on temptation

If God is so clear in James about how He never tempts us, then why does He specifically include "lead me not into temptation" in the Lord's prayer? I really don't know.

Bix at Six

I am in love with the Bix at Six. This is my first year. My sister and I have gone out the last two weeks and had a blast.

I just love all the people. You've got really fast competitive athletes racing the trail, and you've got me who's walking more than I'm jogging. All ages. Skill levels. Ethnicities. I'm definitely a social exerciser, and all those people just energize me. It's beautiful.

Lord, Change My Attitude

I've been doing this study with my small group. It's "Lord, Change My Attitude" by James MacDonald. I have to admit that I was skeptical about doing a video study, but this has been the most convicting study I've done in years. Actually, I think it may be the most convicting study I've ever done.

Each week, Pastor James drives home the point that our attitude is our choice, our decision. First he talked about a complaining attitude. Then the next week he follows up with how we should replace a complaining attitude with an attitude of thankfulness.

Replacing Covetousness with Contentment
Replacing a Critical Attitude with Love
Replacing a Doubting Attidue with Faith

Great stuff. Each time, he asks are you a covetous person? Are you a content person? And so on and so on.

It's made me examine how I really do choose to think. So often I just let my emotions determine my attitude. But his challenge to intentionally decide how we will respond is...just that - a great challenge for me.

Thank you, Pastor James, for speaking the truth and for challenging us. And thank you, Father God, for how You're working in my life.

nose for your rose

"It's no good to give someone a rose if you cut off their nose." Or at least so says our small group leader Nick. And I think he's got a good point here.

So many people want to win debates. They want to be right. But not only to be right, but for other people to admit that they are indeed right.

Too often as Christians we're taught how to defend our faith as if people just need to here how right we are. Too often we aren't encouraged or trained how to really listen to people, how to ask good questions, how to truly dialogue with people about meaningful life issues.

Let's not worry so much that someone gets something we find so valuable in their hands that we lose focus and cut off their noses in the process.

Knowing Lisa

Knowing Lisa is like knowing God. You see, Lisa is my coworker's daughter. I hear about her all the time at work. I even know Lisa as we happen to go to the same church. Lisa is a beautiful woman. We say hi to each other at church, and I know I could call her if I needed something or had a question. But Lisa and I aren't good friends. Even though I know a lot about her likes and dislikes, I know her friends and I know all her family members, it's not like we're close friends. We don't make time to intentionally hang out because we're really just acquaintances.

I think knowing Lisa is a lot like knowing God. Lots of people have heard about God. Friends of theirs or even family members talk about God. They've heard lots of people tell about what God likes, what makes God mad, what makes God happy. And yet, many of them don't really know God. They know about him. But they don't make intentionally time to hang out with God. They don't spend one-on-one time with him. They wouldn't call themselves close friends.

For me, I'm okay with only knowing Lisa from a distance. But I am really glad that I know God as a deeply close friend and Father.

en espana

I just found this great interactive mystery video series to learn Spanish. And it's free through the BBC. Watched the first episode (episodio uno) and took notes on the vocab and grammar. Good stuff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/mividaloca/

best practices vs. organizational ethnocentrism

It's easy to think people should do things they way we think. I both find myself doing this and watching other people fall to this trap. You've arrived at a new nonprofit. You've worked with another group before. And when similar situations come up in your new environment, you think the answer is obvious. And your sentences begin "At the foundation," "At the other center," "When we used to encounter this..." Not that I'm bashing the seeking and finding of best practices. Because that is all to be applauded. We must continually learn from other organizations what works best and how to be more effective and how to better steward our resources.

But are we (am I) often too quick to speak up with my own solution from another group? First I think it's so important to understand why the group you're with is doing something in a certain way. What's behind the way they react and respond? Perhaps you're not the only one who knows a thing or two.

I'm all for the sharing of ideas. I'm a huge advocate of learning from other organizations and nonprofits who've had great success. And for learning from the failures too.

But I know I am often too quick to speak or think I know the answer. That I know a better way. The best way. When really I could probably stand to learn a thing or two.

Fair Game

Just finished the movie. And I love how strong this woman is. My favorite part is when she goes back to her husband and declares, "I don't care what they say about us...If they take all this away, I don't care. They do not get to take my marriage." And after a long embrace, "Are you ready to fight?" Love that.

Get together

My sister (well, technically my sister-in-law) placed her daughter for adoption with a great family when she was 19. This weekend I got to travel with my sister out to Chicago with my preschool neice and baby nephew. Marta's oldest daughter is 12 now, and we met up with her family (including 3 little sisters that we love!) in the Chitown area. It was so fun to all be together and just hang out. Loved it.

Orphan Care Core Team

I'm proud to be part of one of the coolest emerging ministries in churches acrosss America.