30-Day Challenge: Day 9

day 09 - a song that you can dance to


I didn't want to like Lady Gaga...I really didn't...But she can write a hook like nobody's business.  It just kind of burrows in your head and gets stuck there!  And this one does indeed make me dance every time.

Blessings 3/30/11

1.) Kelsey cooking me breakfast!
2.) Warm weather!
3.) Kelsey cooking me dinner!
4.) No agenda
5.) Spending the day relaxing
6.) Shopping with my aunt
7.) Wearing a new dress!
8.) Putting together plans
9.) Starting a new book
10.) Waking up before my alarm

Paneradventure with Kelsey

"where is my fresh squeezed orange juice?"
 kelsey: "probably still in the oranges.". 


Well played, Kelsey, well played.

30-Day Challenge: Day 8

day 08 - a song that you know all the words to

This is a newer song into my rotation, but I am so infatuated with Adele's voice.  It's pure & stunning...And this song is so emotional.  It has been my regular rotation morning song...So I belt it out as I'm getting ready in the morning!  It's to the point now that I don't know that I could start my day off right without it!

Blessings 3/29/11

1.) The ocean
2.) Laughing till I cry
3.) Sushi
4.) Picking oranges!
5.) Cupcakes
6.) Wearing flip flops
7.) Sunshine
8.) Waking up to my alarm (and not before)
9.) Aloe
10.) No agenda

Book Review: Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson

Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, & Grace  by Anne Jackson

I read one of Anne Jackson's books last year at a time when my soul needed it the absolute most.  I haven't read it again, but I know that I need to...I remember hearing about this movement last year maybe...And following it every once in awhile.  But, I didn't with any consistency or with vigor.  I read all of the books I brought with me on vacation, so we stopped over at the Border's that was closing and I found a few to fill my time!  This happened to be one of them.  It's not one that I would have necessarily looked for, because I didn't know that it was in existence!  But I'm glad I read it...

I always feel awkward reviewing books that are memoirs, because I don't feel right telling someone that their experience wasn't valid.  In any case, I don't think that her experience isn't valid or incorrect...But it still makes me extremely sad that the church is perceived as a place that doesn't allow for brokenness...And perhaps perceived isn't the right word either...Because to be sure, in some places it's downright discouraged.  I have to admit that's pretty awful.  But there are parts of life that make us uncomfortable and for those who are "fixers" who can't fix everything, it's difficult to hear some of these stories and not want to or try and fix them.  Perhaps for some, that's why these stories can't be told. 

To be sure, there are some that are just uncomfortable with conversations around sex, addictions, depression, or other difficult topics...But they are real topics and real people struggle with them and real people need to know that God loves them. 

I'm sure I'm just as guilty as any of not allowing these conversations to happen...I wanted for the longest time to do a series around Postsecret that dealt with some of these conversations, but I just never did it...I wanted to have it done just right, but I couldn't ever get it together...Maybe this is a kick in the pants to do it this time?

Overall, the book was good...It was a quick & easy read because it flowed as a narrative.  I'm not sure where it will rank in all the books I will read this year, but I'm glad to have read it. 

paneradventure with Kelsey

"who picked this one?"
 Kelsey: "we consessed on it." 
me: "we what?" 
Kelsey: "like consensus...we consessed..."

30-Day Music Challenge: Day 7

day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event


I was in seminary when Hurrican Katrina hit...It was right after I had come back from Rome, Italy and I was preaching that Sunday.  The Gospel took on a different tone as I read it through 2 different lenses, but I still didn't know what I would preach on Saturday night...Then I got this song emailed to me by the band Third Day.  Come to Jesus spoke volumes to my soul in the middle of a difficult time.  In fact, after hearing it, I knew what I had to preach the next morning. 

Blessings 3/28/11

1.) Going to the ocean
2.) Hearing the still, small voice of God
3.) It is well with my soul
4.) Spending the day with no agenda
5.) Laughter
6.) Random quotations
7.) Sunshine
8.) Warm weather
9.) Red Velvet Cupcakes
10.) Family

30-Day Challenge: Day 6

day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere

So, I was going to pick something like the California Dreams theme song...Becuase that has a place in the name, so of coures that should be the one that reminds me of a place, right?  But I thought I would try & think outside the box...So, this one...It kind of has a name in the title, but not the correct spelling...I'm not sure how it started that this song was sung when we were in Rome, but it's the song that attach to the trip now! 

