One liners

i got this forward from my Godmother. I thought there were some good one there some of my favorites and some I haven't seen before

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

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Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

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Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

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It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

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The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

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When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

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Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

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Quit griping about your church; if it wa s perfect, you couldn't belong.

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If the church wants a better preacher, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

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God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

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Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

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Peace starts with a smile.

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I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one they stay home from?!

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A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

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Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

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Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

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Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

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Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

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Forbidden fruits create many jams.

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God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

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God grades on the cross, not the curve.

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God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

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God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

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He who angers you, controls you!

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If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

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Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

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The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

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The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

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We don't change the message, the message changes us.

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You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to.........discourage him.

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The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given.

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Reflection on my previous post

So after sleeping on it and a few hours of reflection. I realize that the language of my last post is pretty harsh. I apologize to anyone I may have offended. My feelings are simply very strong. I am not going to apologize for those feelings.

Right now I feel like my faith, my call to ministry, my concept of self, what my role in the church will be, etc are all caught up in a funnel cloud. The difference in my funnel cloud is that instead of causing damage everything is going to settle out and be fine.

For all those unsettled feelings I have I still feel the presence of God in my life. For once I am really really trying to take comfort in the discomfort.

Inside or outside

To stay and fight from within the church or to fight the injustices of the church from the outside is the question. We talked about heterosexism in Social process today and it just sends me into a state of confusion. How do I become a part of an institution that for so many years on this issue and so many other issues has done nothing but perpetuate stereotypes and encourage discrimination against a minority? I want to serve God not simply serve a denomination. However I really like Wesleyan theology, and therefore like a lot of the teachings of the United Methodist church, but their stance on LGBTQ community is just insane. It is just was insane as there being a central conference for Blacks.

I have known from the beginning that this issue was going to be a struggle for me. I have known the question form the beginning has been fight from the inside or the out? And it used to be very clear to me that the answer was fight from the inside. But is that being hypocritical? I can't think of a better example but I feel in some ways that it is the equivalent of me joining the KKK. And I realize the Church is not the KKK, but we are doing similar damage. Even if we aren't doing our members are doing it in the Name of God.

I want change. I want not to feel angry with the church or with God. I just don't get it. Do we see the hurt and pain that we have caused. People argue and argue that in the eyes of God this is a sin. That their actions are justified by God. Well supposedly as Christians we are supposed live as Jesus lived... can someone please show me somewhere in the Bible where Jesus oppresses the oppressed? The only time Jesus comes close to oppressing anybody is the money changers in the Temple. The money changers who were taking advantage of people.

Maybe this is me letting myself off the hook. But last i checked it was only up to God to decide who is sinning, not me, not a pastor, not the pope, not a bishop, but God. God makes that decision. Hey folks wake up! We want our lives to be simpler well you can take this burden off your back. Stop trying to judge other people's sin.

So where does this leave me? It leaves me still loving theology school. Still struggling with hard questions. Knowing for dang sure that God has called me to this. Still questing what I got myself into when I accepted this call. Wondering what exactly I am supposed to do with this call. Wondering if with this thoughts and opinions like these if I will ever get ordained?

I really believe God loves us ALL I just wish I could get the Church to spread that message and mean it.

(editor's Note: I do not feel that the church is close to being the KKK this post with written with a lot of emotion. I just feel as though it my be hypocritical for me to become a leader in an organization that openly discriminates against a group of people)

To many thoughts

I have this urge to post but really nothing to post about I have tons of ideas floating around in my head of what I would like to Post but none of them are really in full fleshed out postable things... so hopefully soon there will be some post that are somewhat interesting and insightful or neither but at least full posts.

But there is exciting news. Congress has finally set the Date for the Tuskegee airmen to receive their congressional medal of honor! Looks like I'll be heading to DC at the end of this month to support grandpa!Yay!

