SOUL CrossTraining

A few months ago I had the chance to sit down and be interviewed on Between Sundays podcast  about identity and reconciliation. We talked about the Tower of Babel, reconciliation, calling, identity and what it has been like being woman pastor.  I hope you'll listen as you take a walk or drive -- who knows maybe a part of it will encourage or challenge you in some way.  

So much of the way we think and live has to do with what we believe.  What DO we believe about God?   What DO we believe about ourselves?  And what DO we believe about others. It seems these questions are not in anyway new to humanity.  From the very beginning, we've struggled

Two years ago, I was asked to offer the invocation for the Economic Club sponsored by WFYI.  Of course I could do that and I'd be honored.  came floating out of my mouth when the request was made. Then I began the process of thinking through what to pray and how to pray. I am quite familiar with how my faith community prays but what about this group. This group of 700+ community leaders and business professional would represent  a diverse audience representing all kinds of different faith backgrounds.

Walking on the beach awhile back I began noticing the broken shells being washed up along the shoreline.  I looked closer, I began to notice the edges, colors, cracks, and holes. As I stood turning the shell over in the palm of my hand I began to think about what had caused this deep imprint, the scar, the broken edge. What had been attached to this shell? What had crashed up against it with enough strength to break off the outer edge? For how long had it been washing up against this same shoreline? It reminded me of an encounter with a beautiful woman in Colorado years ago.  We had enjoyed dinner together at a women's retreat in the mountains. Sharing parts of our stories and parts of our struggles.

So much to think about these days... I must admit I am agitated, sad, mad, hopeful, confused, confounded YET even more committed to see what I've not seen before. Since I visited the mass graves from the AIDS pandemic in South Africa in 2011, I've been praying that my eyes, ears and heart would be opened -- In fact, I penned this prayer nearly 6 years ago... "I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear -- I pray for HOPE to well up inside us. Help us remember who we bel ong to and that we each have something to offer our world." Fast forward to today and I'm still praying this prayer.  And I am seeing things I hadn't seen before.  Here's what I mean... 

Early on God had not sent rain to water the earth – no one had been created to cultivate the soil. In that time springs – a mist “came up from the ground and watered the land.” Then God made mankind-- in His image. He breathes life into us.   Then and now.  Their home was in the garden. Oh the garden.  Beautiful and diverse.   Colors, aroma, delectable flavors and the cool breeze. Abundance. The land and sea were filled – the water teeming with fish and the land producing sustenance. All that was needed. Abundant.  Companionship with God. Companionship with each other. Belonging to God. Belonging to each other. Belonging.

We all know the feeling that sneaks up and whispers in your ear. You want me to do what? I don't think so. Calendar invite: From: Dave Rod (aka Senior Pastor Grace Church) Subject: Preaching at Grace. Wait. What? You would have laughed if you would have heard the conversations I was having with myself before the meeting. Believe me I had played out almost every possible and improbable scenario

If you've been following this BLOG you know we've been encouraging you to engage in a variety of spiritual practices or disciplines because we know they work. When we engage in spiritual practices our souls are changed.

I am undone by the beauty and promise of the people I am encountering in Rwanda.    I see creativity.    Off to the side of the dirt road there is a small boy smiling as her plays with a bicycle rim, rolling it down the slight incline. I see  necessity.    The branches within reach have been stripped from the tree trunk to to be used for a fire to cook their meal. I see stacks of mud bricks being formed and placed in the sun to dry.  I see sturdy tree branches and trunks being used as roof trusses.  It seems every thing God has provided is needed for provision and shelter. I see hope and expectancy

I love the inquisitive nature of a child.    Discovery -- seeking and finding seems to be built into our core.    From our very first days of life, we begin gathering information in an attempt to make sense of the world we inhabit.    We want to know how our world works.  We long to know what part we play.   Infants have their basic needs met through ongoing nurturing and nourishment.   These little ones are completely dependent on another person to provide everything they need.  Then, overtime as they grow and mature, they realize they have been designed to interact with and impact the world.   So it is... we have been created to be  agents in the world.   agent (noun) 1: one who acts or exerts power 2: something that produces or is capable of producing an effect thanks Merriam-Webster dictionary     Have you ever thought of yourself as an a...

