There's a funny thing about the truth. You either love it or you hate it. Sometimes both. In my own life, it's never been the truth so much that was horrific, as have been the lies that have kept it hidden. I love truth, but I do believe that because we are sinful we can't always tell the truth all the time. I wish someone would persuade me otherwise.
There have been times I have wanted to lie, but told the truth instead. Sometimes telling the truth costs you things. Sometimes you lose things because of it. But I've never wished I hadn't told (or that someone hadn't told me) the truth.
I'm thinking about it mostly because Easter is approaching and more than just planning, organizing and creating, I'm trying to keep my focus on all the things Good Friday and Easter Sunday are really about. It's not about a spectacle of performance, stage design, songs, sermons or any of that. Jesus said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life." I love knowing that everything He says is good and true. Even when I'm wretched, hate the truth of who I am and have a propensity to sometimes ignore the truth when I hear it, I am loved by God who is faithful and true. Always loved by Him.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The One About the Weekend
Five things I did this weekend.
1. Bought Easter shoes.
2. Had dinner with a friend. Twice. Two different friends.
3. Slept 12 hours Saturday night.
4. Discovered a yummy new summer drink at Starbucks.
5. Rested on Sabbath.
And three things I didn't.
1. Write my debate that's due tomorrow afternoon.
2. Prepare the lecture I'm giving tomorrow night.
3. Get my oil changed.
Check this out:
1. Bought Easter shoes.
2. Had dinner with a friend. Twice. Two different friends.
3. Slept 12 hours Saturday night.
4. Discovered a yummy new summer drink at Starbucks.
5. Rested on Sabbath.
And three things I didn't.
1. Write my debate that's due tomorrow afternoon.
2. Prepare the lecture I'm giving tomorrow night.
3. Get my oil changed.
Check this out:
The One About Me Being Right
Back in September I told a friend, "I wish I could fast forward six months. I know in six months I won't feel this way." That was seven months ago. I was right!! If there is one thing I know how to do, it's how to let God heal me and move on. Even in moments of crazy my-life-is-insane-and-upside-down pain, I know I'm going to be ok.
I offer a few reasons why I know this:
1. History tells me so. My own history.
2. The people who love me tell me so.
3. I tell myself so.
4. The Bible tells me so. Romans 8:28. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Because I've made mistakes, I want to allow God to redeem those in me and let them be used for good. Several weeks ago, I got a random request to talk with someone I don't really know that well because he was struggling and knew I had been in his shoes. He wanted to talk about his junk, and I wanted to let God use my junk...so we talked. I had to pull back the veil on some of the junk in my past so this person would know I had the authority to say the things I was saying. That was tough. But God used it.
I love what happens at the end of Genesis 50. Joseph tells his brothers - you intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. Sometimes people don't intend to harm us, but they do. Sometimes we don't intend to harm others, but we do. Sometimes we don't intend to harm ourselves...but we do. Whichever way it goes down, God can use it for good. The hard part is not knowing how He's going to use it. The beauty is knowing He will, and seeing when He does!
I offer a few reasons why I know this:
1. History tells me so. My own history.
2. The people who love me tell me so.
3. I tell myself so.
4. The Bible tells me so. Romans 8:28. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Because I've made mistakes, I want to allow God to redeem those in me and let them be used for good. Several weeks ago, I got a random request to talk with someone I don't really know that well because he was struggling and knew I had been in his shoes. He wanted to talk about his junk, and I wanted to let God use my junk...so we talked. I had to pull back the veil on some of the junk in my past so this person would know I had the authority to say the things I was saying. That was tough. But God used it.
I love what happens at the end of Genesis 50. Joseph tells his brothers - you intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. Sometimes people don't intend to harm us, but they do. Sometimes we don't intend to harm others, but we do. Sometimes we don't intend to harm ourselves...but we do. Whichever way it goes down, God can use it for good. The hard part is not knowing how He's going to use it. The beauty is knowing He will, and seeing when He does!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The One About the New Series
So we are starting a new series on Sunday - Thrive.
This is the first time Allison and I have partnered on a creative project...we brainstormed it and talked about it for several weeks...and the end result was we were pleased but we both agreed, "we can do WAY better." Here's a pic of a design we made for the welcome center.
The series is about ways we can thrive as leaders in the church. The welcome center display consists of about thirty jars filled with dirt and fake flowers hung from the ceiling. The graphic we printed on our large plotter printer and mounted it on cardboard that we ripped and shredded to look worn (instead of the normal black art board that we use for mounting). We hung everything with thin pieces of rope.
