by Kimberly | Jun 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e5ZVIpB4sw]In honor of my love for Johnny Cash and this week’s VBS theme “Need Answers? Ask God.” I love this video with Johnny, Shel Silverstein (masterful poet), and guitars. I wonder if I was ever this inquisitive with my parents while I was growing up…
And I love the talk about this relationship with a father and son. There are so many homes in our churches and in the world that are without dads. Father’s Day is coming up. Thank your Dad, if you can. If you can’t for whatever reason – you do have a grand FATHER in heaven – who will never leave you nor forsake you.
by Kimberly | Jun 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
If you are reading this and love Jesus – then this will not make you happy. It will show you a sad and burdened and weighty part of our world – maybe even your neighborhood, your cubicle, or the exact life of the person next to you on the plane. So, here is the post in its entirety – then a few comments:
My husband and I were both raised Mormon. Independently of one another, we both stopped going to church after high school. Now, as adults, we are happy and comfortable with our personal belief systems and neither of us have any interest in going back to church, any church. My husband’s belief system leans more toward the scientific and rational, while I still entertain some spiritual beliefs that don’t have a particularly secular explanation… but in the end we’d probably both call ourselves agnostic. Basically, neither of us believe that we can be sure one way or the other and, at least for me, I’m just not sure it matters. In the end, shouldn’t we be good people because it’s just the right thing to do, independent of judgment from on high? And any God who might be out there… wouldn’t he/she/it be rather pleased I’ve lived a good life and been kind to others? There’s just something about the notion of an all powerful being who will punish me for not believing despite the quality of my life that seems a little… self serving? Narcissistic?
So we’ve decided to raise our daughter in the way that makes the most sense to us. As she grows up and begins to question the world around her, we’ll help her understand that people all over the world believe all kinds of different things. As an intelligent human being, it’s her job to find the belief system that is right for her and makes her feel happy and fulfilled. If she has a burning desire to become a Catholic or a Wiccan or whatever floats her spiritual boat, I’m behind her. I did my fair share of exploring various religions, and it helped me to come to where I am today, which is a very comfortable place independent of any organized religion. If she asks about God, we’ll help her explore her own thoughts and feelings about it. I have ZERO problem with her choosing a religion whenever she wants to, as long as she chooses something that makes her happy, that’s pretty much all I need from life.
There’s just one little snag… Her father and I did get something from our church attendance. We both got a good moral background that helped us not to be drunken partiers or crazy promiscuous as teenagers/college kids, and I like how that has helped informed who we are as adults. Of course, my friends and family tend to joke that I am secretly Amish, since I have never been a big drinker, never done any drugs (not even marijuana, not even once), and was always sexually responsible. I want our daughter to grow up with similar values, but the truth is that I think we can instill them without the help of the Almighty. In fact, our background in the church might have given us a little too much morality… For years with both had some issues with guilt and self-consciousness when it came to intimacy even though we were happily married, thanks to years of being told how wrong sex was. So maybe it’s not such a bad thing that our daughter won’t get any religious themes when it comes to morality. A cleaner, simpler lesson for her will be to just do the right thing. Do it because it’s right, not because you fear retribution or judgment.
This weekend at a Greek festival we saw one more aspect of church that we feel like is missing from our non-religious lives. Community. Everyone knew everyone, and everyone had the support of this vast social and religious network. Even though we live in a small town, the people here are not quick to make and maintain friendships, and in the end our neighborhood (which has thousands of houses within it’s sprawling borders) feels less like a community and more like a random collection of strangers. We have friends, but most of them live pretty far away and not many have kids. So how do we foster the kind of social atmosphere that will help our daughter to understand the worth of friends and loved ones beyond the family? Play groups? Clubs? Classes?
We’re still working on that part…
1. God created sex. Its not wrong within the bounds of a marriage between a man and a woman. CJ Mahaney has a great book on that for guys and Carolyn Mahaney has a great one for women.
2. Would it be in the best interest of a parent to let their child do everything that would make them happy? If I wanted to eat all the candy in the world and gain 300 lbs by the time I graduated high school because it made me happy – would my parents be good parents if they let me? If I wanted to drink tons of alcohol and get in a car and drive at a 16th bday party (because it would make me happy) would my parents be kind if they let me? A child’s happiness should not be the sole purpose of every parent.
3. Why do most non-believers only see God has judge? Do we Christians spend so much time talking about God’s judgement (and hell, which is real) that we don’t give them an accurate view of the grace, kindness, goodness, lovingkindness, forbearance, mercy of God?
4. Community. So – they did get something (even from a Mormon community). How is your community (your church) different and loving of outsiders – and how does it impact your daily life? I am blessed to be in an amazing church. I’ve only spent a few years without a real church home in my life – and those were some long years. I know the beauty of a gospel-centered community where Christ is exalted in all – and I love it. If you want more on this – go read Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis.
What are some questions you would pose from this post? What are your thoughts?
by Kimberly | Jun 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QvSoRQrVJg]
Love this dude. Thank you for Bruce Roberts and Chuck Haddox for my introduction. Some people talk about humility very seriously. I love Brian’s take:
by Kimberly | Jun 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am5KmbWq3Gs]
I was in the car about 12 hours this weekend, so I had plenty of time with the radio. I heard this song on Friday, really listened to the words more on Saturday. If I really believed this song – life would be depressing. Why get up? Is beer really that good? Even high quality beer – none of this lite stuff. 🙂 Now, I liked hanging with my friends during college, I like mason jars, etc.
