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.

Jesus Drives Me Nuts

My spiritual director, Pastor Jan, recommended the book "Gospel Light" by John Shea. As usual, the things she recommends speak to my soul. There's a chapter on John 2:23-3:21 with Nicodemus approaching Jesus for spiritual truths and Jesus ends up talking about where the wind blows. If I had ever met Jesus in person I think he would have driven me nuts. Jesus drives me nuts now, but at least I have time to think through what he's saying. If I had been Nicodemus I would have scrunched up my face at Jesus and been left speechless thinking, "why did I come to this guy? I don't understand a word he's saying..." I ask about eternal life, doing the right thing, how to live in this world, and Jesus talks about where the wind blows. Shea ties it all together by saying, "Hang around people who are Spirit-filled and releasing Spirit into the world...Spirit is contagious. It blows where it will. Get in the way of the wind." I am fascinated and appreciative of these remarks, "Get in the way of the wind." If we want to glimpse the Spirit, get a feel for how she works in the world, then it sounds like good advice to me to hang around people who have a sense of how to look for her. No magical formula there, just hang around people who have experience with the Spirit, who can help point out signs of the Spirit, and Get In The Way of The Wind!

Three Cups of Tea Summer Book Study discussion

So Greg Mortenson says on page 226, "There were few things he loathed more than getting up in front of a large group of people and speaking about himself." I like that in a job he "loves" there are parts of it he hates. Makes me think every job, even the ones "we love," have the parts we would rather not do.

He tells a great story about speaking to an audience of three-- two store employees of an outdoor store and one guy who stopped in for the last half of the talk that he never had a chance to meet. One of the store employees, "fished into his front pocket and handed Mortenson a ten-dollar bill. 'I was going to go out for a couple of beers after work,' he said, shuffling from foot to foot, 'but you know...' 'Thanks,' Mortenson said, sincerely...on the seat of the last chair in the last row...was an envelope...inside was a personal check for twenty-thousand dollars."

Mark 12:41-44
41 (Jesus) sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

So did the store employee give more generously with his $10 then the guy with the $20,000?