Ecotheology

So my two favorite classes this summer are systematic theology and religion and the social process. The great thing is that often they intersect. Here is something that i never really thought about. The way we divide ourselves is the reason why really important issues get stifled. In stead of all of those being oppressed getting together and working on each others issues, we stand around saying well they don't care about MY issue. We need to stop! We need to come together.

In systematic yesterday we had a discussion about ecotheogoy. Some of my classmates were getting bogged down in the fact that by focusing on the environment we lose sight of environmental issues. That with all the hooopla surrounding The Inconvenient Truth we have forgotten about poverty issues or issues in urban settings. What they seem to forget is that environmental issues often negatively effect the poor the most. What they didn't seem to glean from the reading is the Ecotheology is not only about caring for the physical planet ( although that is VERY important) it is also about caring for the creatures on the planet, including us humans.

People and environment are not separate issues. Anyone who tries to tell that they are are simply worried that if there are no poor people or cleaning up the environment will hurt their pocketbook.

This semester

I am really really enjoying this semester. Once I get myself motivated to read I actually enjoy my reading for the most part. It's crazy... and very exciting. It seems like when ever i get a little down about what ministry will hold for me ( last night's down moment came when talking about BOM interviews) I read something for one of my classes that inspires me. Last night and this morning I was reading about ecotheology and I really enjoyed it.. It was a whole new perspective that I never really thought about.

Today is my looooooonnnnnnngggg day.... but I'm ready


PS If you have not read the Secret Life of Bees you must I repeat you MUST read it.. I am reading it right now (in between school stuff) and it is awesome.

worried

I am worried what the world is coming to...I am worried about the generation behind mine. how in the world are they going to help take care of me? How are they going to take care of the future?

They are afraid of discipline. If they don't get their way they complain until they do. What are they going to do in the real world. A world where if your boss tells you to do something and you don't like you either do it or you get fired ( and I'm talked about things within the realm of your job not something that should never be asked of you).

I'm worried that "when life gets tough the tough get going" is only a saying of the past. In the future the saying is going to be when life gets tough we complain or just quit.

And I'm not talking about even finding another way or another path, but instead just simply give up.

We are headed to a scary place if we don't start teach children that discipline is a part of life. The they both will be disciplined and they need to have discipline.

I'm worried....

Friday Five

Dante had Virgil as a guide. Before he had younger siblings, my oldest child had an imaginary friend named Patrick. Betsy had Tacy. Laura Ingalls depended on her brindle bulldog, Jack. All of them were companions on the way.

As we take the beginning steps of our journey through Lent, who would we take as a companion? Name five people, real or imaginary, you might like to have with you as guide or guardian or simply good friend.



So here are my Five this was a hard one
1. Michelle... she is very good at being a supportive friend
2. Uncle Clarence just because I'd be happy to be able to spend time with him
3. Andrea cause she makes me laugh
4 . Mrs. G, my 8th grade spanish teacher, because if she can help me survive my 8th grade year and everything beyond she could help me throough anything
5. Beth, my friend from home, because matter what the sitution is or how much time has passed between our conversations she is always there

Another Blog to check out

Melissa over at Going on to perfection has had some good posts lately. Actually a lot of them are links some are useful some are funny but you should defintely check them out! (and no she did not ask me to do this!)

Lent

I figure with everyone else posting their leten practices i should as well. Comunity support and prayer is always helpful. This year for lent I'm picking something up and giving something up.

This year for Lent I'm fasting on Mondays. I picked monday becasue it is a day not filled with classes to distract me. I can really spend time in prayer.

I'm picking up going to the gym 3-4 times a week. I have slacked off in my gym time. Being heathly is the only way I'm going to survive school and future ministry so I figured lent was a good time to pick it back up

One Bad thing

The one bad thing about being a seminarian is sometimes you are so busy studying about theology, religion, and faith that you forget your own... I have worked really hard my first semester and almost a half to be aware of this. I know it's only 9:30 am but i really think if i hadn't looked at the revgals web site I would have forgotten today is Ash Wed. I guess it really is some time for reflection!

