A long obedience in the same direction

This has been "brewing" under the surface for some time but is now 'safe' for me to post:

Step by step, day by day, God calls us to obey. Sometimes that means faithfully leading forward; other times it means wisely stepping back. This winter John Wilson acknowledged that his health requires him to step back from full time ministry and take time to get healthy as well as create a new look for his obedience. Such a transition calls for a party—a celebration of 23 years of ministry while anticipating future possibilities. John’s love of games, his humor, and countless perfectly-timed comments provide great material for an evening of laughter and memories.

Join us on Saturday April 28 @ 7:00 p.m. in the College gym.

Do you have memories to share? Contact Sandra at slosborne@abc-ca.org or Gary at glepine@abc-ca.org.

With that in mind, I would like to add a couple of significant prayer requests.
1. Please pray for John's health, particularily his eyesight as that has been a real struggle for him and for continued management of the pain he has been feeling.
2. Pray for John's family and those close to him as they walk with him through this transition.
3. Pray for us at the college. His daily presence and influence will be missed and, in many ways, we are transitioning too.
4. Thank God for the strength and endurance He is already providing. John is a real trooper. I am continually blessed and amazed at the way he approaches each day. He is a man of grace, prayer and deep insight and I am thankful that God is developing in him those characteristics daily and blessing us through him.

World's Shortest Fairy Tale

My Aunt sent me this fairy tale. It's a new one. Not like the old days of the Grimm brothers. enjoy!

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl, "Will you marry me?"
The girl said "No" and she lived happily ever after and went shopping,drank martinis with friends, always had a clean house, never had tocook, had a closet full of shoes and handbags, stayed skinny and was neverfarted on.

The End

On the Silver Screen

I found a fun site for movie reviews, trailers, photos, etc.

Go to rottentomatoes.com

In light of today's weather...

I'm sorry if you find this to be slightly inappropriate but I'm ready for spring and so this is how I feel about winter already!!!!

Who Do I Look Like?

Jessica Alba...not bad, huh!? Although I'm a little curious about the Asian comparisons...

It keeps coming back...

Does that ever happen to you? You read a passage of scripture and it just keeps popping up everywhere you turn? Well, almost everywhere. I figure that's when I probably should start paying attention. Here's the latest one:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Then said I: 'Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.'
But the Lord said to me: 'Do not say, I am a youth,
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord."

Jeremiah 1:5- 8

A Prayer

This prayer was emailed to me this week:

Lord, help me live my life intentionally. Give me laser-like focus so that I am not easily distracted by things that are not true priorities for me. Give me the endurance to embrace the process of becoming all you created me to be. I thank you for life and longevity, for your wisdom and the possibility of greater things to come. Amen.

Amen!

Facebook

Either working with young adults (aka college students) is going to keep me young and up to date or it's going to make me crazy. I whined a while back about myspace and the cult that it was at the time. Now it's facebook. They've sucked me in. You can find my profile there. Everybody's doing it...

Facebook

Either working with young adults (aka college students) is going to keep me young and up to date or it's going to make me crazy. I whined a while back about myspace and the cult that it was at the time. Now it's facebook. They've sucked me in. You can find my profile there. Everybody's doing it...

Bridging the Gap

C.S. Lewis...draws a distinction between communicating with a society that hears the Gospel for the first time and one that has embraced and then largely rejected it. 'A person must court a virgin differently than a divorcee,' said Lewis. 'One welcomes the charming words; the other needs a demonstration of love to overcome inbuilt skepticism.'

~Philip Yancey

It breaks my heart to look at those around me and think of how far from God some of them are. Somehow, though, I have more hope for those who would be meeting him for the first time then for seeing the return of those who have loved him and left him, so to speak. I'm not sure what to say to that or how to overcome the skepticism or cynicism they approach faith with. For some it's the church they're rejecting but I wonder, in rejecting God's people, if they're not rejecting Him as well. I don't think that's the intention but potentially the result. Oh, I know the church isn't perfect. People aren't perfect. People can be mislead or misguided no matter how good their intentions. That said, the Gospel is good news and, as Rob Bell says, unless the Gospel is good news for everyone than it is not good news for anyone.

It is good news.

He is alive.

He is love.

He is.

Whether for the first time or all over again, I pray that God will give me the words an opportunities to help communicate the good news well.

