Thursday, August 28, 2003
Good Day!
Praise the Lord for SOOOO MUCH that has happened in the last 48 hours. I got my field placement--at the Guidance Clinic!!! Thank the Lord for that answer! The director caught me just before I left for my MSW orientation day today to tell me. Orientation was fabulous--met lots of fun, neat people, and more to go. Had the fullest back to back days...yesterday was our Small Group Leader training morning--went very well. Then Bronco Bash--and tons of good new student contacts, and personally, some exciting conversations meeting people. Record time for the IV crew at the Bash clean-up: we were done and on our way home by 11 pm. (For perspective: My first year on staff it took us til 1 am.) Today's great day with Social Work, then dinner with my friend Angie to catch my breath. Then I went with Tracy, a Bible study leader through her dorm to follow-up on people who filled out contact cards yesterday, and we met some neat folks, better than 1/2 of whom seemed pretty interested in coming to her study. And tonight, a wonderful first meeting for the year for InterVarsity's Crossroads (large group). Lots of new faces, and seemingly great connections between returning and new folks. Thanks, Lord!!!
Sunday, August 24, 2003
Sabbath
In the last few weeks I've taken Sundays as real days of rest, napping, reading, sometimes enjoying meals or good conversations with friends and family, journaling or extended prayer time. This has been a gentle "practice" for the pattern of keeping the Sabbath that I will practice during the year (and Lord helping, from here on out in my life!). This won't be surprising, but God certainly did know what He was talking about, didn't He, when He commanded a day of rest for us?! I find such joy in these somewhat quieter days, and look forward to them as much as days of fun activities! There is a deep need in us for restoration and rest---God has been teaching me this all year--literally--and yet we are so slow in taking it!
It has been a challenge some days to consciously put aside the list of work to be done and simply say: "That will have to wait until tomorrow," and then not worry about it getting done. It is becoming a constant check that I will cease--from work, from worry, from a busy spirit-- and it's a reminder that everything, even this very wide world, is not dependent for survival on my busyness or activity. The Lord, our Good and Powerful God is Creator and Sustainer of every person, creature and thing He has made. I am foolish to believe otherwise. "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God...." Ex. 20:8
And so, again, after a pleasant Sabbath with the Lord, I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty and sleep in peace. My prayer for each of you is likewise.
It has been a challenge some days to consciously put aside the list of work to be done and simply say: "That will have to wait until tomorrow," and then not worry about it getting done. It is becoming a constant check that I will cease--from work, from worry, from a busy spirit-- and it's a reminder that everything, even this very wide world, is not dependent for survival on my busyness or activity. The Lord, our Good and Powerful God is Creator and Sustainer of every person, creature and thing He has made. I am foolish to believe otherwise. "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God...." Ex. 20:8
And so, again, after a pleasant Sabbath with the Lord, I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty and sleep in peace. My prayer for each of you is likewise.
With Bagpipes Still Droning In My Ears
Yesterday, on an absolutely beautiful sunny, not-too-hot Saturday I spent several hours with a few friends in the blissful hums (or drones, rather) of the bagpipe rich air at the Kalamazoo Scottish Festival. I began with a neat talk and history lesson with a gentleman from the McLeod (pronounced "McCloud") clan, which bears, among several others, the fighting tartan plaid that is Wooster's pride. One fun fact that he shared is that what us Wooster folks know as the "fighting tartan"--the bright gold-yellow based, with black and red grid plaid is also called the "loud McLeod" tartan. Again, somehow fitting for our association with it.
We also saw some Highland dancers, and Scottish games: burly, large muscled men--all in various clans' kilts, of course in competitions like a hammer throw (wind up the long, ball-weighted stick over your head and release it to see how far you can throw it), a pitchfork toss (stick a bag of hay, and fling it off the fork up into the air to get it over a raised bar some 40-50 ft. in the air), then a weight toss that was similar to the fork/hay toss, but the guys had either a 42 or 56 lb. metal weight with a ring that they swung between their legs and then up over their head (so not an underhand toss, but a forearm raise toss), again aiming over a raised bar 12-16 ft. The winner of that was at 16 ft. 6 in. I believe. And finally, a telephone pole toss--these guys literally picked up a telephone pole, if they could ran as far as they could and then flipped it (as long as it hit the ground right) to see how far they could get it. Let me tell you: the few who actually did it "properly" were impressive!