Friday Five!

reverendmother here... It seems like this topic has been done before, but I can't find it in the archives, so......

I am downtown on retreat this week. Most of the retreatants are from out of town, so I get to experience this place through the eyes of visitors. So in the spirit of tourism:

1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit? (you can be vague to preserve your anonymity if you like) Congress Park without a doubt

2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy? depends on if I know I will be back I perfer totake it slow and easy but if it's likely i won't be back I see as muchas I can

3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________? Checking out the local parks, then the museums.. And most defintely the RESTURANTS

4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens? Strike it out on my own!!!

5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home? Normally I hate to leave a place... if i have to chose something it's a sense of being in my own place and staying put

Two Things

OK First, sometimes I think my classmates forget that we are at a theological seminary in a Master's program. Yes your previous thoughts and knowledge are going to be challenged. Yes you are going to be asked to think about things in a different way. Yes you are going to be given information and ideas that may make you uncomfortable. No you do not have to let go of your Sunday school version of Jesus in the Bible you just have to be able to express why you find those thoughts valid and I'm sorry in academia the answer "Because the Bible says so" is just not an acceptable answer.

It is driving me crazy. First of all Drew does not really bill itself as anything less then it is. In fact apparently we aren't even the most liberal of the UM seminaries so really it is OK. Secondly we are in an academic setting we are going to be given scholarly information and are going to be asked to think in an academic manner. Yes church traditions have values. Yes I still hold on to some of mine, but now with a better understanding of why.

I will admit Drew tends to be pretty liberal and we do challenge a lot of the traditional church held ideas. But I don't hear anyone saying we aren't going to let you graduate if you don't believe or agree with everything we have say or have taught you. In fact it is exactly the opposite. you will not graduate if you have not learned to or do not think for yourself.

OK enough with the ranting....
I actually heard some uplifting news today. The Bishop from my annual conference (troy) was visiting Drew today. We were having lunch and one of my classmates asked about why she thought we were losing numbers so drastically and one of the things that she said that struck me the most was because we aren't starting new churches. I was impressed that was her answer. I think we she is right. there is definitely room and need for some of our older congregations. But there is a huge amount of room for new growth and starting with a fresh new church is a great to do that. I hope she can be a prominent voice in this movement to stat new churches. That would be amazing!

So much for snow...

So while the rest of the northeast is covered with snow we here Madison only got a little bit of snow and a little bit of ice. Needless to say not enough to cancel classes :-(. I was at least hoping my morning class would be cancelled so I got up when the alarm went off and checked my e-mail. here was an e-mail that said We will have class (darn)...

I do like my classes it's just wed is my long day. I'm in class from 9:55am - 8:15 pm with an hour break for chapel/lunch and only a 15 minute break between classes. I did my schedule so it's my own fault. But dang to have break this morning would have been nice.

Although I have to say I do look forward to my systematic class. I'm actually understanding the reading and like what the authors have to say so I can't wait to hear where the discussion goes.

Well I'm off to class....

Happy snow day to those who have one!

Friday Five!

From Revgalblogpals

Yes, it's true. I've been watching Season Six of American Idol with my daughter, our first time dipping into this particular well of pop culture. In the spirit of believing you can do anything, as the auditioners so clearly do, please fill in the following five blanks.

1) If I could sing like anyone, it would be ________.

2) I would love to sing the song _________________.

3) It would be really cool to sing at ____________.

4) If I could sing a dream duet it would be with ___________.

5) If I could sing on a TV or radio show, it would be __________________.


Any of you who know me in the least are going to know my answers to this especially the first one!