This picture has so many memories attached to it. When they were little my mom was the first one in -- teaching all three of my kids to swim.   This day she battled to get in, so wanting this moment with us.  That's what we do... "hold on tight" to those we love!   My mother battled a degenerative brain disease for the past several years with great tenacity.  Although her particular disease was not clearly diagnosable it resided somewhere with Parkinson-ism and ALS.  As time passed we watched the lasting effects of her body and mind disconnecting.  Ultimately losing all physical capacity.  In and out of specialists office we began to learn a new language. These terms always seemed to fall short of describing the reality of what my mother was experiencing.  It's not that the healthcare system failed us. We watched the realities of a degenerative disease consume my mother. Last sum...

So much of what really matters has little value in our economy.   Jesus said it this way: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21 Those last words keep ringing in my ears... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where is my heart?  What things or people or possessions or ways of thinking do I treasure? What am I holding on to?  The author of Abundant Simplicity , Jan Johnson, challenges us to experiment with the prayer of self-awareness at the end of Chapter 1.  

  Starting this journey my fav a.m. beverage . Abundant Simplicity is an odd combination of words, don't you think? At face value it seems more like an oxymoron .  You know, like Crazy Wisdom, Deafening Silence, Irregular Pattern or Sweet Sorrow .  An unexpected combination of two things that seem to contradict each other.    Abundant describes something that is present in great quantity; more than adequate, over-sufficient, abounding, overflowing. Simplicity is the state or quality of being simple, free from complexity or singleness of nature.   Is it possible to have abundance and simplicity at the same time?  We'll see. Could abundant simplicity be a paradox?

Last year we talked about ADVENT as part of Real Moms (our weekly gathering @ Grace Church for Monms of young children).  With the ADVENT season fast approaching -- it seemed like a good idea to offer this quick reference guide for moms and others who might want to integrate ADVENT into their holiday season.  Thanks Amanda Congrove for pulling this guide together.  Advent Guide                                  Believe! The English word advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means “coming”. The Greek word for adventus is parousia .   The meaning of parousia is also “coming” but refers specifically to the second coming of Christ. Advent is celebrated in the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.   These four weeks of anticipation are the WHY of Advent.   ...

African Women's Leadership Training - in partnership with Grace Church and ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries).. These women are leaders in the communities and churches .  They are participating in a 3 year leadership program.  They will graduate in the summer of 2018. (Rwanda, Africa) www.AfricanWomensLeadershipTraining.org I am undone by the stories of these women.  Their perseverance and strength amazes me.  They may live thousands of miles away in what we see as a remote pat of the world. However, we must realize that we share this world .  We must open our eyes and hearts to OUR world .  We must be willing to look around.  Take a look and you'll see some of the broken places of  OUR world .  It's heart wrenching.  Yet, there is beauty as we look through  windows bursting open with hope  in some of the most difficult places.   I invite you to join me as I link arms wit...

What if there were another way? Another way to be. Another way to live. What if we could be like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.   - Psalm 1:3 WOD Conference Session 1 • Corinne Gunter from Grace Church on Vimeo . I had the chance to speak to this way of life.  This way of being at the Way of Discipleship Conference at Grace Church -- it begins with our own walk and journey with God.     

At the beginning of a new year, it seems natural to pause and reflect.  I have to be honest last year was hard.  Sure there were great things, fun and excitement.  Yet in midst of living our family experienced a life-altering loss on October 10, 2013.

The years have flown by.  It seems only yesterday I was a little girl living in the back bedroom. Days spent helping my mom with laundry or gardening.  Or at least pretending to be helpful--you would have to ask her the truth. My mom has always worked tirelessly -- from early morning to evening.  Not only did she manage our household and create delicious meals from the produce she grew from their enormous garden, she also was an entrepreneur and business owner.

It takes time and intentionality to establish a rhythm.  It takes time and intentionality to develop a relationship. And sometimes we need a CHALLENGE to get us moving.        So, here's one!  31 Days -- reading and engaging in Bible.   Just 3 questions to guide your reading! 

Have you heard about this?  Real time life logging no pen or paper required.  "What if you recorded every second of your life and were able to replay it at a moment's notice? For two months, Esquire editor A.J. Jacobs did just that. He talks about what he learned by being able to rewind his life to catch anything he missed, and how the people in his life reacted." Take a look.   A camera or camcorder to be worn that literally records your life as it happens.  Every word, every conversation, everything you see and everything you do.  Honestly, I'm not sure I'd like to see a true representation of some of my days. Like most everyone,  I'd find that my words don't reflect my heart or my intentions OR maybe they do more than I want to admit.  Somedays, I'd wish I did more of this and less of that.  Maybe seeing an accurate picture isn't such a bad idea at least everyonce in awhile.  At least if that picture pro...