Blessings 3/27/11

1.) Getting to hear Kyle preach
2.) Kelsey's random quotations
3.) Texting
4.) Luke 15
5.) Laughter
6.) Rob Bell's book Love Wins
7.) Reading Anne Jackson's book Permission to Speak Freely
8.) Singing
9.) Space to dream
10.) Cute shoes!

30-Day Challenge: Day 5

day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone

My sister has this habit of telling me songs that I need to hear.  Usually it's because these songs say "Jesus".  One night, she texted me and asked if I liked songs about God, too.  I don't know why but for some reason I decided I wasn't going to like whatever song she was going to say.  It happened to be George Strait's I Saw God Today.  I listened to it and much to my chagrin, she was right...I liked it.  She told me about it on a Saturday night & I rewrote my sermon for Sunday so that I could use it!  It actually turned into a 2-weeker...So, I think of my sister everytime I hear this song!

Blessings 3/26/11

1.) Kelsey's scarf lessons
2.) Starbucks
3.) Laughter
4.) Homemade pizza
5.) Writing a devotion about hearing God's voice
6.) The Apple Store fixing my phone
7.) Random quotations
8.) Reading
9.) Feeling rested
10.) Locally owned stores

Paneradventure with Kelsey

Talking to Kelsey about clean & unclean animals & she asked "do we eat ugly animals?" 
me-- "do you mean unclean?" 
Kelsey-- "oh...yeah..."

Song Challenge: Day 4

day 04 - a song that makes you sad

There are some songs that just catch you at moments and the story that they tell captures your heart.  This is one of them....She Thinks His Name Was John by Reba McEntire.  I'm sure that it's not the 1st song that I ever cried listening to, but it was one of the first and it still tugs at my heart everytime.  I remember hearing this song and didn't know what it was about really...When I learned it was about a woman with AIDS and what that was, it took on a whole new dimension.  Even though it's one that I can't resist singing when I hear it, I still hear it with a tone of sadness attached. 

Blessings 3/25/11

1.) Spending the day shopping
2.) New dresses
3.) Random comments
4.) The sun peeking through the clouds
5.) Getting to sleep in
6.) Laughter
7.) Getting to wear a new dress!
8.) Diversity
9.) Being on vacation
10.) Not answering a work related email that can wait.

Song Challenge: Day 3

day 03 - a song that makes you happy

This one just makes me smile everytime!  The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie & I rember seeing it in the theater & eating popcorn (and crying)...This song reminds me of child like innocence, makes me remember the movie, and well...it just makes me happy!

Blessings 3/24/11

1.) Meeting baby Noey!
2.) Seeing & getting to talk with Kristin
3.) Walking in Pasadena
4.) Laughter
5.) The guy in the Apple Store jamming to a youtube video!
6.) Noey's smile
7.) Good conversations
8.) Feeling rested
9.) People who are creative
10.) Wearing flip flops!

30-Day Challenge: Day 2

day 02 - your least favorite song

There are a lot of songs that I don't like...Doesn't everyone have those?  The song that is my least favorite is not because of the song...Actually, the Robbie Williams version of Angels is one of my absolute favorites.  Just beautiful...But the Jessica Simpson version?  Just makes me angry every time I hear it.  Literally...Angry.  I can't stand Jessica Simpson anyway...This just secured it forever.  But, I'm also angry at Robbie Williams for releasing the rights to the song and letting someone ruin it in this way.  (Can you tell how much I don't like this song yet?)

Blessings 3/23/11

1.) Going to the Farmer's Market in LA
2.) Friends who put up with my rants! (Thanks Chad)
3.) The rain waiting until we got back home!
4.) Greek food
5.) Geting to spend the day just being
6.) Getting to wear a dress & flip flops!
7.) Rain
8.) Laughter
9.) Family
10.) Drinking my coffee in the sunhine on the patio

30-Day Challenge

Everytime I see these challenges posted on facebook, I think about Morgan Spurlock and his show 30 Days (Which in my opinion ended way too soon...).  Anyway, I also think about how much fun it would be to participate.  So...I'm going to try...I'm starting with one a friend of mine has been posting-- the 30-Day song challenge.  Between this & the daily blessings, it's a lot of posting going on...But I think it'll be fun! 

day 01 - your favorite song

My ultimate favorite song is difficult to choose...I really like music.  Often, I'll become infatuated with a song for awhile.  Up until recently, a Robbie Williams song would have been up here for this.  And while Robbie's songs are still pretty up there...This song found it's way into my soul with a passion.  It's honest, heartfelt, & haunting...And I love it.