1. THE ONE THE ONLY BETTE MIDLER
2. My favorite Bette Midler song Stay with Me
3. SPAC ( Saratoga Proforming Arts Center)
4. James Taylor or Jack Johnson but first and fore most BETTE herself
5. The View (alot of the other revgals had Garrison Keillor and i have to agree there too)

I have say some of these answers were pretty hard seing how as child i either wanted to be a supreme, a harlette, or one of tina turners back up singers. and maybe i still do just a little bit... to bad i can't sing

Life as a theologian

So I am really enjoying my classes this semester. I fell like I am really doing theology. And I am actually liking it. Thoroughly enjoying it! Religion and the social process ( aka oppression 101) is great and thought provoking. The class that I was moot worried about I just came from, Systematic theology with Dr.Catherine Keller. First I was very,very nervous and anxious about taking a class with Dr. Catherine Keller. But really like it. It has already in two classes really broadened my thoughts of religion and on tradition and especially about language. Right now I am just so excited and enthusiastic that I can't fully explain it in words.
I must I was very excited when Dr.Keller said that I had an interesting and really good thought. I especially proud because it took me hours and hour of reading and rereading of Barth and Tillich to get to that thought. But i was at least happy that the hours of reading paid off and I really did understand.

where i am theologically...

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 89% Modern Liberal 75% Charismatic/Pentecostal 64% Classical Liberal 61% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 57% Roman Catholic 50% Neo orthodox 43% Reformed Evangelical 11% Fundamentalist 0% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com So I am a little surprised at my scores.. Not so much the post modernism but more the Pentecostal was so high and Wesleyan was so low... should i be worried?

Semester Number 2

Ok so i am already writing in my Blog while my away message says that i am reading new testament...

But any way this will be a quick post. i am really looking for ward to this semester. Which is a bit surprising because over the break I was definitely more nervous about it then I was excited. Now I have had all of my classes at least once and I can say that I am looking forward to it. I am taking New Testament with Dr. Stephen Moore, Systematic theology with Dr Catherine Keller, Ministry in Non-parish settings with Dr. David Graybeal, and Religion and Social Process with Dr. Laurel Kearns. And I didn't mention my professors to brag but just to point how awesome our faculty is here at Drew.

I think the courses are going to have really interesting discussions . I have a great group of classmates. With very diverse theological backgrounds and stances. OK so now I am really off to do work!

Guatemala Trip, Part 2

Dr Phil in the supply room (all donations) at Salud y Paz medical clinic
Children playing on the scale at Patalupe

Swimming in the chilly volcano lake

We did a lot of visiting of medical clinics. That was really interesting to see the level of medical care the these clinics provide. Each of the clinics had their own story. The one in patalupe was started by a man who had to travel (walk)four hours in order to get help for his family. At first his village resisted the idea of him starting a clinic because they thought he was just trying to look at their bodies. But he went and got training and starting running the clinic out of his house. Soon he came into contact with missionaries from the US and he with their help starting building a church and clinic. The clinic is run purely on donations. He has several volunteers, and medical missionaries come a few times a year to dental wok, and lab work and general practice type stuff.

The second clinic that we went to was an empty building for a long time that was taken over by a former Texan. He came down on a medical mission and decided to stay. He now has surgical teams that come down four times a year. Volunteers that work there some hired and trained native staff. It is just amazing. They also do a lot of educational stuff there too. A lot of training of women about health and nutrition for themselves and their families. These women don't even have names for their body parts.

It was hard to see the amount of poverty and the hardships that the people face. Their government is still very corrupt. So it is very much an up hill battle.

We did have some pleasure time at the Posada Santigo Atitlan. It was this amazing hotel and gorgeous property and access to the most beautiful volcano lake.

I loved every minute of it. I am definitely looking into going back possibly for the summer.

Everyone should go on a mission trip to experience another culture.

Guatemala Trip, Part 1

Me and Jesus one of the boys at the orphanage
This Church had been rebuilt after it had been blown up during the years of violence
Me picking up garbage at the camp


SO I can not say enough about my trip to Guatemala. It was the amazing experience I have had. The people there are just amazing. They are so welcoming and so grateful that we would come to their country to offer them support.

