Resurrecting your blog: 5 reasons to continue writing.

I've slowed my blogging habits.

It's common for bloggers to have guest writers when they know that they are going to retreat from it for a period of time. I felt like I needed to simply let it rest. All of it. Including the scheduling of it.

I write because it gives me life. I write out of a deep desire to share and connect with others in a way that is symbiotic and enriching to everyone who would have interest in similar subjects. Ideas give me life, sharing them multiplies that life. However, sharing because that's what everyone else is doing is pretty junior high of me and I need to look at why I do this again.

Here are some reasons I've decided it's a good idea to keep writing.

1) Writing gives us creative space.

Sometimes, this is the only space I have that isn't scheduled. The only deadlines are the ones I give myself. The only topics are the one's I dream up. This is a way to express the God given image that each of us bear (as long as we are walking closely with the Spirit of God is should be revealing of God, no matter what we write about!)

2). Writing helps us leave an others-centered legacy.

Writing tells us of where we've been and what we've been about. It helps us with our priorities. When we are reflecting on the past it guides us in preparing for the future. I hope to give in ways that are sacrificial and abounding in love. If my blog doesn't reflect this type of legacy, I need to adjust things. I'm grateful for the record--even when it exposes personal weakness--because it opens the door for us to grow further.

3) Writing causes us to be quiet.

I talk too much. Idea people do this. Called people do this. We are compelled from places of passion and compassion. These are good things. But there are times when we need silence, solitude, meditation, to be filled again for God's service. When I sit down to write, the periphery dissolves and I can think clearly. Prayer happens easily and honesty isn't uncomfortable anymore, it's liberating.

4) Writing about our experiences helps others.

I remember learning the Wesleyan quadrilateral in college and seminary. It's a methodology for theological reflection accredited to John Wesley. In this method, we can come to theological conclusions by way of examining Scripture (The Bible) , Reason (rational thinking and interpretation), Tradition (the history of the church), and Experience (a persons journey with christ, both individually and as a community.)

I have learned so much from the experience of others in ministry. The first five years in ministry were for me, a giant season of observation and application, testing and experimenting. While I still observe and still try new things. I've started to move into a season of sharing that helps others. It's a wonderful season when you can give out of a healthy indebtedness, out of a grateful heart--knowing that others will be using your experiences to shape their present and newer ministry contexts.

5) Writing can be a testimony of the Holy Spirit of God at work in us and through us.

If we're being honest, we know that anyone on the planet can start a blog. You don't have to be smart, or good looking, or an expert at anything. Anyone can write a blog.

The difference are those writing with the miraculous power of God alive in them. Writing about the changes that happen because of this work, the miracles that result because of this Presence, the joys that are found (even in pain) due to the knowledge we gain are all things that can't be duplicated. These are things, if shared, that can change the world around us. The sharing of these things can cast the vision and mission of God by way of example.

I'm going to keep writing for these reasons. I may not be here every day or even twice a week. But I'll be here. Especially when the wind of God's Spirit shifts and we we see fruit. Stay faithful. It's your experience and mine that shows others the visible signs of the Kingdom on earth.

Keep writing.

Who do you work for?

King David asked me a question today.

You, oh youth worker (pastor, parent, friend), hear these words and tell me....
who are you working for?






Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Then, I read his prayer in 2 Samuel 7:18-28.

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a human being!“What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord.

“For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?

You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, 'the Lord Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

“ Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.


I begin to hear the echo in my soul. Then a reading moving further in...

A prayer from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis.

Confirm me, Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and give me grace to be strong inwardly in soul and to cast out from it all unprofitable business of the world and of the flesh, that it may not be led by unstable desires of earthly things. And grant that I may behold all things in this world as they are--transitory and of short abiding, and I myself also to pass away together with them, for nothing under the sun can long abide, but all in vanity and affliction of spirit.