More Erwin

"Salvation is not re-entry into Paradis Lost; it is enlistment in the mission of God."
~Erwin McManus~

Releasing Today...

Perhaps my excitement about this shows my age but seriously, Turtle power!!!

Current Read

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling

Too Old, Too Young or Just Right

As I wrote the title for this post, I was thinking of Goldilocks and the three bears. I don't know why that's in my mind right now but it is...weird. This post wasn't supposed to be about bears at all. Bring it together, Stace. Stay on topic. Phew.

Okay, here goes. I'm back in the office again. It's been pretty tough to focus on work stuff but the conversations with students make it all worth while. I'm sure I've said it before but I love my students! They're amazing.

One recent conversation brought up a question that I don't have an answer for so I thought I would throw it out to any who might actually read my ramblings. Truthfully, as a single girl, it's probably good information for me too so here goes:

In dating/marriage relationships, what is an acceptable age difference between the partners? What is too much older? Too much younger?

I have no idea how to advise anyone in this area. What is "just right?"

A Conversation

I love msn. It keeps me connected with good friends and good conversation from the comfort of my cozy couch with my soft blanket, warm coffee and, honestly, my jammies. Now, normally, I wouldn't share said conversations but this one just happened recently and captures a lot of what I've been thinking about and praying about lately. My conversation partner shall be referred to as "friend" since I haven't asked this friend if I can actually post their side of the conversation but it just wouldn't be the same without it.

Perhaps this could get a gridblog or something going. I know there's a lot of questions in here but would love to have others join in the conversations...that's why I'm posting it...just in case explaination was required...anyway here goes:

stacey says:i think that's the thing...we journey together and learn from each other
stacey says:the point isn't how long you've been on the journey but where you are on the journey
friend says:Amen
stacey says:we look at people in ahead of us to learn from them
stacey says:we look to people behind to bring them along
stacey says:"knowing" isn't enough...that alone doesn't bring you any further in the journey

friend says:I am alright....I am just working through it....
stacey says:God gave us our stories and has left his fingerprints all over us b/c of them
friend says:Working through what it is He wants from me....
friend says:that is the truth
stacey says:so true
friend says:My passion is for the world....and how is Christ being reflected in my life...and in turn...
friend says:How can I bring His message to the darkness...to the hurting world....
stacey says:exactly
stacey says:you have a heart for the world in a different way than i do
friend says:It is only through these challenges that we grow....if we are willing to open ourselves and let God do His work
stacey says:b/c of my life in the church, i'm hurt by the damage we've done to the kingdom and passionate to help foster a new attitude in the church that is kingdom focused, not self focused, and yet i love the church enough to know that i can't give up on it
stacey says:my heart is for discipleship and really figuring out what this christian life is all about
friend says:that is amazing....living the life that plants teh seed of the kingdom...
stacey says:so true!
stacey says:it's funny how in many ways, both of us come to the same question
stacey says:just from different ways
friend says:we need those people who will twist the light bulbs and make them brighter...so then we can go out into the darkness
stacey says:i like the way you put that!
friend says:Totally....
friend says:Kingdom living and what does it mean to do church.....
stacey says:exactly
friend says:..am I willing to remain in my safe place or go out and take a risk for God
stacey says:what does it mean to be a christian today?
stacey says:what does that look like?
friend says:That is the key question....
stacey says:exactly
stacey says:steve mcmillan talks about how our christian faith isn't about going up to heaven but bringing heaven here
stacey says:i love that
stacey says:real kingdom living
friend says:If we are created in the image of God....do I develp authentic relationships because we are all cherished....
friend says:Do i roll my eyes in an air of superiority....how do my actions reflect what is at the core of me....
stacey says:b/c heaven is true and a reality but what difference does that make for today?stacey says:how does the gospel change things now?
friend says:Exactly...i am reading Leslie Newbigin....Gospel in a pluralistic world...or whatever
stacey says:oh ya
friend says:It is great that you believe Jesus is the Son of God....But so what....
friend says:What does that look like as we do life....as we walk out our faith....
stacey says:that's the question
friend says:It was convicting and gripping and transforming....as God will do if you are willing....
friend says:Yeah...I think that it goes so far beyond...this is what I believe.....
friend says:I am more interested in what does that look like
stacey says:exactly
friend says:It is fun....which is why I have so many deep conversations with [another friend left anonymous]....we are the epistle of Peter crowd....
friend says:He feels those books were written for people like us....who identify with the lost world....who know the darkness and have a passion to bring life and hope and joy and passion....
stacey says:there's actually a pretty strong movement going on in christian circles that are calling people thinking this way "revolutionaries"
stacey says:that's such a great way to put it!
friend says:I love it....Wycliffe's tag line is abandoned devotion to serving Jesus
stacey says:oohhh i like it
friend says:Abandoned devotion...revolutionary....looks like a theme running through here
stacey says:so true!
friend says:I love it....what are you willing to give up for the sake of....
stacey says:for the sake of the kingdom
friend says:amen....

