:: Sisters' Weblog: It Bloggles the Mind! ::

Sue's blogchalk:
United States, Tennessee, Humboldt, English, Susan, Female, 36-40, Christianity, Bible Study, church, music, trumpet, CD's.

Katie's blogchalk:
United States, Tennessee, Humboldt, English, Katie, Female, 30-35, Christianity, Bible Study, church, mom with two kids, full-time student.

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:: Saturday, February 08, 2003 ::

Hot Chocolate

It's cold. I'm gonna drink some hot cocoa. *ding*. YAY! The microwave is done heating up the water. Swiss Miss, instant cocoa....yodeleheehoooooooo!

Mixed and ready to drink! *sputter, ack cough* ICK! IT'S NOT HOT! It's luke warm! This just won't do! BRB...

Ok, NOW it's hot. YAY! I'm drinking it out of a Peanuts mug. I like this mug. It reminds me of my Aunt Pat. Anything Peanuts reminds me of her. She died almost two years ago. The family misses her. I miss her. I inherited her jeep, which is a nice vehicle, but I'm not sure it meant a whole lot to her. She didn't have it very long. I'm thankful she thought of me when she desired to give me her jeep though. Can't deny that! I sold some of her things on Ebay...stuff like some collector's books and things. They were valuable books she never read, some never opened, so they didn't really have sentimental value to her. I am more thankful for her Peanuts collection. She loved Charlie Brown and the gang! She wanted me to have her Snoopy stuff! :-)

She collected lots of Peanuts stuff over the years. Calendars, mugs, sweatshirts, cards...almost anything Peanuts. She had saved calendars from the 1960's! She has one from the year I was born in 1966!!!!!! That's facinating in a way, that she saved all this stuff. So, I didn't leave the mug I'm drinking from in a box. I'm using it! Everytime I use it I'm reminded of Pat and the special woman she was. The mug pictures Lucy pulling the football away just in time for Charlie to miss it! It's the Charlie Browniest!

I miss Aunt Pat.

:: Susan 2/8/2003 11:34:57 AM ** ** [+] ::
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Suicidal Birds

On my way home today there was a bird on the side of the road. As I got closer to it I started to wonder if it was going to move. It stood there, facing me, almost in defiance. Why is it that a 3,000 pound vehicle racing toward a puny little bird wasn't intimidating? That bird was playing "chicken"! I came nearer and nearer and all of a sudden...I cringed and noticed that... I won! The bird flew away. WHEW! That was close!

:: Susan 2/8/2003 11:09:05 AM ** ** [+] ::
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I Read This Blog...

I read this interesting post at The Heresy and found it made some interesting points.

Consumption Ministry
"This weekend is the college’s big youth event. Unlike most of my associates here I find myself unmoved by this type of ministry. There are several purposes for an event like this and the primary one would likely be school advancement and recruitment. We hold big Christian parties at our college so that students will like our school and come here after they graduate. Other purposes include fostering spiritual growth in young people and having fun.

When we use flashy events to attract people to our ministry are we bringing people closer to Christ or to us? Each event needs to build upon the next. The event needs to get bigger and better and compete with what the ministry down the road is doing. The people that attend these events pay money to consume a product or service we deliver. People evaluate ministry with the same mindset they would use to purchase a car. What does it do for me? What is it going to cost? What are my options?

The church has slid so far in to consumerism it is nearly impossible to live out your faith without paying for it. If you want to be properly discipled it’s about $9500 a year here. You want to have worship experience? Go to a conference or purchase a CD. You want to teach people in your church? Purchase lesson plans and materials at your local Christian bookstore. Each ministry competes with other ministries to attract enough people and dollars so they can offer bigger programs with better facilities.

Money isn’t the primary issue for me on this topic. It’s the almost blind obsession to make our ministries bigger and “better”. Is the currency of the Kingdom of God larger, more impressive institutions or changed lives?

Lives are changed at ministry events. When I was in high school I was challenged and encouraged by the youth event at this very college. Do we point the immediate fruit these events produce as evidence for their continued existence? Do we have the courage to look a little deeper? What are the long-term consequences of doing ministry this way?

We offer ministry as a service to consume then we are surprised when people are unwilling and unable to contribute to the life of the community. How can we expect people to contribute to the life of the church when we train them to be consumers?"

I thought Leighton Tebay, "The Heresy" blogger, had some good points. I especially liked his last one. I never realized how much money I was going to need to go to church. I mean I can go and never spend anything, but then kids miss out on youth trips canoeing, bowling, and getting the badges they "earn". I would miss out on some awesome conferences that I do attend willingly, and I love going, but that price tag is something I need to sometimes really dig under the cushions for. I am not impoverished, but I live paycheck to paycheck. I am trying right now to help out a friend financially, and I get upset that I can't afford to send her kids to this camp and that camp. Many times churches will offer the "scholarship", but in one way that is simply a reminder of how much one doesn't have. It is another reminder of having to depend on others constantly.