In the Sanctuary stage right, we hung large pink letters that say Thrive, along with some three-dimensional flower pots underneath. For those we used cardboard, flower pots that we cut in half, and acrylic paint. For stage left, we made a 4x4 ft. 3D box of the graphic shown above. We used a giant sunflower, metal letters, potting soil and a large garden box that we sweet-talked a guy at home depot into selling us for $10 off (it was a display). More pics of that stuff to come.
Final touches were adding some more stage lights and changing out the lighting gels to green.
We kept pep talking ourselves along the way that we could do this, and that we could do it on the cheap and be resourceful. We did well...we picked up things at the Genesis center, the cardboard we used comes packed in shipments from our printer as filler to keep things from moving around, and we used tons of paint and glue that we already had...and most of the things we did have to purchase, we will be able to use later.
We are looking into exciting new ways to work with coroplast. More on that to come too.
This is the first time Allison and I have partnered on a creative project...we brainstormed it and talked about it for several weeks...and the end result was we were pleased but we both agreed, "we can do WAY better." Here's a pic of a design we made for the welcome center.
The series is about ways we can thrive as leaders in the church. The welcome center display consists of about thirty jars filled with dirt and fake flowers hung from the ceiling. The graphic we printed on our large plotter printer and mounted it on cardboard that we ripped and shredded to look worn (instead of the normal black art board that we use for mounting). We hung everything with thin pieces of rope.
In the Sanctuary stage right, we hung large pink letters that say Thrive, along with some three-dimensional flower pots underneath. For those we used cardboard, flower pots that we cut in half, and acrylic paint. For stage left, we made a 4x4 ft. 3D box of the graphic shown above. We used a giant sunflower, metal letters, potting soil and a large garden box that we sweet-talked a guy at home depot into selling us for $10 off (it was a display). More pics of that stuff to come.
Final touches were adding some more stage lights and changing out the lighting gels to green.
We kept pep talking ourselves along the way that we could do this, and that we could do it on the cheap and be resourceful. We did well...we picked up things at the Genesis center, the cardboard we used comes packed in shipments from our printer as filler to keep things from moving around, and we used tons of paint and glue that we already had...and most of the things we did have to purchase, we will be able to use later.
We are looking into exciting new ways to work with coroplast. More on that to come too.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The One About Turning 33
OR - The One About Things I Don't Do Now That I'm 33
32 needed a makeover. Badly. Today, although it is my birthday, isn't really a turning point, but it makes a good benchmark - something like, I wasn't stupid anymore after I turned 33. Yeah, that sounds good!
1. I don't do drama. My life is drama-free these days, and I love it that way. I've learned how to see drama when it's coming, and how to side-step it. Life is quiet.
2. I don't text and drive. I find it almost impossible. For my own safety (and the safety of others) I've almost stopped completely. (I do still talk and drive...I'm not THAT old).
3. I don't eat sugar or fried food. Ok, that one's not true, but I really wish it was. I'm eating a bag of cinnamon bears right now. But I really don't eat much fried stuff.
4. I don't Facebook, and I don't Twitter. Ok, that's not true either, but I'm thinking very seriously of giving them up. They don't add any real value to my life. I'm all for community and such, but I don't like how time consuming social media is. I do occasionally get info about music and events and such off the Twitter, but I'm not sure it's enough. Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day and I remembered what it was like to enjoy being outside, good music, and...well...skipping class. And I kept singing this song by Hank Jr (I'm For Love):
The cities against the county, The county's against the state
The state is against the government, And the highways still ain’t paved
The banker’s against the farmer, The farmer’s against the wall,
Doctors against me smoking, And the devil's against us all
But I’m for love and I’m for happiness
And I’m for “if you don’t like it can’t you just let it pass.”
And I’m for turning off the tube and turning down the lights
‘Cause I’m for nothing else but me and you tonight
Ok, the lyrics don't fit that well, but I like the song and I've been singing it.
32 needed a makeover. Badly. Today, although it is my birthday, isn't really a turning point, but it makes a good benchmark - something like, I wasn't stupid anymore after I turned 33. Yeah, that sounds good!
1. I don't do drama. My life is drama-free these days, and I love it that way. I've learned how to see drama when it's coming, and how to side-step it. Life is quiet.
2. I don't text and drive. I find it almost impossible. For my own safety (and the safety of others) I've almost stopped completely. (I do still talk and drive...I'm not THAT old).
3. I don't eat sugar or fried food. Ok, that one's not true, but I really wish it was. I'm eating a bag of cinnamon bears right now. But I really don't eat much fried stuff.
