what is Truth, what is ok to change, and how do you know/

Recently a friend of mine wanted to discuss whether women should lead ministry and other such hot topics about women. I tend to be more traditional in my thoughts about such issues. Although it's easy for a few reasons.
1. I don't want to be a pastor of a church.
2. It's easy for me to submit to my husband because I am encouraged to do so and because I trust him with our family. I don't always follow him without a a little struggle...but I know that I should.
I think such issues are interesting to discuss, although with all kinds of opinions I tend to not discuss the hot topic stuff because it's easier not to.

So I was talking with one of the men that comes to our Bible study. He has studied the Bible extensively and I wanted to know the debates. He brought up the most interesting thought. He said when he studies such issues he usually looks at the history of the debate. On the issue of head coverings...this has been a struggle for Christians for 1500 years. Many have pondered the reason for the text. Cultural? Necessity? However, the question of women in ministry has been a louder struggle for the last 75 years or so. I am interested in looking more into these issues and the thoughts involved to understand better.

I tend to read scripture and believe exactly what I read...so there is a part of me that wonders if I really should have a head covering on in church. But then I think of the muslim women who honor the head covering and then have skin tight jeans and shirts that leave little for a man's imagination. So one can follow the law, but miss the heart of the law.

The other thing is that if you start saying something is cultural then the Bible can become a book of suggestions...and everything is cultural.

I guess the whole Bible is really hard for me. I read it and then I try to apply it to my life and understand it, but I am left with so many questions. So then I think well if God leads me into this or that I will follow him. But then I wonder what kind of leader am I? How can I take from the Bible what God is leading me into and then lead a Bible Study? Who am I to take some of it and leave other parts? So does that mean I need to bring out the head coverings?

And these are only 1/1000000000 of my questions about things!!! If only I could connect my brain to the computer so that my thoughts would upload and then I wouldn't have siffer through them and figure out how to explain myself. :)

So yeah...a whole lot of randomness for you.

ask and you shall receive (lol)

So yeah, the game was AWESOME! MICHIGAN WON!!!!

lots of random thoughts

I went to an orientation on Thursday to see if I want to be a mentor to a foster child (14-17years) who is aging out of the system. The goal is to give the child another role model to help increase the success rate and decrease the risk of being incarcerated. I look forward to the opportunity and am hoping to be paired with a girl who I connect easily with.

God is moving me into the youth atmosphere these days! I was so scared to be a mentor or a leader, but He's been walking with me and it's starting to look like something fruitful.

I had another thought earlier as well. I have been seeing a lot of disabled children, and of course we fostered one. God is placing a desire in my heart for those with medical issues or disabilities. And so I was thinking about what that might look like someday...which leads to my next thought!

I was listening to Eric's sermon online about 1Peter. The part that struck me the most was...Where you are at...God put you there. Don't live in the past or the future....live in the NOW. So as I was thinking about the disabled children God may lead me into someday I heard HIm leading me away from my thoughts and to focus back on the now. What does God want from me today...or this minute of today. I am so guilty of living in the future. You all know I am always coming up with crazy new ideas...and they all take place in the future. But the important thing is to meditate on the now.

I love how when I am learning something new in my life it doesn't take place in one situation. But God takes all these conversations, sermons, books, thoughts, and intertwines them together like the threads of a quilt to get my attention and teach me a lesson. He never leaves me out there in a place where I don't get it...He makes sure that I hear what he's trying to teach me like 50 times and then I do the ohhhh I see, Jesus, and blog it online!!! Just kidding about the blog part...kind of.

Anyway, I just love the way He's been teaching me lately. What has He been teaching or showing you?

MICHIGAN FOOTBALL

David and I are going to see Michigan play tomorrow at the biggest football in the United States. 107,501 can sit in the stadium. SWEEEETTT!!!! One of the students in the youth group realized I hadn't been to a game and would like to, and he talked with his dad who had 2 extra tickets for us!!!! And then I was able to get my shift covered at work without even really trying!!!! This is such a treat.

So think of us tomorrow......having fun in the cold rainy outdoor Michigan stadium!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dinners are back!