It was such a fabulous time! Our Woo favorite "Scotland the Brave" is not an old tune, but was actually written for a theater production in 1953. That's okay with me, neat to have learned, and I quite contentedly let that sink in as a related piece of information as I happily hummed and drummed along to that marvelous piping a dozen or more times yesterday. Having quickly loved the sound of bagpipes, I don't think I'll ever get enough--yesterday's saturation was blissful!
We also saw some Highland dancers, and Scottish games: burly, large muscled men--all in various clans' kilts, of course in competitions like a hammer throw (wind up the long, ball-weighted stick over your head and release it to see how far you can throw it), a pitchfork toss (stick a bag of hay, and fling it off the fork up into the air to get it over a raised bar some 40-50 ft. in the air), then a weight toss that was similar to the fork/hay toss, but the guys had either a 42 or 56 lb. metal weight with a ring that they swung between their legs and then up over their head (so not an underhand toss, but a forearm raise toss), again aiming over a raised bar 12-16 ft. The winner of that was at 16 ft. 6 in. I believe. And finally, a telephone pole toss--these guys literally picked up a telephone pole, if they could ran as far as they could and then flipped it (as long as it hit the ground right) to see how far they could get it. Let me tell you: the few who actually did it "properly" were impressive!
It was such a fabulous time! Our Woo favorite "Scotland the Brave" is not an old tune, but was actually written for a theater production in 1953. That's okay with me, neat to have learned, and I quite contentedly let that sink in as a related piece of information as I happily hummed and drummed along to that marvelous piping a dozen or more times yesterday. Having quickly loved the sound of bagpipes, I don't think I'll ever get enough--yesterday's saturation was blissful!
The Whirlwind
And now we are in the last hours before life really kicks up a few notches. I'm not sure I'm really "ready" and I bounce back and forth from nervous to excited to just plain close-my-eyes-and-jump thrill/fear. Whether or not I think I'm ready, here we go. Thankfully, "I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me..." (Gal. 2:20) and therefore I know I do not go alone into this psycho schedule. Please keep praying that with the Spirit's help I'll stay to my schedule and will use time well!
I'm blessed in that having WMU staff status earns me a very helpful discount on classes and student fees, even a bit on books! And thanks to some helpful ladies on Tuesday, it's also in the computer, so no more confusion on it! It's one way God is making this possible.
However, the trust levels range high...my placement is still up in the air, as I've left messages all over last week and am just waiting. The placement coord. who actually did call me back on Friday said to wait until tomorrow and see where we are before we move into next options. Here again, I'm having to say that if God is creating space for me at the Guidance Clinic, then He will do it (with time to spare).
I'm also fabulously blessed with 2 student leaders (Andrea and Michelle--my Small Group Bible study Coordinators) who are monstrously on top of planning, owning goals and getting the plans in motion--lots quite without me! We will meet for a little tomorrow so I can add in my experience in some places they aren't as sure of, but I'm going to catch up on what they've already been doing! THIS IS STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE AT ITS FINEST!!! And, honestly, it's a refreshing change from last year (though those folks are well loved, this is just such a different level of "take the bull by the horns" that is being driven by the students, not by me! Hallelujah! My goal as a staff in some ways is exactly this: work myself out of leading...and the students into it... So I see this as yet another blessing, and a way that God is easing some of my responsibility load in order to enable me to do all there is to be done!
I'm blessed in that having WMU staff status earns me a very helpful discount on classes and student fees, even a bit on books! And thanks to some helpful ladies on Tuesday, it's also in the computer, so no more confusion on it! It's one way God is making this possible.
However, the trust levels range high...my placement is still up in the air, as I've left messages all over last week and am just waiting. The placement coord. who actually did call me back on Friday said to wait until tomorrow and see where we are before we move into next options. Here again, I'm having to say that if God is creating space for me at the Guidance Clinic, then He will do it (with time to spare).
I'm also fabulously blessed with 2 student leaders (Andrea and Michelle--my Small Group Bible study Coordinators) who are monstrously on top of planning, owning goals and getting the plans in motion--lots quite without me! We will meet for a little tomorrow so I can add in my experience in some places they aren't as sure of, but I'm going to catch up on what they've already been doing! THIS IS STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE AT ITS FINEST!!! And, honestly, it's a refreshing change from last year (though those folks are well loved, this is just such a different level of "take the bull by the horns" that is being driven by the students, not by me! Hallelujah! My goal as a staff in some ways is exactly this: work myself out of leading...and the students into it... So I see this as yet another blessing, and a way that God is easing some of my responsibility load in order to enable me to do all there is to be done!