4. I don't Facebook, and I don't Twitter. Ok, that's not true either, but I'm thinking very seriously of giving them up. They don't add any real value to my life. I'm all for community and such, but I don't like how time consuming social media is. I do occasionally get info about music and events and such off the Twitter, but I'm not sure it's enough. Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day and I remembered what it was like to enjoy being outside, good music, and...well...skipping class. And I kept singing this song by Hank Jr (I'm For Love):
The cities against the county, The county's against the state
The state is against the government, And the highways still ain’t paved
The banker’s against the farmer, The farmer’s against the wall,
Doctors against me smoking, And the devil's against us all
But I’m for love and I’m for happiness
And I’m for “if you don’t like it can’t you just let it pass.”
And I’m for turning off the tube and turning down the lights
‘Cause I’m for nothing else but me and you tonight
Ok, the lyrics don't fit that well, but I like the song and I've been singing it.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The One About the Apps I Use
Jon Acuff wanted to know, so I thought I would share what apps I am using.
1. PCO - Planning Center Online (worship prep)
2. Pulse (organize blogs I like to read)*fave
3. YouVersion (Bible)
4. 2Do (keeping my boss organized)
5. Penultimate (notetaker)
6. Instagram (photo app)
Others I like but not in my top six:
GoodReader, Facebook, Twitter, AIM, Wells Fargo, Kindle, Flixster, The Weather Channel, SongSuggest.
Ones that didn't work out:
1. Things (to do list)
2. ProRemote (for running ProPresenter in the Sanctuary)
3. Hipstamatic (photo app)
4. Bump
5. Worship Central
There. I blogged about technology. Now you know what apps I'm using. If Acuff stumbles across my blog, then he'll know too.
1. PCO - Planning Center Online (worship prep)
2. Pulse (organize blogs I like to read)*fave
3. YouVersion (Bible)
4. 2Do (keeping my boss organized)
5. Penultimate (notetaker)
6. Instagram (photo app)
Others I like but not in my top six:
GoodReader, Facebook, Twitter, AIM, Wells Fargo, Kindle, Flixster, The Weather Channel, SongSuggest.
Ones that didn't work out:
1. Things (to do list)
2. ProRemote (for running ProPresenter in the Sanctuary)
3. Hipstamatic (photo app)
4. Bump
5. Worship Central
There. I blogged about technology. Now you know what apps I'm using. If Acuff stumbles across my blog, then he'll know too.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The One About the Trip Home
Once we left Chicago, G and I were ready to be home. We stopped in St. Louis to spend the night, and then we planned to drive home from there on Friday morning. I thought we'd be home around 9pm.
Did I already mention the toothache I had on the previous Saturday when we were driving to Wisconsin? This is important here...so my tooth started hurting. A tooth that needs a crown that I keep putting off. I didn't want to go to a dentist in Wisconsin, so I called my dentist back in TX and he called me in some antibiotics and...pain reliever.
Fast forward a week.
I had laid off the pain relievers, but I took the antibiotics faithfully every day. Woke up Friday morning, took my two pills and we went down to breakfast. Gav and I are sitting there eating, and I'm looking out the window...as I turn my head, I feel like it is turning in slow motion and I'm starting to feel like Beetle Juice. (I haven't seen this movie in 20 years or more, but you know what I'm saying. My head felt ridiculously out of proportion to the rest of my body). I was seriously thinking what in the world is going on?? Is this what it feels like to have a stroke? Do you know you're having an aneurysm when you have one? Then I saw in my mind the two pills in my hand before I took them. They were white. They should have been green. Ohmylife, I took TWO 500mg hydrocodone before we were about to make an 11 hour drive! Ridiculous. So we went back to our room and I laid down until check out time. I let AW know about the ridiculousness, and she kept tabs on me all day as we made our way back.
I've been worn out...slept as much as I could yesterday and today, and finally starting to feel normal again.
I tweeted about this when I got home Friday night and @hydrocodonehelp started following me. I blocked them.
Woke up Saturday morning (in my own bed!) and my eye was halfway swollen shut. Weird. No clue. Looked like a bug bite. It's better now.
Strange things happen to me.
We had a WONDERFUL trip seeing friends we ADORE. Loved Chicago. I will probably NEVER drive there again.
Did I already mention the toothache I had on the previous Saturday when we were driving to Wisconsin? This is important here...so my tooth started hurting. A tooth that needs a crown that I keep putting off. I didn't want to go to a dentist in Wisconsin, so I called my dentist back in TX and he called me in some antibiotics and...pain reliever.
Fast forward a week.