Therefore, O Lord, give me true heavenly wisdom, that I may learn to seek you and to find you, and above al things to love you, and to understand and know all other things as they are, after the direction of your wisdom, and not otherwise. And give me grace, also, to withdraw myself form those who flatter me, and patiently to tolerate those who grieve me so that the way I have begun will bring me to a good and blessed ending.

We will sing your praise, with our strength, with our voice, with our lives...without end.

God's love reaches out and asks for us to be present--to be available for him to transform us--allowing his spirit to work gently and deeply with in us--sharing with us. That we would be FULL of his Spirit and enabled to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than we could ever ask, or think, or even imagine, in Jesus' name.

*My daily scripture reading and reflection comes from a book I've been using for ten years this January. A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants. (Shawchuck & Job) I owe many thanks to a mentor during our senior year of college for recommending this to us and helping us enter into community, solitude, and spiritual formation from a young age.

Why?

Our four year old daughter woke up like she always does--before the sun comes up and speaking in full 10 am voice. It's our day to sleep in a little longer so we let her go downstairs to color, play, and continue to make noise while we try to squeeze in every ounce of rest before the little one hears the older one and wants to join in. Maybe you understand?

I couldn't stay in bed. I kept hearing cupboards open and shut. I found Kirra coloring, she had already finished three pictures by the time I made it downstairs.

I prepared some cereal for her and a cup of tea for me. Turned on some music that while she ate and played.

Que the questions.

Kirra has been asking a lot of questions lately. I'm pretty sure this is a great sign that she's growing developmentally but it's also why I have these random grey hairs cropping up all over.

This morning was the most rapid fire questioning to date.

"Why do we have names?"

So people will be able to know who we are. (Hey, my best answer that early in the morning!)

"Why do people need to know who we are?"

"What does check-in mean?"

It means to sign in somewhere with your name.

"Why do we need to sign in?"

So everyone knows who is at a place.

"Why do we need to have name tags?"

"You thought having kids was a good idea. Why was it a good idea?"

"Why is daddy still sleeping?"

"Why is there music playing on your computer?"

Daddy and I were listening to this worship song last night.

"Why were you up last night?"

"Can I play with Play-doh?"

And there were more.

The thought I had while getting questioned by my sweet girl was this.

Why do we struggle with the question "why"?

A child is so unashamed to ask "why".

A key question learned in a curriculum design and instructional development course I took was the question "Why do you do what you do when you do it?"

What if we walked around for an entire day asking "why"?

Why do I wake up in the mood I'm in?
Why do I eat what I eat?
Why do a think about what I think about?
Why am I worrying?
Why am I doing the busy work and avoid the important work?
Why am I avoiding that conversation?
Why haven't I called or connected with those closes to me today?
Why am I obsessed with finding chocolate to eat at 2 PM.
Why do I love listening to music all the time?
Why do I read five books at once?
Why are people so important to me?
Why are we drawn to take this risk?
Why do I feel the need to clean out my closets?
Why does my husband constantly give things away?
Why is prayer something that I let get pushed by other thing?
Why does it bother us to pay so much for gas?
Why is it so much fun to play on the floor with children?
Why do I love hearing children pray?
Why does laughter make us feel better?
Why does hanging out with our neighbors give us life?
Why am I think about the question "why" today?

I think we we really answered this question and answered it honestly, many of us would find that we might be drifting into some unhealthy rhythms. We might find some really healthy things going on in our lives but we need to make room for more of them.

Ask yourself "why" this weekend. Why in your ministry. Why in your family. Why in your spiritual life. Why do you do what you do when you do it? It's a question that would fare well when asked in community. Just like I'm helping Kirra see things from my angle, others can help us see things from theirs. It's enlightening.

Make a list.

Question.

Share it with others.

You might find some important things along the way and enter into deeper rest, deeper purpose, and deeper passion for living.

Why is it a good idea to have kids?

