But, my cough is dying down, which is definately a good thing! I've been trying new medicines/cough & cold cures just to see what will work...Except for being knocked out for about 3 hours yesterday, they are fantastic. Someone said though, that I probably needed to sleep...Me, sleep? What does that even mean? I must admit, it has been really nice to get 8 hours of sleep a night...

Well, this morning I woke up and I've been taking things really easy because I've got to go down to the 'Nati tonight for Bible Study at the University...So, I'm being pretty lazy and watching Dr. Phil, sitting in my PJ's still with a box of Kleenex by my side...Then, the phone rang. Now, I'm downstairs so I don't have my caller ID with me, so I hesitate to answer the phone when I don't know who's calling. But, I answered it anyway and I can't tell you how glad I am that I answered it!

The phone call came from a gentleman who was in church on Sunday morning and is not a "usual"...He's been to the church maybe twice in the 3 years that I've been there. He called this morning to tell me that my sermon really moved him and moved him to tears. He was grateful for the message and the way that it was presented and he said that it was what he needed to hear. He also said that he was going to follow what I had suggested and that he wanted to get involved with some studies at the church. I literally wanted to fall down and sob myself. Sunday morning I was feeling probably pretty close to the worst I'd felt, physically, all weekend. I was naseous, dizzy, headache, stuffy nose, cough...Just all in all rotten. I literally did not want to get out of bed, but because I was preaching and also because the senior pastor is on vacation. I had to lean on God so much harder than usual that morning becuase I physically could not do it on my own. After this phone call, I felt so, so humbled. Not that I'm not humbled every time I preach because I know that it's not me up there...But, this time I know absolutely that I could not have even stood up there had it not been for God.

I can't explain this in theological terms or put a "head" kind of thinking to this experience. I know that I am a mystic (and I'm coming to terms with that) and that I tend to look at things in more experiential and this was defintitely an experience. I am sitting still, literally shaking...And it's not because I have a fever...It was such a validation in ways that I can't explain.

To be honest, it's actually not the only validation that I have received in even the past two days. I've talked often about the relationship that I have with Ed and how much I value his opinions and our conversations. Out of the blue, he e-mailed me last night to tell me that he was proud of me and excited to see what would happen in my future...Another woman told me yesterday that nobody can tell that I'm a student and I look like I've been a pastor my whole life...My mentor told me that he can't see where I'll be in the next 10 years, but he knows that it will be something amazing. Not to mention all of the comments and messages that I've gotten from people here!

Maybe I'm paying attention more to these comments because I've had a bad week...But, I am so humbled by the attention and wordes of encouragement from people who don't even know what kinds of things are going on in my life...But, I know that this is only because of God...

Yes folks, I have been working on writing and rewriting the bylaws for the Student Council of United Theological Seminary for almost 2 years now...It has been a painful process. I proposed them about a year ago for the first time and it has taken until today for them to be finished and voted upon. The good news is that they were approved and put into place today! It was such a sense of accomplishment for them to be done and put in place. I need to do the final write-up, but that is nothing compared to the writing that I've already done. So, celebration is very much in order!

In other news...I know that I've said it before, but I really have a wonderful relationship with the president of the school here. He is an amazing friend and mentor. I met with him this morning to chat about my trip to California a few weeks ago. Before the conversation about the trip started, we began to talk about where I was going to be as far as placement and I told him that I really wanted to be in Chicago. His response was, "Well, I wonder who I know in Chicago that I can call for you." I was shocked! Not so much that he would make the call, but that he was so direct about saying that. I don't know if he actually will, but I think that he might...I don't know. After the California conversation to which he was very impressed and grateful for the work that I had done for the school, we talked about the condition of my soul...That's one of his favorite questions! As I was getting ready to leave he told me, "You're precious, you know that? I knew that you were special from the first day that I met you...And you weren't even a student yet!" I really thought about crying and I honestly didn't know what to say after that. I wanted to tell him how much I admire him nad what he has done both for the school and my personal development as a student and a pastor. I am so blessed to be in this place and interacting with the people that I have met. There is no question that God has done some amazing things as I've been out here in D-town...I am going to be sad to leave...

One of the things that I think is the most important in the ministry that I do is building up leadership of those who are younger. I think that youth and children have an important place in the life of the church, the worship of the body, and within the leadership of the church. It is important to note that children and youth are not the future of the church, but they are the present of the church. They should be able to experience their faith and God in their own ways and lead in the doctrines and the path of their family or what they discover as the right path for them.

I feel a swell of pride when a child or youth that I have worked with takes a step out and does something within the leadership of the church-- either in worship or committees. I know that it doesn't have much to do with me, I am only a nurturer and supporter of those gifts and abilities that are already there. I cannot and do not create gifts and/or abilities in people, but I am able to recognize strengths in people and foster the growth and allow opportunities for them to share those gifs with others. I say that it makes me swell with pride, but again I know that it is not me who did anything...In the end it was that individual and God and their letting God speak in them, through them, and in spite of them--whatever the case may be-- if it's preaching, reading scripture, voting, making a point in a meeting, singing a song, dancing, laughing, or something else...

One of the thigns that I have learned over the past 3 years is not to wait until the end of the time I am with a group to give the larger opportunities. I am so proud of the group that I work with for their courage, ability to quesition, faith, acceptance, and vitality. I only hope that they take the gifts that they have and continue to build upon them. More than that, I hope that they never lose the courage and self-confidence that they have because someone tells them that they can't...

It makes me sad when some adults think that it is their place to "correct" someone younger. Yes, there is a time and place for constructive criticism, but it is not in the first 5 minutes of a speaking engagement or in a corrective tone telling a child to be quiet. I would hope that more adults would come to the realization that the younger generations are precious and something to be fostered and grown rather than shot down and given no reason to grow...