What I expected

Week three of my current job situation and I am loving it. Once a week I have a 90 minute each way commute and I've settled into a lovely routine. Every wednesday I charge up my zune, check that I have the next Mark Driscoll sermon on it and begin my day before the sun rises. I stop by my favorite Starbucks for coffee and my weekly scone. Then I head down the highway, watch sun rise, and listen to wisdom from the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Each week, as I have zipped down the road, God shows me his beautiful creation around me. Meanwhile 1 Peter is rocking my world in an excellent way. I am encouraged and challenged through listening to Mars Hill sermons. I am blessed by a commute and that was not what I have expected. I should have expected God would use my commute. I put him in charge of my commute and he has consistently ministered to me through the commute.

You are Welcome

As my current church meets on Sunday evenings, I have found my Sunday mornings free and what should I dowith free Sunday mornings, but learn more about church. So I had set out to visit various denomenations. My thought was attending a service would provide me with experiental lessons that I could then suppliment with reading material. It's not that I am planning on changing denomenations. Rather I believe that opening the channels of communication cross-denomenationally is what will enable the family of God to thrive through the 21st century. In order to open my mind and better understand a larger cross section of the family of God, I figured I should visit a diverse cross section of denomenations.

I began last week as St Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church . The architecture and design of the church was familiar and comfortable. It reminded me of the little Anglican building my church in England met in. Then Reverend Phil intoduced himself to me and that began a morning full of warm welcomes, sincere interest, and a wonderful level of genuine hospitality. A student of mine ran over and welcomed me with a hug, then declared she would sit with me, before scampering off to let her grandma know. The four women sitting in front of me introduced themselves and we chatted casually. It was the perfect medium. They didn't ask me twenty questions, nor did they say hi and then go back to their own conversations. Then two of the ladies got up from their pew and joined me on my almost empty row. Wow. After church I ended up staying almost 45 minutes chatting during coffee and donut time. Unexpectedly, I might return.

I went to the church to learn about Episcopal services and I did. The liturgy and music was a bit different, but felt right. The sermon was clear and Biblically sound. Yet, it was the since of welcome that draws me back to the congregation. I can't recall ever having such a warm welcome as a visitor. I can't recall providing such a warm welcome to a visitor.

That amazing welcome is the lesson I learned. When new people come into church settings, I ought to be eager to welcome them into the fold. Coming into a church is intimidating and awkward. However, living hospitality and remembering that fellowship should be inclusive, rather than exclusive are remedies for lack of welcome. If I was new to my church, would I return based on how I was greeted, connected with, and followed up? That is an important question. Relationships are key reasons why people stay at church. Therefore we must begin to relate to people who cross the threshhold of the church door with the intention of building the ground floor of a relationship. Shallow welcomes are inhospitable and possibly worse than no welcome at all. At church we all must be less concerned with chatting it up with all our friends and more concerned with engaging and relating to newcomers. That is the unexpected lesson I learned at St Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. They get it; the genuine interest in someone new.

Smile Compile (aka things that make me smile)

1. warm rain
2. Augustine's City of God
3. 25 random thing lists
4. Blankets on the couch
5. New hair cuts
5. fresh flowers
6. decorated toe nails
7. soft scarves
8. grilled salmon
9. yellow
10. galoshes
11. fairy wings
12. texts from friends

Drive Thru Confusion

So, although I understand the convenience of drive-thru windows, I must confess I am not their biggest fan. At In and Out I can deal with it because their menu is very simple. At Sonic I actually like to get out and use the walk up order screens. As for most of the world's drive-thrus, I'd like to pass. There is such pressure to order quickly and move on. As I am spending my hard earned money, I prefer to take my time. Additionally, the menu's are often designed for aesthetics rather than ease of ordering. This also slows down a successful decision. Still I am sometimes drawn in by the convienence of not exiting the car. Yesterday I braved a KFC/Long John silver's Drive thru. First it seemed put together poorly. There was a choose three advertisement a car space before the menu, but no choose three options on the actual menu board. Then they had snack meals which included sides but did not list the sides, and as I discovered when ordering did not include a drink. I had never heard a a fast food meal deal not including a drink. Then they had Dr. Pepper clearly advertised on the menu board, but did not sell Dr. Pepper. Thirdly they had so many sub menus and different meal groups I should have been able to find my perfect combination, but was left overwhelmed and stymied. I vote for the KFC/Long John Silvers drive thru as the world's worst drive thru.

Growing Pains

Oppression: the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety, etc.
As I began 2009, I was indifferent to things happening all around me, and then it hit me. While all around doors are opening wide for Hope's visions and plans, those of us who call ourselves part of Hope's family are struggling each in our own way. Cars brake down, jobs fall through, health falters, personal momentum stutters. It is in this place and at this time that growth is occuring and growing pains are in fact painful. I don't get a choice. There is no easy route. I was not promised an easy route, in fact I was told the road would be hard and the cost would be high. I just didn't listen. I must persevere, for there are really only two options live in God's will and know that He is with me through it all, or choose to not follow his will and live a life alienated from his comfort. If those indeed are the only two options (And I believe they are the only two), then I do choose his will, and the growing pains, and the oppression, for with these things is the assurance even through the frustration that I have joined God in His plans.

wonder of wonders

"Today is the first day of the rest of my life." Kind of a silly statement. Every today can claim that. Today is the first day of my new blog, now that is a bit more unique. I fought with a printer thise week and won. I called the trouble shooting number and did not feel talked down to. Now I am home, procrastinating, or resting before the next task. I guess it depends on one's perspective, which is pretty significant.

How one views a situation can revolutionize how they deal with it. For instance last week I was at the post office. The line was over 10 people long and there was one postal worker helping people. All around me people grumbled and some people turned and left upon arrival. Still others in front of me gave up and left. I however carry books and crochet work for these occassions. See, I used to be impatient, but now i patiently read or work on something else while in line. I see the line as an opportunity to get more reading done or work on flash cards. This perspective enables me to calmly embrace lines and patiently wait for my turn. Perspective. In this way, life really is what you make it.