Diaries of Darfur

I'm about to finish the Diaries of Darfur, and will now look for the documentary. The book is actually about their experiences of trying to make the film. I hear that the number of 26,000 children dying a day from hunger is now up to 29,000. And I still haven't gotten around to sponsoring a kid yet. The feeling of being overwhelmed is paralyzing. Plus the feeling of having failed in the past. At one time,we were sponsoring six. Please don't be impressed....even that is not much of a monetary sacrifice. Unfortunately, though, I never took the time to write back at all, much less encouraging notes. What kind of a sponsor is that?

Speaking of children, at one point I had filled out the paperwork for us to adopt kid #6....( a little girl from China), but then I thought maybe I should re-think it. I asked a friend from South Korea who was aghast that I would even question. "If you have a roof and food in the refridgerator, why would you even hesitate?" She asked. She went on to tell me of the heartbreaking story of when they were so poor in her childhood that they took her baby sister to the orphanage. Within a couple of weeks they couldn't bear it, so they went back (she was still there)...but that didn't make raising her on no resources any easier. Well, the roof and the food I can manage. It's that nurturing thing and resources such as time that I seem to run out of. How will God judge? Yes, I know His grace will cover even rich Americans. But, still.

thoughts from Willow Creek

I always see this on the wall when I go to the arts conference in Chicago:

"For most of us, the word broken means useless. Yet in the upside down world of God's Kingdom, broken can mean ready to be used---as when a soul is broken before God and yielded. A mosaic is a piece of art that begins with broken pieces and then turns into something beautiful. We are all God's mosaic, our brokenness crafted by his wise and skillful hand into a work of beauty."

Anyway, as always it was worth going to. Hillsong United gave a concert...I picked up on some great video ideas. It was a nice getaway.

Speaking of getaways, four of my children are backpacking across South America for the next month. You can assume that my prayer life will be consistent and intact during that time.

Galatians

I just read a book "The Hole in our Gospel" by the president of World Vision, Rich Sterns. So my new favorite quote is "We've drifted from being fishers of men to keepers of the acquarium" (actually Paul Harvey said that). Good quote, huh?

Anyway, the more I read the book of Galatians, the more I realize that Paul was not mad over circumsion. That was NOT the issue. In fact, it seems "the issue" (whatever it may be) is never REALLY the issue at all. Take for example, in past decades it might have been that we could have replaced the term "circumcision" w/ the terms "one cuppers" or "kitchens in churches buildings" or "worship leaders on staff." Someday it will be whether or not to have holograms to illustrate sermons points. Some will find holograms entertaining and distracting, others will find them enlightening and educational. There will, no doubt, be anti-hologram churches and pro-hologram churches. We will be beaming guest speakers in from Texas to plead for unity. The progressive churches will probably finally settle on one hologram inclusive service, and one without.
Face it, Paul's just mad at the folks who set themselves up to make whatever-it-is mandatory for the other side to agree with or else! It's just another example of folks trying to be God (once again!....our forever human sin...). It's so much easier, and much more of a power trip, to make and enforce rules for others and then judge them by their noncompliance than it is to accept God's grace. So read Galatians. Everytime it says "circumcision" (which we care nothing about today but they sure did back then), replace it with a current hot-button-topic, and see what Paul has to say to us today.

IMAGINE

Six hundred people (including cast & crew & audience) enjoyed all the wonderful varied facets of IMAGINE last weekend (well, May 2 & 3). After that I took off to West Palm Beach to see my daughter graduate from college. Congratulations on a job well done, Chelsea! On Mother's Day, there I sat at IHOP surrounded by my extremely handsome husband, five children, and two serious boyfriends (of my daughters, not me!) Good stuff.

Anyway, back to the show. Everyone has a different favorite memory. Some said it was like an extremely educational documentary with great music. I still go into the foyer daily and read some of the 220 scrolls on the wall with references to praise & music. [thank you, Chris Sterritt!] As I watch the DVD, I realize how organically some of it sprang into reality. Joyful Noise made both the spiritual section and the restoration movement come to life in a way that WAS truly joyful! Thank you to my lovely dancers who had to put up with all kinds of torturous workouts for the last three months. Jody, you were certainly some kind of a discovery! How come no one ever tells me when we have a Sandi Patti in our midst. Anyway, it was all just super great...I loved the dramas....B.J. just generally has talent dripping from every pore at all times...Karin's my new best friend....Jerry, Carol, Anne---we could NOT have done it without you. Anyway, thanks everyone. Thank you again & again & again....