Matt Morris: Bloodline

She was a girl living in the city, clinging to old religion


Praying for electricity to keep it warm for the little ones

Nobody made her wise to, the things a girl might find

In the belly of a hungry man who don't care nothing about his bloodline

She got lost in the bloodline

Heavy cost of the bloodline

She goes on, she cries at night and keeps alive his bloodline

So much riding on a bloodline

Why is he hiding from the bloodline?

It aint right she cries at night and keeps alive his bloodline



She heard heaven is invite only, reserved for Christian soldiers

Not unwed girls living in the city asking for change from strangers

But father said Jesus loves her even though she never married

God loves her more than the Christians too, she's part of his holy bloodline

She got saved in the bloodline

The price he paid for the bloodline

Changed her life, she cries at night and keeps alive his bloodline

She believes in the bloodline

Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com

Lives and breathes by the bloodline

With all her might she cries at night and keeps alive his bloodline



Ohhhhhhhhhh oooooooooooo

I know I should have never left her to shoulder all the burden

She probably won't forgive me, god might not either

I made a cross and laid it on her back

But I never broke her spirit, and she owes that to her bloodline

She stayed strong for the bloodline, I did wrong by the bloodline

But she went on she cried at night and kept alive the bloodline

Sacrifice for the bloodline, paid the price for the bloodline

For all her life she cried at night and kept alive her bloodline



Ohhhhhhhhhh she cried at night and kept alive her bloodline ooooooooooooo

Blessings 3/22/11

1.) Sandy taking me to the airport
2.) Rob Bell's book Love Wins
3.) Hanging out with the Fegan family!
4.) Being in California
5.) Being on vacation!
6.) Delicious Mexican food
7.) Frozen yogurt
8.) Laughter
9.) Finishing 2 books
10.) Sunshine

Book Review: Fall to Grace by Jay Bakker

I've been reading Fall to Grace: A Revolution of God, Self, and Society by Jay Bakker for a couple months now...I was interrupted by a couple other options and distracted by life in general.  I didn't realize how far along I was in the book until I finished it on the plane ride this morning!

Here's what I appreciated about the book--

I liked reading the book framed in a personal dimension.  This wasn't just an abstract book about God's grace, but it was told in such a way-- "This is how I have experienced grace".  That really helped to frame all of the conversation.  I could read it and know that even if I disagreed or felt a little unsure about something, I knew it was framed in personal experience. 

Overall, I enjoyed it.  It was a quick & easy read...I decided not to take notes in my book as I read and I think that also helped my frame of it being close to a memoir...I found a few things that I didn't quite agree with, but because I didn't take notes, I can't remember what they were totally...In any case it wasn't anything that I felt ruined the book or took me or the book in a direction that I couldn't go. 

I struggled slightly with the emphasis on social revolution around issues of the GLBT community.  Not because I disagree...But because I felt like that was limiting social revolution.  I think the church & Christian community does need to learn how to offer grace better & more freely.  And because the church does have a reputation of being particularly unfriendly & un-graceful to the GLBT community, I think this is a prime place to begin...But I don't think it's the only place.  I don't think that's what Jay Bakker would say either...But at times it felt like it was. 

I greatly appreciate the work that he has done to especially open doors for conversations that wouldn't necessarily happen.  I also appreciate him speaking up and using his voice in helpful ways to demonstrate grace & not perpetuate hate.

There were also places where I still read hurt & pain in his story...Especially with the Evangelical community...Now, not that it is not rightly so...But, I wonder as a slight aside...When we as Christians will get along better with one another...Whether we disagree with theological or political ideals...When will we learn to listen to one another & stop demonizing one another so that our points are louder than the others...When will we stop caring about our reputations with each other to realize that there is a whole hurting world?  That's not necessarily something in response directly to something in the book, but something that I thought of and felt after reading.

