Yearly Archives: 2012

Events, Kathy, Rachel

Movie Night Out

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In a crazy break from our usual Sunday Family Day, Rachel and I gathered a bunch of friends (mostly mothers and daughters) and set off for the movies. David and Sarah spent the time with some of their besties (is that a dictionary approved word yet?) while Tim, Daniel and Joshua stayed home.

David and Sarah ADORE Eli and Emma - such good friends!

The boys enjoyed an old western with the gravely voiced legend, Clint Eastwood, while the girls stuck to a basic romantic comedy (aka chick flick). Thanks to our ClearPlay dvd, the language in the western was filtered. I wish I could say the same for our theater viewing. Hmmmm.

A rowdy crowd indeed, and at least four of them had already left before I pulled out my camera.

It’s actually quite difficult to find an open Starbucks on Sunday evening, but Barnes and Noble fit the bill perfectly. We talked and laughed and left just ahead of them asking us to quiet down.

We’ll definitely need to plan another movie outing again soon. The only problem, in my opinion, is finding a movie of both high quality production/acting/character development and acceptable moral content. So hard to enjoy cinematic entertainment without lowering your standards. Hmmmmm.

We might just have to stick with the classics….

Kathy

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Events, Kathy, Sarah

Morning Manna

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Once a quarter the women’s ministry at our church hosts Morning Manna – a Saturday brunch where the women have the opportunity to gather, meet new people, hear from one of the ladies within the church body, and enjoy some time of delicious food, fellowship and laughter.

For some reason Sarah decided she wanted to go with me to this morning’s brunch. “That’s a great idea,” I enthused, “why don’t we call Caden and see if she and Mrs. B. would like to join us.” I think there is something appealing (even intriguing) to a young girl about the congregation of women.

And so we see the next generation of godly women...

Sarah and Caden were perfect additions to the morning – they joined in on the Compliment Your Neighbor table mixer, they cheerfully ate the breakfast, and they sat quietly during the talk.

Krystal & Caden - more mother and daughter Morning Manna girls.

What a joy to spend some special time with Sarah. Just this week I had shared with a friend some struggles I was having with Sarah and expressed my desire to carve out some one-on-one opportunities with her. How kind of God to, so quickly, provide the perfect outing. Rachel and I have developed a sweet rhythm of shopping and running errands together, but Sarah is usually content to stay home and play or brings her beloved buddy/brother, David, with her and therefore we don’t have a consistent pattern of mother-daughter time.

Matching Purple Girls

Our speaker, Drea (Rurban Family Blog) did a beautiful job of sharing the story of her courtship (this was a Valentine’s Day themed brunch, afterall) and outlined her upcoming role as missionary/pastor’s wife. She and her husband Carl are leaving at the end of this month, with their four children, to work with Village Missions. We love this dedicated, faithful family and will miss them dearly!

Esther - two days old and already involved in Women's Ministry!

Of course, what would a women’s ministry event be without some sort of silliness? I don’t know how I keep getting talked into skits (big and small), but they are a lot of fun. Thankfully I can always find a willing victim, I mean friend, to join me on stage. This time Michelle and I ad-libbed our way through some announcements.

The Girl With All the Problems & the Girl With All the Answers

I am incredibly blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life.

Michelle can always be counted on - for friendship, support and fun!

I hope I am modeling to my daughters how to find and be a good friend. I am definitely a work in progress, and God is constantly shaping and growing me.

Marion and Nancy have greatly enriched my life.

Sarah had such a delightful time, that she asked if she can please go to the next Morning Manna in May. I’m sure laughing along with her mother’s silly skit (or was that laughing AT her mother?) added to the fun of the morning. I loved having her by my side: sharing with her the joy of women gathering together in the House of the Lord, training in manners and etiquette, modeling being involved and serving at church, and just plain growing closer as mother and daughter.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

Kathy

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Being a Disciple of Jesus, Musings

One Month to Live

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One of the most influential pastors in my life is Dee Duke, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Chuch. He’s been preaching a sermon series entitled “One Month to Live” for the past four or five months (he’s not afraid of a long sermon series).