I had laid off the pain relievers, but I took the antibiotics faithfully every day. Woke up Friday morning, took my two pills and we went down to breakfast. Gav and I are sitting there eating, and I'm looking out the window...as I turn my head, I feel like it is turning in slow motion and I'm starting to feel like Beetle Juice. (I haven't seen this movie in 20 years or more, but you know what I'm saying. My head felt ridiculously out of proportion to the rest of my body). I was seriously thinking what in the world is going on?? Is this what it feels like to have a stroke? Do you know you're having an aneurysm when you have one? Then I saw in my mind the two pills in my hand before I took them. They were white. They should have been green. Ohmylife, I took TWO 500mg hydrocodone before we were about to make an 11 hour drive! Ridiculous. So we went back to our room and I laid down until check out time. I let AW know about the ridiculousness, and she kept tabs on me all day as we made our way back.
I've been worn out...slept as much as I could yesterday and today, and finally starting to feel normal again.
I tweeted about this when I got home Friday night and @hydrocodonehelp started following me. I blocked them.
Woke up Saturday morning (in my own bed!) and my eye was halfway swollen shut. Weird. No clue. Looked like a bug bite. It's better now.
Strange things happen to me.
We had a WONDERFUL trip seeing friends we ADORE. Loved Chicago. I will probably NEVER drive there again.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The One About the Seventh Day of Spring Break
Today, we finally found the Museum of Science & Industry. In a word: AWESOME. Gavin loved it. We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked, but about the time we left, the place was flooded with school groups. G has already asked when we can go back. I was surprised to see that of all the exhibits and things to see and interact with, he liked the weather/science section best. He LOVED it. We had such a great time.
Gavin checking out a simulated tornado.
Me and G.
Me & Cindy Lou.
G at the baby chick exhibit.
Chicago was fun, I was really scared of going there on my own. From now on, I think I'll call that city SHEcago - since I conquered it! Relieved to be a little closer to home...spending the night in St. Louis.
Lots of driving, lots of time thinking, singing and praying. Good things to come.
The One About the Sixth Day of Spring Break
Yesterday was a great first day in Chicago. We drove around for an hour looking for the Museum of Science & Industry, gave up and checked into our hotel. After unloading, we visited the John Hancock Observatory.
Then, we did a little shopping...
And finally, had a great dinner...
That pizza was delish. I'm pretty sure I've gained 10 pounds.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The One About the Fifth Day of Spring Break
We didn't do anything today, and I loved it. We didn't even leave the house. I did, however, take a shower.
I'm sitting in Cindy & Bub's bedroom, on their floor - looking out at their backyard. Here's a pic:
I've seen pics of it in summer...that is a beautiful greenbelt, you just can't tell right now. It's still really serene for me. You might think its weird that I'm sitting in their bedroom, but I had to plug my laptop into their...um...modem? Router? What's the right word, here? I'm not sure...I have someone in charge of electronicals in my life. I don't know the right words for these things...Anyway, we tried unsuccessfully last night to crack their password to get on wirelessly, which leads me to being connected the old-fashioned way. The box thingy is in their bedroom.
I love these people. It has been a great time here. We've talked about life, ministry, love, people, relationships, pain, forgiveness, repentance...just to name a few. Our kids have played great together. We've rested a lot, slept late, taken naps...It has really been great.
Tomorrow, we leave to two days in Chicago. I'm stoked, to put it mildly. I'm also nervous. I'm a country mouse.
I'm sitting in Cindy & Bub's bedroom, on their floor - looking out at their backyard. Here's a pic:
I've seen pics of it in summer...that is a beautiful greenbelt, you just can't tell right now. It's still really serene for me. You might think its weird that I'm sitting in their bedroom, but I had to plug my laptop into their...um...modem? Router? What's the right word, here? I'm not sure...I have someone in charge of electronicals in my life. I don't know the right words for these things...Anyway, we tried unsuccessfully last night to crack their password to get on wirelessly, which leads me to being connected the old-fashioned way. The box thingy is in their bedroom.
I love these people. It has been a great time here. We've talked about life, ministry, love, people, relationships, pain, forgiveness, repentance...just to name a few. Our kids have played great together. We've rested a lot, slept late, taken naps...It has really been great.
Tomorrow, we leave to two days in Chicago. I'm stoked, to put it mildly. I'm also nervous. I'm a country mouse.
The One About the Fourth Day of Spring Break
Yesterday we took the kids to Monkey Joe's. It's and indoor bounce house place. For $8 each, the kids played for about five hours while the grown-ups sat and talked. Ingenious! Gav woke up talking about it today and wants to go back.
