Terribly Interesting

I know I have much catching up to do here on the blog after the summer on the mission field of camp. The phone service is basically non-existent and the internet is a trifle sketchy. Even though I am constantly surrounded by people and counseling people, it can be quite lonely. Every single person there, including my man is so busy that there is no time for a good chat. I do love a good chat. I mean, I just had a three hour breakfast with one of my besties at IHOP. (Don't worry, I left a big tip for hogging the table.) Anywho, back to the point of this post. At first we had a single push mower to mow our two acres. Then we were given a professional double push mower. After it flaked out, we were given an older riding mower. It was such a gift, but as things age, they get janky. You know what I mean. One side of the blade would scalp the yard and the other side would leave it 10 inches high.We kept trying to repair it, but it looked like we had crop circles when we mowed.  ...

My man and I went to see Keith Urban at the 360 Ampitheatre at the Formula One Raceway the other night. In the time slot that I should have been listening to and staring at Keith Urban, I was instead staring at this lady in what they dubbed the "panic room." First order of business, 360, if you don't want people to panic, do not tell them that they are headed to a panic room. Second order, actually train your employees in where they are to evacuate people to. It was a nightmare.  As you can guess, there was a huge lightning storm that came up as we were listening to the opening acts. So, we were somewhat escorted to the Formula One garages. That would have been cool if we were not in there with 15,000 drunk smokers tossing around the f-word more than I say "shug." That's quite a bit, people. It was a mile walk there and back in the rain. As we passed the huge barbed wire security fences, Denbigh told me he smelled a government conspiracy. All I could t...

Poet Mary Oliver called the morning sun "the best preacher that ever was." I would say because the glorious day cuts through the dark night. I would have to say that the evening sun is quite the preacher as well. The last shout of vivid, glorious day beckons our weary souls to remember through the night. I honestly think of this line nearly very day. The heavens preach the gospel to me. May it remind you as well. “Why I Wake Early   Hello, sun in my face. Hello, you who made the morning and spread it over the fields and into the faces of the tulips and the nodding morning glories, and into the windows of, even, the miserable and the crotchety –  best preacher that ever was, dear star, that just happens to be where you are in the universe to keep us from ever-darkness, to ease us with warm touching, to hold us in the great hands of light – good morning, good morning, good morning. Watch, now, how I...

As the waves of summer pass over me, I find myself looking for solitude to process, to reflect, to rejuvenate. We have been entrenched in warfare. We have been praying for souls to be won for Christ and He has been working. He has been winning. There is always a backlash from this sort of thing. I find myself walking and praying. I often utter the same phrases over and over. My thoughts as a mother of three constantly in travel mode ministering in chaos are not always intelligible. So, I simply say, "Maranatha." Come Lord, Jesus. Come to this place. Come to my neighbor's  house. Come to this worship center. Come to my weary soul. I know God is everywhere, but this is a deeper thing I am crying out for. I cry out for the Spirit representation of the Son of God to come into the core of all I can see or feel or think about. When I have no good or beautiful words, Come Lord Jesus. When my mind is so full that I cannot think of what to pray for my friend, Come Lord Jesus. W...

I honestly would never want to read some boring book on leadership, but the word parable drew me in. I wondered what I might see wrapped in a story that I might not see in a guide book to leadership. As page built on page, I thought this was such a brilliant concept. The story made concepts and problem areas come alive in a way that no chart or diagram ever could.  I could see myself in the people in this story. I could see my own struggles and reluctance. There were clear examples of how how being a good follower grows you into a great leader. James shows the types and levels of followership as well as follower abuse. Often, in the church and in ministry people abuse power and hurt those who are seeking to serve the Lord under them. This is an excellent resource for seeing clear to the type of leadership and follwership we are called to. It is also a call to cease complaining about our leaders and our jobs and follow well. Grab your copy. This is an excellent read. This...

Adding to my saga of things breaking down, we had a blow out in my van last week. It was pretty intense. The headlight blew out of the car. The fender was knocked off by the tire tread. The front driver's side panel has the same appearance as though we hit a deer. The a.c. was knocked out. We were okay though. I feel as though God had his hand on us. Denbigh was able to maintain complete control of the car. Our girls never got upset even though they were hot and it appeared we were stranded. Our car was still driveable. We made it to camp for Denbigh to lead worship with literal minutes to spare. As we were coming in to downtown Huntsville, I wanted to hear from my Abba. I needed to talk to him and hand another thing into his hand. I put my face into my hands and repeatedly whispered, "Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison." (Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy). I looked up to see a rainbow far ahead of us. I started shouting about the rainbow. I had to shout bec...

When I read The Hole on the Gospel, I was quickly enamored by Richard's heart for the least. I loved getting to see his heart develop and God grow his desires to love and care for the world. It has been no different reading Unfinished. Richard reminds us that we are not deciders of the gospel, we are disciples. Our task is to do what it says. Our mission is to populate the kingdom of heaven. The church in our day has the knowledge, the funds, and every conceivable thing to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The mission remains largely unfinished.  The book is full of stories of ordinary people called to use what they had to share the gospel. Some were called to give up everything and some were called to better use what they had. The point is that we need to be on mission wherever we are or wherever God calls us to go. Read this book and challenge yourself.  This book was graciously provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers for review.