Friday, August 15, 2003
Pursuing the Kingdom
I read someone else's blog yesterday who seemed to understand the present reality of the Kingdom of God in very personal and near ways. It raises the question to me: How does my life represent being a subject of the King and belonging to a Kingdom that is very distinct, and very "otherworldly" in its values and practices compared to this one we live in at present. I know one of the keys is the "already but not yet"---the 1 Cor. 13 idea that "now we see as in a mirror, darkly; one day we shall see in full...now we know in part, one day we shall know fully, even as we are fully known." There is an incompleteness about our present earthly reality--it doesn't fulfull all God's intentions for it, and yet our status and security in the heavenly reality is complete and sure because God has guaranteed it.
I want to investigate more what it means to live the Kingdom of God and be framed by the already and not yet on a more consistent plane. There is deep hope in that, but one accurately tied to the real days we face --this seems a very important idea to hang on to, and communicate in our world, where the scales seem to unbalance to one side or the other, and then miss the joy of the right tension, and the hunger it creates in us.
I want to investigate more what it means to live the Kingdom of God and be framed by the already and not yet on a more consistent plane. There is deep hope in that, but one accurately tied to the real days we face --this seems a very important idea to hang on to, and communicate in our world, where the scales seem to unbalance to one side or the other, and then miss the joy of the right tension, and the hunger it creates in us.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Social Work Next Step
One last update: I had my 2nd interview with the Guidance Clinic today and it was excellent. It was both far more fun than the team interview with InterACT, but I realized much more HOPEFUL! The team members and director have a knowing sense of how difficult some of their clients are, and how frustrating, or even devastating this work can be, and yet their collective sense of "even if I can't change the world, I can change/impact certain pieces of it!" seems so intact.
Not just structurally do I think this will be a better, more organized fit, but theoretically--I walked out thinking that kind of energy, and literally hope, makes all the difference here. These would be professionals I'd want to surround myself with and throw in my lot with to work alongside and learn from them. May the Lord so provide!
Not just structurally do I think this will be a better, more organized fit, but theoretically--I walked out thinking that kind of energy, and literally hope, makes all the difference here. These would be professionals I'd want to surround myself with and throw in my lot with to work alongside and learn from them. May the Lord so provide!
Leader Level 5
The other end of last week I attended a satellite version of Willowcreek's Leadership Summit. Wow and wow and I tell ya what, Wow! Taking both secular and church leaders who've done a great deal of thinking and market analysis about great leaders and then having them clearly roll out their observations was fantastically inspiring. Some key ideas that struck me:
•Incremental growth (bit by bit each year) is bad. When we've plateaued our growth (as a church or orgz.) we need to find new "growth engines"--the keys to a leap up in growth--the new ideas or areas that will charge already involved people, and draw those not yet coming. And settling for incrementalism will defeat your best leaders, and ultimately, they'll leave because their dreams, gifts and passions are for greater than what is happening.
•I can improve my quality and strength of leadership--and a most of that has to do with the choices I make at key points. There are "level 5" decisions all around, the choices that will make all the difference over the long haul. Now, I still need to do some more reading here (this is from Jim Collins' Good to Great) to clearly understand, but I can begin practicing by more awareness about the decisions I make and if they are beneficial and proactive (go 7 Habits of Highly Effective People!) or if I fail to make a decision and get "acted upon." There's serious room to grow here, and I'm determined to be about it, because as I grow, I am more capable of helping those I lead also grow!
• Great leaders also spend about 50% of their time leading themselves (in God-honoring right practices, disciplines, growth areas) so as to actually make the other 50% premium!
• Being a Barbarian Christian (a risk-taker, a bold and unashamed leader, thinking and acting outside the box...) may well be much more the kind of Christianity Jesus intended for us than our more calm/"safe" Western-world version. What that all looks like yet, I also have no idea...
• Great leadership is essential if the Kingdom of God is going to expand and extend to every corner of the earth. God has gifted some people with leadership that needs to be used--no slacking off on putting your gifts into practice!
• Great leadership owns the hard work and practices that it takes to be great. It also means sometimes you'll have to deal with tough times in relationships with those you lead or partner with. You need to have the right people in the right "seats on the bus" if the bus is going to go anywhere effective. If they're not in the right seats--get them there. If they're not the right people (at least for this context), then get them off the bus (and maybe into another right bus!).