Last night for dinner Bubs grilled us some chicken, and made broccoli and mashed potatoes. Then he made me a birthday cake. Good, good times.
Last night for dinner Bubs grilled us some chicken, and made broccoli and mashed potatoes. Then he made me a birthday cake. Good, good times.
Monday, March 14, 2011
The One About the Third Day of Spring Break
Yesterday we were able to attend church where my friends are on staff. Hearing my old friend preach and talking ministry with he and his wife has been so fun. We have done ministry most of our adult lives and it is funny to see how we have changed over the years. He called me a liberal yesterday! But he is too, so that's ok.
I had just about the best Sunday nap ever. I think that's what happens when you confuse antibiotics and pain reliever. I had to have my dentist call in a prescription for both when we got here. I have a tooth situation.
Last night we took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese and they had a great time.
I had just about the best Sunday nap ever. I think that's what happens when you confuse antibiotics and pain reliever. I had to have my dentist call in a prescription for both when we got here. I have a tooth situation.
Last night we took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese and they had a great time.
The One About The Second Day of Spring Break
We visited St. Louis Saturday. We tried to go to the top of the arch, but there was a four hour wait. We are going to hit it up on the way home. Here's a pic.
We finally made it around 6:30pm to our destination. So fun seeing our old friends.
We finally made it around 6:30pm to our destination. So fun seeing our old friends.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The One About the First Day of Spring Break
We woke up in Springfield. I'm still tired. We slept good, but G$ woke up early.
It's been a long time since I've been through Oklahoma. G$ asked me if I like Texas or Oklahoma better. I just stared at him. That got me thinking about why we think everything is better in Texas.
1. Because it has that cool shape that everyone knows is Texas. If you saw the shape of Missouri, would you know it was Missouri? No, but I do believe that most people recognize TX!
2. All the way across OK, we saw and smelled smoke. I asked someone about it, and she said they've had a lot of grass fires. So there's that. Texas isn't on fire. In a good way.
3. We have nice rest stops. G$ and I have a strict policy about stopping to potty when we travel. Unless we need gas, we stop at rest stops. We spend less money that way.
4. And I don't know why else we think TX is better, but most of us do.
Traffic was great on the way here. 90% of the time, we were on cruise control and just enjoyed the drive. We are heading out soon, possibly stopping at the arch today in St. Louis. All I've seen so far of Missouri has been in the dark.
It's been a long time since I've been through Oklahoma. G$ asked me if I like Texas or Oklahoma better. I just stared at him. That got me thinking about why we think everything is better in Texas.
1. Because it has that cool shape that everyone knows is Texas. If you saw the shape of Missouri, would you know it was Missouri? No, but I do believe that most people recognize TX!
2. All the way across OK, we saw and smelled smoke. I asked someone about it, and she said they've had a lot of grass fires. So there's that. Texas isn't on fire. In a good way.
3. We have nice rest stops. G$ and I have a strict policy about stopping to potty when we travel. Unless we need gas, we stop at rest stops. We spend less money that way.
4. And I don't know why else we think TX is better, but most of us do.
Traffic was great on the way here. 90% of the time, we were on cruise control and just enjoyed the drive. We are heading out soon, possibly stopping at the arch today in St. Louis. All I've seen so far of Missouri has been in the dark.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The One About Everything
I have a pet peeve. It's horrible and selfish, and I feel small for even saying it. I hate it when people send group messages via Facebook & I get everyone's response. I believe AW said this made me a "snob" and "rigid"...but I don't take offense to that. Hey, we all have our "thing," whatever it might be. I just hate getting an update from 18 different people that yes, they are indeed going to attend whoever's whatever, wherever it may be. It's unchristian, I know.
We leave on Friday for our spring break trip! Completely excited and overwhelmed thinking about what needs to be done to get ready.
Mid-term today. There is a 50/50 chance I passed it.
Completely jacked up about creative ideas for our series that begins on 3/27 called Thrive. Hopefully some video on that soon.
Easter plans are coming along and I have butterflies. Not that we are doing a huge production (in fact, we're toning it down), but that I love Easter, and I'm nervously looking forward to it.
We leave on Friday for our spring break trip! Completely excited and overwhelmed thinking about what needs to be done to get ready.
Mid-term today. There is a 50/50 chance I passed it.
Completely jacked up about creative ideas for our series that begins on 3/27 called Thrive. Hopefully some video on that soon.
Easter plans are coming along and I have butterflies. Not that we are doing a huge production (in fact, we're toning it down), but that I love Easter, and I'm nervously looking forward to it.
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