One of the things I loved about Tucson was that in the last year we didn't eat dinner alone. We had people at our house about 4-5 nights a week and the other 2 we were usually somewhere else. Eating dinner with friends is amazing. The discussions that come out during a meal and the frienships that are strengthened are so special.
Upon arrival in Michigan we ate with family, but didn't really know people to invite, etc... WEll we have been working and slowing changing this!!! So Mon. nights Micah and Hannah come over! Friday nights we eat with Ellie and John, and then Luke, Katherine, and Ben when they can. Now we are starting Thursday nights at the lodge! (The lodge is this really cool building near the church with that rustic looking furniture and a big moosehead and moose antlers as a chandelier...totally Michigan!!! LOL) A potlock!!!! This came up with Dale and Julie last night. Soooo as you can see we are quickly getting in a dinner routine. I think God is going to do some really cool things in this community. He's already been ruffling some feathers! This is an assumption, but well to do people aren't ones to break down the privacy walls and be part of a community that is so open and accountable to one another. I think He wants to do some work here. so as we used to say in Oregon....YEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAWWWWWWW Let the fun and food and laughter and tears and heartaches and all that happens in community come!!!!!!!

I had a great time with the youth this weekend. We went to a camp up north called Center Lake. It was nestled among tall trees and a large lake. The leaves are red, orange, yellow, and green. It's quite beautiful. One of the high school students said, "God is so cool. He gave us these beautiful trees and put leaves on them...but he didn't leave them green. He must of thought to himself, 'when fall comes I will have the leaves change colors and really bless others with their beauty." And then she paused, "I would have just left them green."
Some highlights of the retreat were: playing games with the kids, climbing the wall, and beginning to get into some deep conversations.
Three of my regular girls at Bible Study came up to me at the end of camp and said, "You have to be with all four years! You can't ever leave." I felt warm and fuzzy inside!!!

God has been teaching me a lot lately. One of the things He is walking me through is quite difficult. As many of you saw in a recent email, H is not doing well. I was able to get an update and it was quite overwhelming. So I called Sue and in between tears fought the words, "I don't know what to do anymore." And she said, "Do you think it's time to let go?" The quesiton that I feared most.
God is asking me to let go, but it's the details that are the hardest. Ok, she's yours Lord. I won't pursue her and if you want her with us you will work your plan.
And then I find her picture in my journal, do you want that too? Yes.
You want her painting of our family? Yes.
You want me not to worry about her at all? Yes.
Letting go of something is extremely difficult. I have a whole new understanding for those who experience loss. Here I am 5 months after her departure and I still am holding on.
I have been sharing this experience with many for a few reasons. The biggest is so that I can be kept accountable.

Typical

moments you hope will never end

After going to the apple orchard with some of our friends we went over to our friend's John's parent's house. There were John and Ellie (married 1 year), Steven and Lindsay (married 5 months), and Hannah and Micah (dating). First, the girls and I sat around the table and asked questions about our relationships, and other topics...

then we all sat in the living room and started talking and laughing so hard our stomachs hurt.

I looked around the room and thought to myself, I wish this moment would never end.

How to lead?

Bible study was amazing last night. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!! The girls really opened up and we began talking about the endless struggle with beauty.

I think a major theme I found was this: God made us to long for beauty. We love looking at beautiful things...and so in that longing Satan decided to twist our thinking. And so now our longing for beauty is quite damaging. I challenged the girls in this. Obviously it's a mentality change...how do we change the way we think about beauty? The girls came up with a challenge this week and we decided to memorize 1Peter 3:3-4. What a great group of girls!!!!


There are 4 leaders, 3 of which where there last night. I am struggling with the technique of leading. I think it's important to present questions and allow the girls to answer...and then continue leading them on their journey through more questions. I like to challenge their responses with more questions to keep them thinking.
Others like to share their struggles in order to relate and show the girls that we all struggle.

I have a couple questions about the latter. How should we present ourselves to those we are leading? Should we attempt to show our best side and share a few struggles here and there? Should we "bare all" and be transparent? Should we only share that which encourages?

How do leaders deal with different types of leading?

I know I have readers out there who are leaders!!! And readers who have ideas.... so SHARE PLEASE!!!

And the reason for my questioning is quite serious as I have some concerns...so pray for us as leaders to connect and learn to work together.

I appreciate your thoughts, answers, and prayers.

biking is not for the weak

This morning I decided to go on a bike ride. No problem.. I walk all the time. So I wrestled the bike up the stairs from the basement and began my expedition. I rode from Green to Nixon over to Warren and on Warren for a few miles. I love Warren because it's almost a dirt road surrounded by trees and if you're lucky you'll see deer crossing. Then I turned right on Vorhies (Luke's st.) and then I turned right on Plymouth and took it home. The ride was about 10 miles. The last mile was a gradual hill. KILLER. At the top of the hill I thought I must have two controls for the resistance...and I looked down and my left handle had it's resistance set all the way! And I never put air in my tires.

Note to self: remember to change resistance and put air in tires.