And, just on a personal interest: the next time I visit LA I am going to find Mosaic, a church there pastored by Edwin McMannus, who actually spoke twice for the summit (b/c another speaker was ill). He was absolutely fabulous and very engaging. I'd love to see him in his "home turf" context.
There's way much more, but that's sufficient for now! Lead on, McDuff!
•Incremental growth (bit by bit each year) is bad. When we've plateaued our growth (as a church or orgz.) we need to find new "growth engines"--the keys to a leap up in growth--the new ideas or areas that will charge already involved people, and draw those not yet coming. And settling for incrementalism will defeat your best leaders, and ultimately, they'll leave because their dreams, gifts and passions are for greater than what is happening.
•I can improve my quality and strength of leadership--and a most of that has to do with the choices I make at key points. There are "level 5" decisions all around, the choices that will make all the difference over the long haul. Now, I still need to do some more reading here (this is from Jim Collins' Good to Great) to clearly understand, but I can begin practicing by more awareness about the decisions I make and if they are beneficial and proactive (go 7 Habits of Highly Effective People!) or if I fail to make a decision and get "acted upon." There's serious room to grow here, and I'm determined to be about it, because as I grow, I am more capable of helping those I lead also grow!
• Great leaders also spend about 50% of their time leading themselves (in God-honoring right practices, disciplines, growth areas) so as to actually make the other 50% premium!
• Being a Barbarian Christian (a risk-taker, a bold and unashamed leader, thinking and acting outside the box...) may well be much more the kind of Christianity Jesus intended for us than our more calm/"safe" Western-world version. What that all looks like yet, I also have no idea...
• Great leadership is essential if the Kingdom of God is going to expand and extend to every corner of the earth. God has gifted some people with leadership that needs to be used--no slacking off on putting your gifts into practice!
• Great leadership owns the hard work and practices that it takes to be great. It also means sometimes you'll have to deal with tough times in relationships with those you lead or partner with. You need to have the right people in the right "seats on the bus" if the bus is going to go anywhere effective. If they're not in the right seats--get them there. If they're not the right people (at least for this context), then get them off the bus (and maybe into another right bus!).
And, just on a personal interest: the next time I visit LA I am going to find Mosaic, a church there pastored by Edwin McMannus, who actually spoke twice for the summit (b/c another speaker was ill). He was absolutely fabulous and very engaging. I'd love to see him in his "home turf" context.
There's way much more, but that's sufficient for now! Lead on, McDuff!
The Bug
In addition, one result of Family Camp (though it's beginnings are much before that) is Brad and I spent a hearty amount of time working on songs that either he or I wrote, to add harmony parts and tighten them up as "works of art"--making them the best they can be. We have a hilariously big amount of fun doing it, even just dialoguing about music, what makes it good, what makes it work or not, what constitutes worship, and so on. So now I'm inspired to keep working both my skills and my songwriting levels. Or even more than inspired, perhaps somewhat addicted. In another life maybe I would be a music analyist--just listening to tons and tons of songs and comparing what makes them great and sound. Most of you know I've always loved music and loved to sing. In all these different arenas I keep having an inclination that God will use this in ways that will surprise me. I'm already blown away by the privilege I have in worship leading and the apparents gifts God's given me there (owing to frequent comments/compliments/encouragements from people about my leadership here). Where we go from here I have no idea! But I sure am beginning to get curious...
Family "Camp" in the Burbs
I love my SLT family! It still rather astonishes me that 7 years after we all met, God has so woven our lives together that as we add marriages and babies and ministries and Master's Degrees we want to walk alongside one another.
So, Family Camp for the Orphans+ has officially kicked off. Maybe 20 or 30 years from now our kids will all go to SLT near the same time and finally understand why we spend the time and energy and prayers we do on each other. It's both comforting and daunting to consider all the life changes that we will experience together over the next x# of years--and to see in what corporate ministry and kingdom effects we will participate. Wow....kind of a thrill just to imagine what the potential is!
Thanks all for amazing conversations, hilarious croquet a la Rob with Brad in a monstrous blonde clown wig, and enough food to feed a small army. We never did have trouble eating together....