I was going to share a video that you could hear the words more, but I opted for this live video from Washington because I think it illustrates well a life that may be lived with this mentality. And then below you will find the lyrics.
I love country music. But, I also listen to country music with ears and a heart pointed to Christ – so digesting them with a biblical worldview (hopefully, by grace).
We had a dog named Bocephus livin in the front yard
He liked sleeping out on top of the car
He drank beer out of a mason jar
And he’d climb up on everyone in bed
White frame house in a college town
A bunch of people always hanging around
No real problems we needed to drown
But we’d try our best anyway
We went to class just to pass the time
Back in ’89
We had a keg in the closet,
Pizza on the floor
Left over from the night before
Where we were going we didn’t really care
We had all we ever wanted
And that keg in the closet
This ol’ guitar taught me how to score
Right there on that Lambda Chi porch
Mary Ann taught me a little more
About wanting what you can’t have
Sweatshirts and flag football
Spring Breaks down in Panama
For a while we had it all
We never dreamed it wouldn’t last
by Kimberly | Jun 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
Flash back 10 years. I was 23, just finished my first semester of seminary, had already experienced the let down for failed relationship #1 in seminary, had made tons of new friends, didn’t know what the Fall held for me, knew that Kate Turabian was NOT going to be my friend for 3 more years, had just returned from Germantown, TN for OneDay 2000, and was getting ready to embark on summer #1 of staff with Centrifuge.
Why do I bring this all up? The first time you hear one of your favorite songs you remember where you were. Songs and music are very important to me. I remember the song my brother sang with his class at his Kindergarten graduation (I am a Promise). I remember the song I sang when I didn’t make the Ensemble my freshman year (My Favorite Things). I remember the song Angela and I sang for both Sr Homecoming and Graduation (bring on some Point of Grace). I remember George Strait’s first hit (Unwound). I remember singing Fishin’ in the Dark with my family at the Suwannee River when we had it on a compilation cassette tape with some Marie Osmond, Don Williams, and Dan Seals (gotta love Bop). So, the first time I heard Jesus I am Resting Resting (an old hymn by the way) – I fell in love with it. Years later this song was sung during a wedding that I was in and again – loved it. Unfortunately, this song isn’t sung as much in our churches or on the radio near as often – but hear the words. (We sang it this morning at staff meeting.)
So neat how God has been using discussions I’ve had in the last 2 months to directly point me to the truths in this song. I hope they are a blessing to you and you can REST in the truth:
Jesus I am resting, resting. In the joy of what you are. I am finding out the greatness – of your loving heart.
You have bid me gaze upon you. Your beauty fills my soul. For by your transforming power – you have made me whole.
Oh how great your lovingkindness. Vaster broader than the sea. Oh how marvelous your goodness, lavished all on me.Yes I rest in you Beloved. Know what wealth of grace is thine. Know your certainty of promise, and have made it mine.
Simply trusting you Lord Jesus. I behold you as you are. And your love so pure so changeless. Satisfies my heart.
Satisfies its deepest longings. Meets, supplies its every need. Compasseth me round with blessings. Your’s is love indeed.
Ever lift Your face upon me. As I work and wait for you. Resting neath your smile, Lord Jesus. Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory. Sunshine of my Father’s face. Keep me ever trusting, resting. Fill me with your grace.
Jesus I am resting resting. In the joy of what you are. I am finding out the greatness, of your loving heart.
by Kimberly | Jun 7, 2010 | Uncategorized
My second half marathon is in the books. Here are the thoughts:
1. I beat my last time. My first half (Derby half last April in the ville) I did it in 3.00.07 and was very disappointed in my time. This year I did it in 2.51.00 – 13.04 pace for a mile. My goal is to almost always beat my PR (if I am doing the race for time).
2. I wanted to see how my self-motivation was. I ran this race knowing no one, having no one cheering me on at the finish line, no iPod. How was I going to keep up the motivation when the running got rough? Almost like preaching the gospel to myself every morning (and yes, the gospel is so much more important) I just kept talking to myself and being encouraging to others around me.
3. I am sore. I am definitely more sore than I was after the first half. My hams hurt, my biceps hurt (go figure), my hips hurt, I have a no-skin part of the achilles heel where I got a blister on Thursday and just peeled the skin off, went with a bandaid. I did notice the pain during the race, my feet hurt – the tops of them. My neck hurts and my abs hurt. Believe me – all over.
4. I ran with a 66 year old Navy kid who has taught for 41 years. I jogged, he was walking for a good bit – miles 4-9 about. That is definitely the farthest I had gone without taking many walking breaks. We talked about injuries, Joseph A Banks shirts at goodwill, other races he had done. He finished 32 seconds behind me. He was a good partner.
5. This race was held at Ridgecrest – Lifeway’s camp in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Gorgeous. Mosty downhill. Not overly muggy like Raleigh has been lately. Since we started at dawn (actually 6.06am) – it stayed relatively cool – and believe me – in the sun – I was praying for shade and extremely thankful for it.
6. Part of the course was on gravel. Which I would have gladly changed for pavement. Bring on the pavement!
7. The registration was a little disorganized. But, at 5.15 what else would you expect?
8. Loved the shirts that we got! Long sleeve blue whicking (sp?) material shirts.
9. The whole course there were water stations, goo stations, and gatorade stations. I sweated enough to definitely need it – so I got 3 water cups at stations. No port-a-potty needed! They even had the Old Fort cops and the race director driving by with water.
10. Yes, I will be doing this one again next year. I did enjoy it. Anyone up for doing it with me? I also want to go to Jacksonville next March and do the Gate River Run. I’ve always wanted to do it.
