Leaves you thinking...

This is my last blog for a few weeks while I am on maternity LEAVE. I hope ya'll tune back in come October when I am back, but until then, I wanted to LEAVE you thinking...


I saw the movie "The Hurt Locker" recently. It's about a bomb squad unit in the middle east, that goes out to diffuse bombs to keep people safe. When Brad read me the movie blurb I couldn't say I was that excited (I don't usually jump for war movies) but Brad and I are trying to get in as many movies as possible before the baby comes.

The movie was engrossing. For the whole first hour I thought I was going to have a heart attack, (or at least my water was going to break!) because I was so drawn in by the servicemen--their sacrifice and their humanity.

After the movie I couldn't even hardly talk all the way home. I was moved, I still am. I kept thinking in my head, we have to stop war so people don't have to sacrifice their lives like this. I don't know how to stop war. The beginning of the movie starts with a quote that says "war is a drug." I pray, I write my congressperson, but I don't know how it's going to stop. Greg Mortenson has a great idea in his book "Three Cups of Tea" about education fighting terrorism. I don't want to take my freedoms for granted. I try to make a difference with my life. I wonder as a pastor as a Christian what to do...

I am pregnant with life, I want the world to be too. It all LEAVES me thinking...

Chocolate

So isn't it just my luck to be shown pregnant eating ice cream with my eyes glued to all the yummies at the chocolate shop?! Graham's chocolates makes some of the best yummies, and they are Lutheran owned! I had no problem giving them two thumbs up (or a lick on my ice cream cone) for the camera.

I was diagnosed as having a dairy allergy a few years ago, but ever since I've been pregnant I've been downing white milk, chocolate milk, and ice cream like it's going out of style. I hope this is one of the benefits of pregnancy that lasts after the kid is born-- at least that's what I am bargaining with God about lately.

Showered and good to go!

I know people like to make fun of the term "showered" when it comes to baby (or wedding) showers. People bring soap on a rope and such and talk about getting all cleaned up. But "showered" is pretty much the way I feel by my church family. I feel showered with blessings, showered with love, showered with generosity so much so that I feel soaked in gratitude for people's support and excitment over the upcoming birth of our baby.

In baptismal prep class I talk about "walking wet" in the world. I get up and make funny "slop slop" sounds as I walk around the room (something I learned on internship) as a way to think about us always soaking wet in our baptismal waters and how that shapes how we walk in the world.

We are a "showered" people with many blessings. One of the most faithful things we can do is live as a grateful people, aware that God has filled us to overflowing and then go out and walk wet in the world sharing that generosity with others. My hope is to shower others!!

Brothers

Ah... growing up with two older brothers wasn't always easy. They sat on me and told me I didn't look like the rest of the family. A few times we were physically fighting I truly thought I was going to die. When they ordered the three stack hamburger at Wendy's I had to do the same... and finish it. Now they have kids and I'm the baby sister who is 8months+ pregnant. They brought me chocolate and helped with the nursery. They let me put my feet up. One lives in Michigan and the other in Switzerland so I don't get this treatment all the time, but who knew... brothers. :)

Gotta have it first!

The Spirit is blowing and I'm doing my best to "Get in the way of the wind." Kari, our dynamic new Youth Specialist is offering a discipleship opportunity for our high school girls with a three week Bible Study on "loving." I had the opportunity to hang out with these lovely ladies this past week and feel the Spirit breezing through the student center. One of the ladies there, Lindsey, reminded us of the importance of loving ourselves as "practicing love" for others. I thought that was great. Goes back to that Biblical core value of "love others, as you LOVE YOURSELF." Nothing like being reminded that we can't offer others what we don't have in our own hearts, and being challenged to love beyond what we think we are capable of because of God's love abiding in us and empowering us to love that generously. Here's to experiencing God so deeply in our lives, taking moments to feel the wind on our face(the Ruach of God)that because God first loves us, and we LOVE OURSELVES, that we can then love others.