always an easy thing. It's all well and good until you have to walk through the valley with someone and help them to bear their burdens. But to me that is what Christ has called his followers to do. We need to walk the road together, sharing in the joy as well as the sorrow.

Please pray that I will exercise sound discernment in starting to meet and develop relationships with the people of this area. Join me in seeking that the Lord would lead me by his Spirit and that I would be wise enough to allow myself to be lead.

Thank you for sharing in this journey with me. Wherever you may be.

On with the ShowMe

I am now (for the next number of months) a resident of the greater St. Louis area in Missouri (a.k.a. the Show Me State). I'm getting settled in and starting to become familiar with the area. I'm noticing some differences between Wisconsin and Missouri already. Believe me- it didn't take long to realize that the weather is warmer and the gas is cheaper. Both of these things I will not deny being happy about. I hear that there will be some new terms for me to learn while I'm here. I will keep you updated as I learn them. Lesson one: a hoosier is not necessarily an individual from Indiana... Here, a hoosier may also be a redneck or some other form of hillbilly-ish folk. Interesting indeed!

...and the art of Buick maintenance

I’m not what some people might call “handy.” In fact, I think most people would not use such a term as a descriptor for me. It’s not like I’m entirely inept regarding matters of repair and maintenance… Well, okay I guess I am. Anyway… Today I was making a minor repair to my car with the intention of having any major malfunctions taken care of before I venture out of state. To be quite honest, the maintenance I was attempting was fairly simple. That is, it should have been fairly simple. All was going according to plan until I came across this one screw that would not budge. The center was stripped out and it was a somewhat irregular size as for as wrenches go… So, to make a long story only a bit shorter, I found the right size wrench to work on the task, but I just couldn’t get the sucker out. After about an hour (or more) of working, I conceded the fact that I would have to wait for my dad. Sure enough, dad comes out- takes a look- and gets a socket instead of any of the other tools I was working with. He had the job done in less than ten minutes. Welcome to my world. Again, this got me thinking…

Life is frustrating expanse of experiences. I wish it were all peachy-keen, but no dice on that one friend. Instead of smooth sailing, I find myself fumbling about down life’s path. The truth of the matter is that I am often using the wrong tools. Sure, sometimes I use a tool that will get the job done… eventually, but it is inherently the wrong tool for the job. In matters of life, the spiritual disciplines are the tools to use in order to be productive. Be prayerful. Consume and be consumed by the Word of God in study. Engage in regular fasts. Share the Gospel with others through word and deed. There are so many tools in the Christian’s utility belt that Batman himself would turn green. It’s important to remember that the spiritual disciplines are not the spiritual life, but the tools used to be most productive in it. One more thing… I can’t forget the issue of experience. In all things repair and maintenance, I am a novice. My dad is the man. (You should see the weld he put on my frying pan once- that thing could be with me forever!) Dad knew what to do and how. Wondering what tool is necessary to use at a crossroads? Call on the wisdom of the Father and he will give the perfect guidance. Not so tough now, is it?

links

You will notice that I have included links to your right. -------------> Among other links listed at this time, you will now find the site for Crosswinds Church in Missouri. This is the church I will be moving to be a part of for the duration of my upcoming apprenticeship. I am absolutely bubbling with excitement about getting to the St. Louis area and getting involved with this ministry and training. I look forward to sharing a great deal about it in the upcoming months.

grace

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers may collectively be the greatest dance couple to have ever hit the big screen. Though either could hold their own apart from one another, they just don't seem quite as engaging as when they dance as a pair. I know that their dances were meticulously choreographed, yet there is still an air of improvisation to their dances that hint at the fact that this couple knew how to work together. Fred and Ginger (as I like to call them) exuded so much grace as they glided about through their dance numbers. There was just enough give and take... ebb and flow... so that no individual became the centerpiece for this duet. As I think on this topic, there really isn't anyone today that holds a candle to the unity on the dance floor those two had. (On the record, nobody "Dancing with the Stars" will ever come close.)

I know, you're thinking that I've really fallen off my rocker, but somehow this recently reminded me of my relationship with God. Life seems so much like a dance that flirts with the varieties of pace, style, flourish, and bravado. I mean, it's more than possible that as I learn the steps to this dance that God knows I will stumble and that I may even fall. It's no surprise to Him that I step on His feet and, more often than not, attempt to steal the lead in our dance. God knows how this dance is going to go... and in His graceful style He covers my mistakes and brings me back into step. It is the nature of His grace to permit me to make mistakes despite His pre-knowledge of them and ability to prevent them. Why? So that I might learn, might grow, and might develop into what He desires in a partner. God's grace is more than His willingness to extend forgiveness to me when I seek it. His grace allows me to fall and get back up. That's what I think an amazing grace really is. There will come a day when I will move in time with the divine dance, but until then I will certainly continue to misstep. The great thing is that... all the while trip over my two left feet I will remain in God's grace. I am practicing (in training, if you will) to move in unison with my instructor. It will take time for me to learn the steps, but I think that's how a klutz truly can become graceful.

New Year's Revolution

I'm not going to sugar-coat this. The Church needs to change. Those of us who have been called according to the purpose of God must turn back to his Scriptures and rediscover the holy will. Please join me in peering back into the divine Word without preconceived notions of denominationalism, dogma, and cultural relevance. Likely we will return to truths that we currently hold dear, but maybe we'll also be challenged to break free of beliefs held falsely solely because of religious tradition. Could it be that God desires us to live by his Word and his Spirit without one preempting the other?

Doesn't the Spirit and the Word give direction toward a righteous lifestyle?
Is it really that I don't know what I am doing when I sin? A two year old knows when she is doing something she's not supposed to. How can I plead ignorance any longer... it's utter nonsense. I keep on sinning in the same foolish ways and have the terrible audacity to question why the Spirit of God isn't moving powerfully in my life and in the Church today. (I know that I'm not alone in saying these things, I've heard plenty of confessions that ring with similarity to mine.)

How can I continue to live my life in the same way and expect anything whatsoever to change? That mentality adheres to Webster's definition of insanity! And that's just the point... the Church (including myself) has gone insane. The people of God expect to see the great things of God, but are unwilling to listen to how he wants to bring forth such wonders. Come to think of it... perhaps the Church has gone even farther off the deep end in that many churches and believers don't even expect to see the great mysteries of God revealed in this day. Does he not desire to move? Does he not long to show himself as the great God he indeed is? Does he hope for his bride to thirst and starve for lack of the Bread of Life and Living Water? Undoubtedly not! This rant has gone on long enough.

I use this space to say (at likely too great of length) that I am primed for a change. I make no resolutions this year, but only to permit myself to be changed by the Word of God... to experience the revolution within the soul as brought about by the Spirit... to share the Christ's glorious message of Truth, Freedom, Redemption, Love, Deliverance, Hope, Joy, Peace... with those whom I encounter. The Great Commission and the Great Commandment must be fulfilled in more than word alone, but by action as well. It doesn't really take that much to bring about change. And so I hope to be within my life a revolution- even if it seems a subtle one.