When we first arrived in Guatemala and we were waiting outside the airport I was amazed at the number of Mercedes and BMWs that I saw. I know it was being stereotypical but I just wasn't expected the luxury cars. Although sadly only a very small % of the population have that wealth. We also saw a Burger King and a Chuck E. Cheese right away.

The first night we stayed at Seteca which is a seminary in Guatemala. We stayed there a couple of other times through out the the trip ( it was stop over as we traveled through out the country.) The last time we were there a few of us talked to some of students. There seminary experience is a bit different from our experience here, but there were a lot of similarities. There are still a lot of second or third career people, but there program is an undergraduate degree. The class body was about 50/50 men/women. Their was a wide range of religious backgrounds there with all kinds of ideas about what they would do with their degree. There is a huge focus on mission work, which is something fairly new for Latin students, according to them.

While we were in Guatemala City we went to a daycare center that was originally started as a street project int a local park. Their weren't children there when we visited but we heard their story. Originally Jamie started the project we he saw a lot of children unsupervised in the park. He gain their trust and started organizing plays and painting the children's face as clowns. The Queen of Spain eventually bought them a building, (I'm not clear on how she become involved.) and the project moved there. Many of the children are there to escape their houses where their mothers are prostitutes. The older children attend school and will come to the center for lunch and for after school. A lot of the daycare does is about building the children's self-esteem through art and also Jamie is hoping to bring in speakers about different jobs that the children could pursue if they stay in school. We had brought them a lot of school supplies and craft supplies.

Next we headed to Antigua to do some sightseeing and shopping. It was the halfway point to out nest stop in the mountains. The view was beautiful. And there were a couple of beautiful churches. One of which had been a destroyed by an earthquake in 1772 the ruins were pretty cool to see. While were there we stayed at this beautiful Lutheran Retreat Center.

The next stop was a Methodist church camp up in the mountains. It was quite was a little chilly there. Especially at night. There we did work around the camp. We painted beds, painted the support beams for the roof, picked up garbage, and also a couple members on the trip did some work on lake rehabilitation. We also visited a nearby orphanage there. There children were just amazing. Smart, and responsible (they all had chores to do). Many had lost their parents to the years of violence or their parents couldn't support them.

More to come....

I'MMMMMMM BAAAACCCCKKK

Ok So sorry for going missing... I was home for christmas and internet access is limted there and then I was in Guatemala... I will post more on home and my trip later, but I just wanted to pop in and say hi!

The Semester is Over!!!!

Last night as I sent my final exam that is worth 60% of my grade to my Professor I did a little happy dance and had a beer. It was a huge relief. Mostly because I was really stressed out out this exam. I've never taken a class where so much rides on one test. But it's over and now all i can do is wait for grades to come out. Which I am pretty excited about because for once I think I did fairly well. In my undergrad years I didn't really care to much about grades, this time around I have really put in the effort so I am hoping to do well.

I must say even with all the work and the complaining that I have done this semester it has been one of the best times of my life. I have meant some of the most amazing people. I have this immediate group of friends who are awesome. We have really intense discussions, we commiserate about why where are here, and we laugh A LOT! Then there are a lot of different people who I don't see as often but are fun, and supportive and just great.

The classes have been good too. I am one of the few people who liked my public practice of theology class. We had wonderful discussion in our precept. My old testament class was interesting. I realized that I really did learn a great deal. Research and writing I could have done with out but I did put together a bibliography of sources on postmodernism and somewhere done the line I think that will be helpful.

