Asia and Chocolate

favorite day of the month ...

It was today.

Even after all of the crazy, busyness, trying-to-do-3-jobs at work. Trying to find a sub for my Sunday School class. Returning phone calls. Making sure I stay nutritionally on course. Going to an Indonesia meeting. Dealing with a tragedy in a friends life. Even after all that, this was my favorite day.

Why?

Because it's First Wednesday Worship at my church. The first Wednesday night of each month is a night when everyone comes together in one room and worships and prays. It's like one big small group ... as oxymoronic as that may be. It's in the presence of God and with family.

After a long day, a long month, a hard week, this is the good stuff. I could have stayed all night long.

Squealing, giggling & glee ...

I spent this past weekend with 14 sixth-grade girls. It was so much fun and so busy! If I wasn't teaching them in one of our sessions, then I was having one-on-one sessions with them. And if we weren't eating, then we were going door-to-door collecting canned foods. And if we weren't running around playing, then we were singing and hanging out at the church. Whew! What a weekend.

It all started for me at 4 a.m. on Friday and finished last night at 9 when I got home. And there was about 2 hours of down time in that whole scenario. But you know what? I loved it! I love meeting new people who have the same passions that I do: sharing Christ with kids. And I met others who have a passion for ministry around the world, which you all know is my other passion. And then I got to spend time with 14 great girls who want to learn more about living in relationship with Christ. It was refreshing in the midst of the crazy busyness.

I've realized once again how important it is for me to get out of the city and do something different. I come back feeling so rejuvenated.

Another perk from the weekend: STARBUCKS in the Nashville airport. We have moved up in the world and I'm so happy! :)

Compassion & Uganda

Blog missions.

The bloggers are on their way. Click on the widgets to your right there to follow the dozen + bloggers on their way to Uganda to have their lives changed and spread the word about Compassion. Check out the journey.

Who's following this?

Bloggers + Compassion = Change the world

You might notice some new images on my blog real estate over to the right. Carlos and Anne - who have lively little picture links over there - and Randy, Heather, Shaun and even more blog rockstars are setting a new precident for blogging. They are changing the world with their blogs.

Sixteen bloggers will take the trek to Uganda to spread the word to the world about children who need Compassion.

Make some noise blog world!!!!!!

Talented and blessed ...

Sheila recaptures the Sunday morning service from yesterday much better than I ever could. It was amazing and I feel blessed to be a part of a community called church - truly blessed. Watch the service.

Some of Sheila's words:

Josh Cassidy is a fabulously talented guitarist.  This I knew.  He is also a great painter and a funny, smart, sweet guy.  I knew this too.  What I didn't know is that the boy can wail the blues.  He has this soulish, gritty voice somewhat reminiscent of a John Mayer or Eric Clapton.  "Baby Boy" is a song he wrote that incorporates bits and pieces of a couple of songs you will recognize.  You should really give him a listen. 

... Inserted into the early portion of the sermon is an age old song that captures the longing...the cry of the heart of God's people...for Messiah to come...and the cry of my heart...and perhaps your heart...for Messiah to be born anew into our lives today.  Chad delivered it with all the tenderness, and anguish, and yearning, and power it deserves.  It was a wonder moment.  What I regret is that you can't completely comprehend what it was to sit in that room and have the song completely wrap itself around you...to hang...to echo...to pulse...to soar.  But listen.  Please, listen. 

Continue reading.

I'm a bloggin' fool today ...

but I just had to get this one in. I've sat in one chair all day and worked on the last final touches of grading. Almost, almost done ... hallelujah!

But back to the point. While taking a break from grading, I've surfed my favorite blogs and came across this survey for current and former people in ministry. Whew! What a calling and what a life. Being in ministry over the years, and especially these past two years, I've definitely felt the Mad Church Disease. At one point this past year the stress of it all sent me to a cardiologist who told me that my constant heart palpitations and shortness of breath were caused by an overload at school/church. My ministry was literally was making me sick. And I'm not alone.

So, go take the survey and help start the discussion about a universal issue in ministry ... and watch Los' video, which is way more fun and convincing than my little pitch.

Kids on Fire

Two weeks out of the month I teach in kids' church. It's fun and I like to spend time teaching the younger kids about Jesus. I'm the lead teacher for the 6-8 year olds. Aren't they cute??

Pic 1: Marvelin and me ... one of my 5th graders. She's growing up so fast!
Pic 2: The kids playing "You're on a sinking ship and you have to find a group of ..." game
Pic 3: About three fourths of my class gather for a group picture
Pic 4: My team. Couldn't do it without you ... especially snack time! L-R: Lydia, Nina, Me, Alison, Ida

Sometimes I see the big picture ...

This is the new sacntuary at my church - actually the temporary sanctuary because the actual one is not finished yet. What a joy, though, to be able to worship ina big place where we can spread out. During worship this morning I was overcome with what God is doing in this mostly Muslim nation. What a BIG God we have!

When the real sanctuary is finished we will use this one for the Kid's Church ministry. I can't accurately communicate how blessed we are to finally have our own building. Before, in the old building, the hallway was crowded with two people. Now we have a large open space for the kids to run around and play. Before this, all of the Kid's Church was crammed into a small room and equally tiny classrooms. Sometimes there wasn't room for all of the leaders to be in the room at once, too many kids. Now we have a huge room with chairs and a stage and we have ROOM! And then we have large classrooms so that each age group can split up and enjoy playing games and having a snack without stepping on the people around them. Words cannot describe what a blessing it is!

Original link love ...

Put up some new links over there on the right sidebar:

Origins | Rome: my friends Billy and Kelly are moving to Rome as a part of the Origins Movement. Very exciting. Also check out Origins | LA and Origins | NYC. People involved in these ministries are former members of The People's Church in Franklin, Tennessee. It's so fun to see how God takes one church and moves people all around the world to fulfill the great commission.

To Write Love on Her Arms: a ministry connected to Origins | NYC ... helps people dealing with depression, cutting, suicidal thoughts. Buy a t-shirt and support the cause.

my little men of God

I shot this at kids church this morning. The two boys in kind of the center of the picture (blue shirt and white shirt) are praying for each other, blessing and thanking God for each other. Their names are Joshua and Jason and I just want to grab them up and bring them home with me cause they are so adorable. They are both pastor's sons and in my small group class. (sorry it's so fuzzy. I need to change the settings on my camera. And I know you can't hear them, but you get the idea. Still adorable.)