Dee Duke

I’ve not yet listened to more than a few of the sermons, but I find the thought provocative. Would I live differently if I knew that I had only 30 days left to live?

Just a borrowed logo from some church's sermon series by the same name

Pastors have often preached about how you should live if this was your last day before you died, or Jesus returned? I suppose you might call all the people you never really witnessed to properly, or perhaps you’d write a really top-notch statement to be read at your funeral. Maybe you’d borrow a lot of money and spend it all on a day of self-indulgence, or you might spend the day setting right any wrongs you had done. You could probably do without sleep if you really knew it was your last day — indeed, for a short time, you could probably make all sorts of temporary changes.

But if you knew you were going to live just 30 days more, you’d still need to sleep, and eat. You’d likely continue many of your everyday habits, like showering and brushing your teeth and eating healthily — who wants to go around with grimy teeth for 29 days? On the plus side, thirty days is enough to actually accomplish some things that couldn’t be done in a single day. For that reason, I think this way of thinking is more helpful than supposing you had only one more day.

Or maybe I'd just spend 30 days eating cookies.

In Isaiah 38, the story of King Hezekiah’s illness is told, in which he is told by the prophet that he is going to die. Hezekiah appeals to God, and is given another 15 years. I never thought of it this way, but I suppose Hezekiah probably kept track. At first, 15 years probably seemed a lot of time, but eventually, it must have dropped to two years, then one, then six months, then only one month left to live. How would I react to the sure knowledge that I had only 30 days left?

Duke suggests that we might focus on these areas:

  • Our relationship with God
  • Our relationships with each other
  • Our work or accomplishments for God
  • What would I stop doing?
  • Where am I going?

If you had only 30 days left to live, what would you do, how would you live?

Thoughtful video

Tim

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AWANA, Daily Life

The Sheep and the Goats

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One of my favorite Christian songs is Keith Green’s The Sheep and the Goats. The version on the Gold CD is better than the YouTube rendition, but YouTube has video, which is kind of cool. In my aspiration to be just like Keith Green, I’m working on the beard. Next will be the hair; once I have that, the only difference between us (apart from the fact that he’s dead) will be his piano and teaching skills, which I’m sure I can pick up while I am growing out my hair.

The AWANA players in action

Joshua (playing Jesus) tries to explain things to a Goat (Nate)

As is often the case, I hired the AWANA players (at double their usual rate) to dramatize the song, which they did with their usual flair.

The Sheep were a little slow to clue-in

My T&T kids (Truth & Training, 3rd-5th grades) have a little trouble with abstract thought, but this lesson from Matthew 25 is clear enough for anyone: Jesus closely identifies with the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the stranger, and the prisoner — and He expects us to minister to them as though we were ministering to Him. It is a little sobering, to think that I might be ignoring Jesus when I ignore a needy person, intent on my own agenda.

The problem with teaching AWANA kids is that you sometimes end up convicted by your own message.

Tim

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Being a Disciple of Jesus

Sunshine or Rain

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The sun has been shining down upon us for days and days now. My younger children are sure it’s summer (“Can we wear shorts and flip flops?”) and my older boys are smug that, even in the winter months, they never packed away their shorts.

The sun is shining - let's play outside!

But despite the lovely weather, the outings at the beach and trips to the park, I’ve seen the forecast. And I’m very familiar with winters in Washington state…

Oh dear, that looks wet...

Today, as I met with a friend and spent some time in prayer, I lifted up a sincere request that I would be content with both the sunshine and the rain. I know my heart; I long for the warmth of sunny days the blessings, the ease of life and not the work.

David and Sarah are ready to leap off the porch

I want to live a life that shines with the love of Jesus – whether the view from my window is clear with blue skies or grey with a blanket of clouds.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

Kathy

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