Because they help us with our stuckness. They ask the right questions. They are very in touch with their feelings and emotions. They aren't afraid to ask.

If you don't have children--it becomes even more important to be a part of a community where children are included. We nurture them in many ways, but they equally contribute to the joys and learning that happens.

Thank you God--for Kirra--who isn't afraid to keep asking "why".

Save the hand cramp | Paperless Youth Ministry

Over the last year our youth ministry has slowly become paperless. We do our events, camps, mission trips, RSVP's, waivers, payments, everything...if you can sign up for it, we can make an electronic form. And WE ARE LOVING IT.

Gone are the days of trying to read the chicken scratch-just too excited to write legibly handwriting coming in from our students at the beginning of the year (not to mention the wobbly-not so sure of themselves-too distracted guest student handwriting)

Yay for us (and for them too. No one like when we have to call mom to figure out if the email address reads "mightykiddrinksmonster@middleschool.com" or "mightykidringsmonster@middleschool.com")

Middle school teenagers who call Lakeland home and want to register for ministry with HPNY this year. Click HERE.

KICK OFF IS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 24TH there WILL be a line to register so save the hand cramp for school and register today!

FREE HPNY SHIRTS given to those registering online -- available at our MAIN EVENT- COME ONE, COME ALL on Sept 7th. More on that later.

Oh, we are not chained | A Community Song

In five days--we get to relaunch--Highland Park Saturday Night. We've been listening to music, reading books, huddling up with friends and passionate ministry leaders from our church for months and it's cool to know that we get to start, finally. There's still so much to do, but that's the amazing beauty of church. We are the church. TOGETHER. And, it will take the church to make the vision of moving from maintenance to mission a reality. So, we'll start with a song. Jessica Davis will lead us in a song that we hope will echo the cries and shouts of our hearts. We'll dive right into a new church wide series as well. Hope to see you Saturday at 6. Oh, it's also Date Night. That means, if you bring your kids under age 9, you can leave them with us until 10 PM. Yep, free childcare. Need a remedy for insanity? Go ahead and check that one off of your list. See you soon.



Let It Shine
Leslie Jordan and David Leonard
© 2011 Integrity's Praise! Music/BMI and Integrity's Alleluia! Music/SESAC CCLI#5881075

There are a million truths for every lie
So speak it out loud and let it lift high
There are a million reasons to cover your eyes
But the light is shining through the darkness we hide
But the light is shining through the darkness we hide

So come let it
Come let it
Come let it
Come let it shine

There's only one way to wash yourself clean
So let the dirt fall and get on your knees
There are a million scars for every mistake
Oh but we are not chained to the secrets that we've made
Oh but we are not chained to the secrets that we've made

This is the battle of our time of our time now
We can't afford not to cry not to cry out
Shake the earth from the ground from the ground
Rescue souls from the darkness around

Come let it
Come let it
Come let it
Come let it shine

I err therefore I am.

Kathryn Schulz just rocked my morning. If you're human. You should take a few moments this week to remember how great it is, when "something else happens instead".

"Rediscover wonder by stepping outside of that tiny terrified space of rightness and look around at each other...and look out at the vastness and complexity and mystery...and be able to say wow, I don't know, maybe I'm wrong."

Two Minute Tip: We need help.

Volunteer leaders give us extra heads, hearts, and hands to do ministry.

They have an arsenal of abilities and passions that compliment everything that's done. I was reminded of this at camp this week. I lost my voice (sort of an important thing to have at youth camp) and my leaders became my voice. The cool part; I didn't have to tell them much, they already knew...because we've spent countless hours together. I can honestly say, I LOVE THEM.

I hope you love and care for those who support you in ministry, even if their ideas don't always match up with yours. It's biblical to admonish and encourage each other in this way. A cord of three strands is pretty stinking hard to break.

If you'd rather hear this straight from my strained voice, day-after-camp face, here you go.

Now get to it, love and use those leaders.