Upcoming Release: Tortilla Heaven

From Relevant Magazine...

Here's the trailer for the new movie Tortilla Heaven, which is getting a lot of buzz for its take on some biblical and cultural themes. The movie is about the madness that breaks out in a small town after the face of Jesus appears on a tortilla. Though the plot sounds irreverent, there looks to be plenty of over-the-top, but still relatable.

Now I'm not saying that I recommend it since I haven't seen it yet but I am curious. I'm especially intrigued to see how Hollywood handles this and aware, again, of the spiritual curiosity of the world we live in.

How do we, as the church, respond well?

Quote

“The church is not here to meet our needs. We are the church here to meet the needs of the world.”- Erwin McManus

Thanks, Erwin. That's what I've been realizing too.

Current Read

Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become A Missionary in Your Community, Ed Stetzer & David Putman

Current Read

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon

Affirmations of a Revolutionary

I've been reading Revolution by George Barna. It's a study of what's happening in Kingdom-culture in North America as a growing group of Christians, who Barna calls Revolutionaries, move beyond traditional North American Christianity, in many cases, beyond the traditional church, as they pursue God, faith and obedience.

I love this summary of the revolutionary affirmations as, in many ways, this resonates with who I am, or at least who I want to be, and the current struggle I find myself in.

I am a Revolutionary in the service of God Almighty. My life is not my own; I exist as a free person but have voluntarily become a slave to God. My role on earth is to live as a Revolutionary, comitted to love, holiness, and advancing God's Kingdom. My life is not about me and my natural desires; it is all about knowing, loving, and serving God with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul. Therefore, I acknowledge the following:

>I am a sinner; broken by my disobedience but restored by Jesus Christ in order to participate in good works that please God. I am not perfect; but Jesus Christ makes me righteous in God's eyes, and the Holy Spirit leads me toward greater holiness.
>God created me for His puposes. My desire as a Revolutionary is to fulfill those ends, and those ends alone. When I get out of bed each day, I do so for one purpose: to love, obey, and serve God and His people.
>Every breath I take is a declaration of war against Satan and a commitment to opposing him.
>God does not need me to fight His fight, but He invites me to allow Him to fight through me. It is my privilege to serve Him in that manner. I anticipate and will gladly endure various hardships as I serve God; for this is the price of participation in winning the spiritual war.
>I do not need to save the world; Jesus Christ has already done that. I cannot transform the world, but I can allow God to use me to transform some part of it.
>My commitment to the Revolution of faith is sealed by my complete surrener to God's ways and His will. I will gratefully do what He asks of me simply because He loves me enough to ask. I gain my security, success, and significance through my surrender to Him.
>I am not called to attend or join a church. I am called to be the Church.
>Worship is not an event I attend or a process I observe; it is the lifestyle I lead.
>I do not give away 10 percent of my resources. I surrender 100 percent.
>God has given me natural abilities and supernatural abilities, all intended to advance His Kingdom. I will deploy those abilities for that purpose.
>There is strength in relationships; I am bound at a heart and soul level to other Revolutionaries, adn I will bless believers whenever I have the chance.
>To achieve vicotry in the spiritual war in which we are immersed, there is nothing I must accomplish; I must simply follow Christ with everything I have.
>There is no greater calling than to know and serve God.
>The world is desperately seeking meaning and purpose. I will respond to that need with the Good News and meaningful servidce.
>Absolute moral and spiritual truth exists, is knowable, and is intended for my life; it is accessible through the Bible.
>I want nothing more than to hear God say to me, "Well done, My good and faithful servant."

Thank You, Lord God, for loving me, for saving me, for refining me, for blessing me, and for including me in the work of Your Kingdom. My life is Yours to use as You please. I love You.

George Barna, Revolution, pg 128-130.