Blessings 3/21/11

1.) Being invited into people's lives
2.) Kelsey's text about scallops & frozen yogurt
3.) Sunshine!
4.) Being able to run errands earlier than I thought I would
5.) Panera
6.) Being ready for vacation! (mentally & physically)
7.) People I trust taking care of my cats
8.) Putting an away message on my email
9.) People who are excited to serve
10.) Concentration & flexibility

Blessings 3/20/11

1.) The St. Mark's UMC Gospel Choir
2.) Soul-filling worship service
3.) Fabulous youth group!
4.) Wonderful pancake breakfast!
5.) People who empower youth to serve
6.) Post-liturgical nap
7.) Youth who are excited to serve
8.) Cuddly kitties
9.) Spring time thunder storms
10.) Great colleagues

Blessings 3/19/11

1.) Doing some pastoral care at the gym
2.) My hair stylist willing & able to fit me in at the last minute!
3.) People who are dedicated to the safety, security, & well being of children
4.) Having my suitcase almost packed
5.) Spaghetti Dinner
6.) Sunshine
7.) Cleaning off my DVR
8.) A good workout this afternoon
9.) Coffee
10.) Random connections

Blessings 3/18/11

1.) Delicious pies!
2.) Honest conversation
3.) Making plans
4.) A great young adult group
5.) Coffee
6.) Not wearing a coat
7.) Hearing how people connect to the church
8.) Young people being excited to serve
9.) Hospitality
10.) Laughter

Confession

I have to make a confession...I drank some coffee this morning.  What is going to follow will be my list of excuses as to why.  Some of them are going to be great and others are going to sound lame.  But I feel the need to confess, explain, and share what happens now.  (wow, that sounds super serious...)

So, for Lent I gave up all beverages besides water...I'm following the 40 Days of Water from Blood-Water-Mission.  I had made some concessions, like on Tuesday nights for my office hours at Panera, I'd drink coffee or tea (plain, no fanciness)...And I admitted when I started that those beverages were not off limits, but I would try and avoid them.  Mentally, I thought I would avoid them all throughout Lent with the exception of Tuesdays...(and Sundays). 

The first week went really well!  I was feeling good...No caffeine withdrawl, or at least minimal...But this week...Excedrine has been my best friend.  Yesterday, though....I'm not sure why-- maybe because I've had to get up earlier than I'm used to (or like) and get moving earlier than I usually do for the last few days...I thought I could manage it, though...but this morning was terrible...And it was when I started to feel nauseous, that I knew I had to do something. 

Yesterday, I was talking with a colleague about various things and the topic of Lent came up (because I was quieter than usual) and then we also talked about my upcoming vacation...And I started to think-- if I'm going to be miserable during my vacation, which is supposed to be life & soul filling...is this worth it? 

And of course, that made me feel completely selfish and completely "un-holy" and just a mess...I didn't want to admit to thinking that at all!  The reason for giving up beverages was also to bring awareness for myself & anyone who asks, about the need for clean drinking water in places where there is none.  Also, the money that I would typically spend on such beverages would be sent somewhere to help bring wells or clean drinking water.  And it made me feel absolutely awful to compare my caffeine withdrawl to children who are dying from diseases simply because they don't have access to clean drinking water.  And yet, there I was (and am)...

So, where am I going to continue on this?  Well, I'm still going to give up most beverages besides water...but I need to allow some wiggle room...Especially because I'm going to be on vacation and need some time to fill my soul.  And with the people that I'll be spending time with, that's going to happen around the coffee cup...I'll still avoid the fancy beverages like lattes & mochas...But, I'm going to drink some coffee. 

I don't understand Lent & fasting as a time that we should be miserable.  And honestly, the way that I was feeling, I was resenting the fast and not thinking about how to help the people who need clean drinking water or connecting with God, but shutting down.  I don't find that to be helpful to anyone.  But, I also think that there is some cop out to that as well...Just because something is hard doesn't mean that I/we give it up for something easier.  I think that when we fast, any time, but especially Lent-- we need to make room for building our relationship with God & not giving things up because we feel like we need to or because we want to feel miserable to connect with God.  As someone said to me this morning-- "God loved you before you gave something up and God still loves you now."

How is your Lenten fast going?

Blessings 3/17/11

1.) Hearing from the United Methodist Bishop from Pakistan
2.) Ice cream & good conversations!
3.) Another good day at Boot Camp
4.) Hearing others' visions for the church
5.) My alarm going off late, but still making it to Boot Camp on time
6.) Being invited into people's lives
7.) Laughter
8.) My packages from Old Navy & Barnes & Noble coming today!
9.) New Wallflowers smelling  up my kitchen!
10.) New dresses!

Blessings 3/16/11

1.) Hearing good & helpful information at Church Planter's Boot Camp
2.) Sharing excitement about friends who will be entering in new appointments
3.) Glee-tastic ride
4.) Conversation about Glee, Ecclesiology, Rob Bell, & Orthodoxy
5.) Colleagues who share information!
6.) Beautiful sunshine day!
7.) Putting plans together
8.) Connectionalism
9.) Good conversations
10.) Clean laundry

Title it.