It is an interesting question about all the "consuming" Christians do. I think it is important to draw people to the church with interesting presentations and messages, but more importantly we need to make a connections...then establish relationships! We do need to feed ourselves spiritually, but is all of it really necessary? Do I need flashy lights and rockin' worship songs to build the relationship with my Lord? Is that how we get His attention? or ours?

Then again, I think about all the things the Lord did to get MY attention!

I'm not convinced that these types of ministries are right. I'm not convinced that they are wrong. It probably all boils down to...where are our hearts?


:: Susan 2/5/2003 11:40:06 PM ** ** [+] ::
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Brass Choir Rehearsal

Had brass choir rehearsal at Lambuth University. I am really enjoying that ensemble. We are playing a trumpet piece for 6 trumpets that is an arrangement of a Bach Fugue, the "Little Fugue" in G minor. It is so much fun! Very challenging, but I am loving it! We have some more work to do on it, but I think it is a great showcase piece. The group is made up of college students from all around the area and noble citizens such as myself. I'm thankful for the opportunity to play in this group. I was invited to play after the directors wife heard me play at a community band concert.

I'm starting my second full year in the Jackson Area Community Band. We are made up of all sorts of people, college students and ordinary citizens. It's a fun group and this season we get to perform "Bugler's Holiday" an old Leroy Anderson favorite. I've played the piece about 3 times before, so I opted to play 2nd part this time. Sometimes I enjoy playing the "inside" parts because it has a different challenge. When I've played in orchestras, I have usually been in a "supporting role" and I take that job seriously. Playing second part means making the first part sound good. It has new challenges. Instead of everyone tuning to me, I tune to the first part.

My trumpet prof in college used to say "I've had a successful rehearsal when the conductor says nothing to me". It's true. A rehearsal is for correcting areas that need work. If the conductor doesn't have to say anything to me, I must be playing my part accurately. It would be cool if my Christian walk were the same way, but I'm always being convicted!

:: Susan 2/5/2003 07:15:43 AM ** ** [+] ::
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Things Have Changed

See, I told you I would blog when things changed and here I am. I'm feeling much better today. Thank you for those of you who responded by comments and e-mails and lifted me up in prayer. It really helped. I also attended church on Sunday and got the renewal that I knew I would. I love my church!

I am back to my normal self again. I have energy, headaches are under control and things have calmed down a bit. I really feel like God is going to deal with the situation regarding my children and other things. I just needed to vent and fstarted feeling better almost immediately after I did.

I have dreams, goals, and God has a special purpose for my life. All my dreams and goals are focused on that purpose. Right now, I just want to be a good mom to my kids and a good friend for my precious sister in Christ who takes such good care of us all. God had a purpose for her life and she is fulfilling part of that now. I know He has plans for her future as well but for now, she is here for me and my kids. I just can't believe how perfect God's timing is.

Sue asked a good question today. She asked me why it is that we are not supposed to rejoice when suffering comes to our enemies, but we are supposed to rejoice in our suffering. My answer..........because our God is awesome and His thoughts are not like ours. It seems that what we think is right and reasonable is usually just the opposite of what God teaches us. He sees the whole picture and knows what's best. Our minds are so finite and His is so vast. I did praise Him in my suffering the other day. I didn't feel like rejoicing, but I praised Him in spite of it. It really does help get my focus back on what really matters. It also helps me to see that things aren't always as bad as they seem.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)


:: Katie 2/3/2003 04:27:09 PM ** ** [+] ::
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Can I Get a Witness?

Just when I'm thinking time is running out and my chances at open doors are closing, God is there. Waiting. Probably anticipating the moment I walk a friend to the bank deposit drop. He knew what was about to occur. He knew!

I have prayed for #1 on my Impact List for all the two years I have known her and worked with her. Yesterday a door was opened and a heart was receptive. It was God all God! She talked, I listened. I talked, she listened. SHE LISTENED! I talked more about my relationship with God than I ever had before with her! It was awesome. I got to share pre-God and post-God stuff with her and SHE WAS LISTENING!

It was such an awesome moment, actually about an hour, to share about God and His influence in my life. Relational evangelism! Building relationships! Nurturing relationships and sharing the gospel. WHAT A RUSH! I didn't quite get to the plan of salvation or anything, but THERE WAS A BREAKTHROUGH! IT WAS SO, SO....SO....AAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUHGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!! THERE ARE NO WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At the end of our conversation something else big...she said "thanks for the talk. We need to talk more and do dinner or something." THAT IS SO BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG!

WOW! GOD MOVES AT THE MOST UNEXPECTED TIMES! I LOVE IT! HE'S SPONTANEOUS (well, not really, but it feels that way to me!) AND HE'S UNPREDICTABLE!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I LIFT MY FRIEND UP TO YOU GOD AND ASK YOU TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO DRAW HER NEAR! I don't mean to capitalize to God, but I'M JUST SO EXCITED! Thank you for the opportunity to serve YOU. I stand in awe.

:: Susan 2/2/2003 10:09:17 PM ** ** [+] ::
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