It has been an interesting time with the friends and family that came along prior to seminary. My parents I think have their ups and downs with what to d0 with this whole going to seminary and going into the ministry thing. Recently they have been great about it. I think they are starting ti get it. And most people who have been through this say they will never totally get that. Which is nothing new to me, my parents often don't fully get me. However, this time is very different. I think they are starting to understand more that this is more then just a job this is more then just a master's degree. My friends are having more of a struggle with it. Most of my friends are really religious so they aren't quite sure what this means. How they are supposed to act around me, etc. I in the beginning kept saying I'm still me. And I am, but I can feel the changes that are happening. I feel that the changes are really good. I just feel bad because I can the end of some of my friendships coming. Not that they will end completely just not be as strong or as present. I'm just not sure how mush of that has to do with seminary and how much of it has to do with just the passing of time. Don't get me wrong there have been some great times. And my church has been awesome with their support of me. I truly knows what it means to have a church family

My relationship with God just feels great. Sometimes to be honest I get caught up in school and strayed away, but getting back hasn't been a problem. I can feel God with me so much of the time. It's an amazing experience for me.

So far so good. This has just been an awesome semester!

Letter of the alphabet Meme

Melissa gave me the letter P so here are my 10 ferrite things begin with the Letter P. If you want to play drop me a comment and I'll give you a letter...

1. Paella.. best Spanish dish ever
2. Pillar candles
3. Peanut butter.. especially with chocolate
4. Pillows... trust me I use it as often as I can
5. Pizza... i can't wait for marino's pizza when I'm home
6. Pastors.. cause I have so many cool pastor types in my life
7. planes ... especially if I'm going someplace fun
8. phones.. my cell phone is great
9. presents.. both giving and receiving
10. pugs.. they are the only little dogs I like

Guatemala Trip

This is an e-mail I sent out to many of my friends and family if there are any out there in the cyber community who would like to contribute please leave me a message and I'll e-maill you the address where you can send contibutions.

Hi all,

Sorry for the mass e-mail but I wanted to tell you all about my mission trip to Guatemala and give you an opportunity to participate.

As part of my course requirements at Drew Theological school we have to have go on a cross cultural trip. I have chosen to go to Guatemala. I am excited to be able to use my Spanish skills and experience another culture.

This particular trip happens to be a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission trip (VIM). For those of you not familiar with the United Methodist Church VIM trips occur in many countries and in the Untied States. On these trips VIMs do work rebuilding or building in communities, working in schools, feeding/helping poverty stricken groups, etc. Often these trips take place in communities that are already Christian, and we do not go in with a goal of converting people and changing or destroying their culture, which is the vision some have of mission trips. We are just as willing to help non-Christians as we are Christians.

I have attached a list of items that we are brining with us to the orphanages and medical clinics that we will be visiting on the trip. The great thing is that we aren't just sending this stuff to some warehouse somewhere or to some organization where we hope it will get to the people that need it. I will be physically bringing the contributions to the facilities. If you can not donate the actual items and would like to send or give a monetary donation so that I may purchase items to contribute that would be great too.

I know it is the holidays and there are a lot of opportunities to give. If can not participate in this I fully understand.

Please feel free to pass this opportunity on to others who you think may wish to participate.

I will be leaving for the trip on Jan 6th. I will be willing to pick any items you may wish to contribute or you may send them to me.

Thank you so much in advance!

Happy Holidays

Peace and Blessing,

Kristen

Here is the wish list:

WISH LIST FOR GUATEMALA NOVEMBER 2006 TRIP:

Each time we visit the Guatemala National Methodist Church projects, we bring supplies and equipment for their use. Here are the items requested or useful for each project, which we would like to take with us when we leave in November:

I. Los Romeritos, Guatemala City (not a GMC project):

clown make-up, wigs, costumes etc

Children’s vitamins

Shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste.

Creme for scabies treatment

Tylenol for children

Digital thermometer

Cough medicine for children

Manual in Spanish for craft projects

II. Salud y Paz Medical Clinic in Camanchaj:

Visine or other over-the-counter for eyes

Anti-acids (tums etc)

Pepto Bismal

Monistat for vaginal yeast infections

Cough syrup for children and adults

Naproxine (Advil or Ibuprofen)

Metronidazol 500 mg. (flagel)

Pepsid

Antibiotic creme

Desitin

Diaper rash medication

underware small sizes for women

III. Juan Ixtan, Patalup Medical Clinic:

Diabetic test strips for Accu-Chek Advantage machine

Otoscope to examine ears

Bulk Vitamins, Kirkland from Costco: One-a-day, Vit. C.