We have all kinds of titles for people based on their job & position...Most of the time, titles don't mean a whole lot to me...Well, they don't until they're misused or missing. 

I once had a pastor who refused to be called anything but Pastor X...And explained that he had worked long and hard for the title and deserved to be called by the proper title.  I understood, but admittedly had a hard time with that...Maybe it was because I had a previous pastor who didn't have that same mindset and maybe it was because I disagreed. 

I don't tend to call colleagues Pastor so-and-so or Rev. so-and-so....So, when I talk in reference to these people, I forget to call them as such and some would rather be called by the title that they have earned/received. 

As I approach ordination, I'm not so sure how I feel anymore...For the most part, I like to be called by my name...But ordination means a lot to me and I can understand (better) why one would want to be called by a title.  Previously, I've only had a hard time when people have misused or failed to use my title when I thought it was appropriate.

So, what do I want to be called?  I'm not so sure anymore...I want to believe that it doesn't matter, but I'm finding that it might. 

What are you called in your churches?  What do you call your pastor? 

Blessings 3/15/11

1.) A good workout this morning with my trainer
2.) A good conversation with my spiritual director this afternoon
3.) Office Hours at Panera
4.) Rob Bell's new book being out!
5.) Getting a text message from someone to let me know that Rob Bell was on GMA...Just because!
6.) Getting a young adult meal finalized for annual conference!
7.) Jars of Clay's CD The Shelter
8.) New Glee!
9.) Making future plans for classes
10.) Challenging Questions

Blessings 3/14/11

1.) Meeting with a couple who I'm marrying in April
2.) Planning youth & young adult stuff!
3.) Watching Rob Bell's interview
4.) Hearing about people I know who are also getting ordained!
5.) Talking with people in my covenant group
6.) Going to bed (kind of) early
7.) My cats not waking me up in the morning!
8.) Watching PBS' premiere of Les Miserables (I recorded it awhile ago, but just got around to watching it!)
9.) Faith United Methodist Church of Orland Park
10.) Not feeling overwhelmed

Blessings 3/13/11

1.) Waking up on time (even with the time change!)
2.) A fun new members class
3.) A fantastic youth group!!
4.) Prayer time that connects
5.) Laughter
6.) Seeing people who connect in ways that are unexpected
7.) Being a part of a connectional church
8.) Spring being right around the corner
9.) Sparkle shoes
10.) Sunshine

Blessings 3/12/11

1.) A great crew who walked in the Oak Forest Parade!  (Not to mention the crew who put the float together!)
2.) 2 cats who curl up next to me & keep me company
3.) The smell of clean laundry
4.) Cooking dinner
5.) Finalizing new members class lesson plans
6.) Living in a place that is close to just about anything...Especially Kinko's (tonight!)
7.) A warm house
8.) Hearing kids say thank you for the candy (and other goodies) we gave to them
9.) People saying "God Bless You!" as we passed by them with our float
10.) Creativity

Blessings 3/11/11

1.) Super cute dresses from Old Navy!
2.) Going to Qdoba...Using the gift card my brother got me, & finding out that I have a free burrito on my rewards card!
3.) Taking a 3 hour nap on the couch
4.) Having a day off!
5.) Being a part of a connectional church that responds quickly with love
6.) A good workout this morning
7.) My Sabbath Room
8.) Putting together lessons for the New Members Class on Sunday
9.) Bargains
10.) Being able to wear my jammies all day

Blessings 3/10/11

1.) Leading Bible study again (I forgot how much I miss doing this!)
2.) My amazing massage therapist
3.) Being able to pull a healthy dinner out of my freezer!
4.) Orange push ups
5.) Adele's music
6.) Good conversations
7.) Hitting the snooze button on my alarm
8.) Baking cookies
9.) Pearberry lotion
10.) People who care about others

Blessings 3/9/11

1.) Waking up feeling refreshed
2.) Getting to my workout early!
3.) Good conversations
4.) Mexican food
5.) A good Ash Wednesday Service
6.) Still celebrating the news of my ordination!
7.) Being able to drink clean water
8.) Cute shoes
9.) Jonathan asking, "When are you going to back to our house?"
10.) Hearing people share what they're passionate about

Give it up!