A personal victory that now raises the bar for me: Sunday morning as we had church together, I was the worship leader, so to speak. I entered the weekend much concerned if I could actually play guitar enough to serve us well...being as my greater and to date preferred worship leading is my voice and the worship team/band around me! But as we started, I really entered into God's presence and just really enjoyed playing and singing and knowing that the Holy Spirit was meeting us right there...and suddenly almost 2 hours had passed of singing, Scripture reading and prayer. I was utterly amazed. Rather humbled I said, "Boy, God got in my fingers today!" If that was not the empowerment of the Lord, than I don't know what is! So, now I also have a new challenge: I can't say that I've never led worship vocally and instrumentally...so I have to just keep practicing and keep getting better, which is a joy and a stretch. Hmm. Just thinking about it still amazes me. Wow. What a neat gift!
So, Family Camp for the Orphans+ has officially kicked off. Maybe 20 or 30 years from now our kids will all go to SLT near the same time and finally understand why we spend the time and energy and prayers we do on each other. It's both comforting and daunting to consider all the life changes that we will experience together over the next x# of years--and to see in what corporate ministry and kingdom effects we will participate. Wow....kind of a thrill just to imagine what the potential is!
Thanks all for amazing conversations, hilarious croquet a la Rob with Brad in a monstrous blonde clown wig, and enough food to feed a small army. We never did have trouble eating together....
A personal victory that now raises the bar for me: Sunday morning as we had church together, I was the worship leader, so to speak. I entered the weekend much concerned if I could actually play guitar enough to serve us well...being as my greater and to date preferred worship leading is my voice and the worship team/band around me! But as we started, I really entered into God's presence and just really enjoyed playing and singing and knowing that the Holy Spirit was meeting us right there...and suddenly almost 2 hours had passed of singing, Scripture reading and prayer. I was utterly amazed. Rather humbled I said, "Boy, God got in my fingers today!" If that was not the empowerment of the Lord, than I don't know what is! So, now I also have a new challenge: I can't say that I've never led worship vocally and instrumentally...so I have to just keep practicing and keep getting better, which is a joy and a stretch. Hmm. Just thinking about it still amazes me. Wow. What a neat gift!
Catching Up
Well, since life moves considerably faster than my ability to blog I am so behind in my "consistent journalling." I'm actually more motivated knowing that there really are several people who read this---(Hi Mom!) and ought to be more updated!
Suffice it to say, family is good. Dear Friends are good. God is SO Good! And as of a few weeks ago, I've had a much more grateful outlook on life and my community. While I still am praying for a local "kindred spirit" with whom I can do random outings, have good chats and meals to share (sort of like a roommate but not), I am So entirely thankful that God reminds me that over and over again He's provided such significant and wonderful people in my life, and those #1's (the innermost, deepest set of relationships) are always present. They may be geographically all over the map, but there is an integrity to our friendships that binds us whether in WA, CA, TX, KY, IL, OH, MA or the farthest reaches of Michigan like Grand Rapids or Holland or Detroit. Even Africa and Spain! I think our tendency is to take for granted how vital these relationships are to our well-being and encouragement, even when we've not regularly connected. Brad put it well in one of our earlier summer chats: Just knowing those friends are out there and love you makes it possible to press on where you are and in what steps you're taking. For such a while I've looked from the perspective of what I lack here in Kzoo of the "right kind" of close community, or lamenting as those dear friends move out of town, and God gave me a shot in the arm of clearer vision about His faithfulness to provide a strong network in my life.
Thanks be to God for His infinite good gifts to us!
Suffice it to say, family is good. Dear Friends are good. God is SO Good! And as of a few weeks ago, I've had a much more grateful outlook on life and my community. While I still am praying for a local "kindred spirit" with whom I can do random outings, have good chats and meals to share (sort of like a roommate but not), I am So entirely thankful that God reminds me that over and over again He's provided such significant and wonderful people in my life, and those #1's (the innermost, deepest set of relationships) are always present. They may be geographically all over the map, but there is an integrity to our friendships that binds us whether in WA, CA, TX, KY, IL, OH, MA or the farthest reaches of Michigan like Grand Rapids or Holland or Detroit. Even Africa and Spain! I think our tendency is to take for granted how vital these relationships are to our well-being and encouragement, even when we've not regularly connected. Brad put it well in one of our earlier summer chats: Just knowing those friends are out there and love you makes it possible to press on where you are and in what steps you're taking. For such a while I've looked from the perspective of what I lack here in Kzoo of the "right kind" of close community, or lamenting as those dear friends move out of town, and God gave me a shot in the arm of clearer vision about His faithfulness to provide a strong network in my life.
Thanks be to God for His infinite good gifts to us!