Best service ever !!!

We've had some great Sundays, but it would be hard to top the Easter service we just experienced. The incredible video "That's My King", the moving cardboard testimonies, the elegantly beautiful "Agnus Dei". Wow! Just the whole energy and singing and feel of the crowd was something I wished I could wrap up in a box to bring out whenever needed. I was almost moved to tears when I saw the excitement of teens when they heard we were going to sing "This is How We Overcome". How God must smile when he sees happy people in his courts of praise. I often wondered, as a child, at the deception and outright lies (if body language can "lie") of those who used to mumble through the songs "We Praise Thee O God" and "O How I Love Jesus" when it was evident by their mannerisms that those words were not representative of where their sour hearts were. Thank God we have moved beyond thinking that joy and expressiveness and smiles are for only events outside the church building.

I also, once again, want to thank and admire the elders' courage and effort and humble hearts as they lead our Sunday night studies. So many Churches of Christ do not have the "guts" to even bring up such questions, but our leadership has risen to the occassion and has done so gallantly. Our church family will be smarter and stronger and spiritually closer because of these times studying the scriptures together. [I'm pretty sure that God can handle all our questions as well, and does not fear them at all.] :)

I love this place...

WOW! $115,000 and still counting!?! What a contribution toward community care! I must admit, I didn't even think we'd come close to the requested $75,000....but we sure did. And I'm SO proud of our elders. Just think of the amount of time and effort! Just think of the courage! Even being the elder's kid I am (and thoroughly "ground in the faith"), I am learning some interesting facts from the Sunday night classes. I never thought about the fact that the Lord's Supper was probably instituted on a Thursday. And suddenly one understands where the Catholic church probably got the "mass everyday" idea (from the early Christians meeting daily). But I must admit, my favorite time for possible communion with anyone would have to be at approximately 2:30 AM Monday morning (esp. if someone just fell out of a window after listening to Bruce for a little too long).

Anyway, it was a great Sunday and I am, quite frankly, just proud of everyone around here. Proud to be a part of a people not scared to ask questions, not scared to study, and not scared to learn. And, by the way, I guarantee that God is not the least bit threatened at our questions either. I'm quite sure He can handle it (and proud we have actively engaged brain cells and not in a hibernation mode... :)).

And guess what! Easter's coming! A time for renewal for ALL His creation !!!!

once a month blogger?

I don't think I've ever heard of a once a month blogger (or longer) but that seems to be the pattern here. The search committee for a worship minister kicks off tonight, and as we list the attritutes and duties...I guess I'm lucky to get to this even occassionally. Sunday was pretty funny (if you have a quirky sense of humor). Terry Gibson just retired and I was bequeathed the communion servers. That means weekly emails, noting all changes as the guys report in that they need a different date or service, etc., and printing out the check- in charts for the communion room. Well unfortunately, there are also the charts that get mailed out monthly; and that's the ones I mistakenly printed out. Chaos in the communion room soon insued. Bruce had to come (graciously) get me out of worship team so I could correct the problem. Then it turned out that the replenishers weren't there to replenish. Somehow between services (after singing and half- monitoring the AV booth) I was supposed to do something with the trays. I go running in, yelling "where's the juice & crackers?" and Russ Barnes (to his credit and sanity) just said, "I'll handle it, Darla". He obviously received a heartfelt "Thank you". Terry, I hope you read this and know you're missed.
As we enter this era of service and being the heart to our community, I hope the above helps reenforce that there is a place for everybody and everybody needs to be in their place. That seems to be the challenge for some....where am I needed and what do I enjoy doing? What am I good at? As you work your way through that and receive Holy Spirit direction, never doubt that you are sincerely and desperately needed. I know church is supposed to be a quiet time for meditation and feeding. But I also know, if you never serve, Sunday will become meaningless...no matter how great the sermon and inspirational the songs. Chances are much stronger that you will drift away...and years later you'll wonder what happened...why you feel empty and in neutral spiritually. So in closing, let me say it again....YOU ARE NEEDED !!!