So, it's almost Ash Wednesday....And I have been really struggling with what I'll give up/take on for Lent this year.  I've gone through my "usual" list...Which really isn't that usual, because I tend to vary it up a bit.  Last year, I only ate at the table & I counted my blessings everyday.  Those were both really helpful and a part of me wanted to do it again, but a part of me didn't...In honesty, it was one of my resolutions to eat at the table and I haven't done great at it...Actually my table right now is holding my clean laundry. 

I wanted to do something fasting wise too...I mean food fasting wise.  It's been awhile since I've done one of those kinds of fasts.  I used to give up sweets/desserts, but stopped that when I went to Italy, I think? 

And this decision has been a struggle.  Now, I know giving something up indicates a sacrifice and shouldn't be easy...Like I shouldn't give up smoking, because I don't smoke.  But everything that I considered giving up, I needed a caveat and not just because it was hard for me to think about...It was conflicting with something.  Like I thought about giving up eating out-- Except when I have office hours at Panera or when I'm on vacation in LA...& I thought about giving up sweets, which I could still do, but that felt like a cop out to me. 

And I came across the Blood, Water, Mission & their 40 day water fast.  Now, I think I remember this from last year, but I didn't do it for some reason...But this feels right this year.  Now, I again do have to make some caveats-- I'm limiting my intake to water, coffee (no fancy coffees, just plain), & tea (not fancy Chai lattes, but hot tea).  This has more to do with my office hours at Panera than anything else & I do plan to limit the other beverages beyond water, but this is my fast-- to drink only water, coffee, & tea for the next 40 days.   Now, I know about Sundays as feast days...But I'm not sure how much I will indulge.  I don't want there to be too much of a shock to my system!  We'll see how things go. 

As for discipline to take on...I need to count my blessings again.  I've been thinking about this for awhile...The need to count and really pay attention.  I found when I did this before, I was paying really close attention and looking for the ways I was blown away by God.  I also know when I did this before, I was in a completely different place physically, emotionally, & spiritually.  So the way I counted & saw blessings was so much different than I think I will see them today.  I'm looking forward to looking at the ways I will be surprised by God. 

Are you giving up or taking something up (or both) or neither?  Why or why not?

March Newsletter

Dear Friends,


I don’t know how you have felt, but for me 2011 is flying by at speeds that I’m not terribly comfortable with! All of the sudden there are signs for Shamrock Shakes at McDonald’s and you can’t get Gingerbread Lattes at Starbucks anymore either! And now it’s March…so that can only mean one thing…its March madness time.

My brother has a tendency to sign our family up for things—this fall we had a friendly fantasy football league (sometimes not so friendly) & every year he encourages us to fill out our brackets for all of the NCAA basketball games. Now, he follows scores and patterns and can quote any statistic that you might think of and maybe even some that you might not know to ask! When I sit down to fill out my bracket, I don’t know any of that information. I tend to pick teams based on: 1.) Do I know anyone from that school? (Do I like them?) 2.) Do I like their mascot? 3.) Do I like their team colors? Now, to be fair—I haven’t won any year. But, I have come close a couple times! There are always those “upset” games that happen and I have a pretty good record with those. A few times as I’ve handed my bracket back to my brother, he’ll casually comment, “Are you sure about that?” Or “You might want to rethink this.”

I’m not an expert in NCAA basketball or even how the bracket really works. That doesn’t stop me from playing along though! When I talk with people about working with children or youth, I’ve heard… “I don’t know what I’m doing!” Or “I can’t answer their questions” or even… “Those younger people scare me.” I can tell you…younger people aren’t scary! Sometimes their questions are challenging and sometimes they talk in languages that are foreign, but they’re seeking to build relationships with people who love them and want them to know the love of God.

As we work on continuing to build our children & youth programming, please prayerfully consider if that’s a place that you would be passionate about or interested in serving. If you have questions or concerns about what you might be able to do, please don’t hesitate to ask! If you know for sure that working with children or youth is not your specialty, but you are willing to pray or provide meals or snacks, your service is welcomed just as much! You don’t have to know all of the statistics or have all of the answers…What is most important is showing love & building relationships to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Last month I invited ya’ll to join me at Panera on Tuesday evenings from 5-7pm…I’d like to thank those of you who have joined me & those who have asked about it. If you’re still wondering—“What in the heck does Pastor Melissa do at Panera on Tuesday nights?” I’ll be there March 1, 8, & 15th for you to come and visit. If you talk to me about Jesus, I’ll buy your beverage! (Or if you just want to compare brackets, I’ll buy your beverage as long as I’m winning…)