IV. Hogar de Niños, San Sebastian de Lemoa

warm clothing for small children ages 0-17: underwear, socks, T-shirts and pants, jackets, sweaters, shoes (remember, 17-year-olds in Guatemala are the size of 13-year-olds in the US)

School supplies: pens, pencils, sharpeners, rulers, spiral notebooks, safety scissors, water colors, permanent markers, dry-erase markers, hole punches, folders, tape, tape holders, staple remover, stapler, staples, ruler, compass, protractor, tracing paper, Personal items: shampoo, tooth paste, soaps, tooth brushes, combs

Mixed emotions

So a couple of hours ago I finished my very last class of my first semester of Seminary. Now the only thing I have left to do school work wise for the rest of the semester is study and take my three hour old testament exam.

I really and truly have mixed emotion as this semester ends. I happy to get a break from all the reading and the paper writing. Yet it makes me realize just how fast this time really goes by. I keep thinking about how quickly I felt my four years of college when by ans seminary is only three years. I am already in that but I'm going to miss it stage. It's wired because sometimes we rush the semester along but honestly if I could go back and do it over again I think i would. I really am enjoying this. Not to say there aren't downs because there sure are. last wed I was talking about dropping out. But overall this experience has been everything i could have ever wished for.

blog thingy

Your Scholastic Strength Is Inspiring Others

You are great at developing a vision, and getting others to adopt your way of thinking. You are talented at leading, balancing tasks, and helping people work together. You should major in: Counseling Environmental studies Law Social work Political science Nursing

What Should You Major In?

2 Done

Ok so two papers done and two to go.. and yes I'm on here procrastinating....

So any ideas of summer Jobs for the sem kid? I thought about doing camp but I don't think my summer classes end in time... suggestions will be appreciated


ok Two papers left to write I should leave the library at about 2am :-(

Stress...

SO I knew it was coming... Four papers due this week.. I got a good start on them this weekend, but I probably should have done more.

And I broke up with the long distance bf.. It was for the best but it doesn't make it any easier.

OK well I need to get to work... Prayers will be appreciated!

Parents

I just realized that I love my parents and i know in their own strange way that they love me, but they just zap the life right out of me. A large part of that is because I spend my time trying to be the daughter they want me to be or the daughter that they think I am. They just have no idea of who I am or the changes that have occurred in my life. Partly because I don't let them in on it and partly because when I do let them in on it I feel like I'm being attacked.

My dad is trying to really supportive in this whole becoming a pastor process. But he just doesn't get it. And everyone keeps telling me he never will. But getting him to understand that is hard. The problem is he is really trying and I get frustrated because I'm explaining it as best I can and he just can't make the leap. Partly because I think he struggles with his own faith, and thinks I can be the one to guide him through and I just can't be.

My mom, I just don't know where she is. She doesn't react outwardly that often and when she doesn't I often see it as a negative. I;'m not sure that is fair to her. In fact i know it's not. There is just so much history there. For a long time ( and passably still) there was a lot of jealously there. Never said but completely understood. She too struggles in her faith journey. I think she wants to go there but something holds her back. I'm just not sure what it is. Nor do I think I can be the one to help her either.

I always tell people I'm a product of my parents they raised me to be different from them but they didn't really know what they were actually doing. I am really different from them. It's hard sometimes I really don't know what to do with that. I am happy I am the person I am, it's just hard that I can't fully explain / share that with my parents.

Friday five.. Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving... In particular order here is who and what I am thankful for in no particular order ....

1. School ( Drew Theological Seminary)

2. Michelle

3. The Walters

4. Andrea

5. My call

Organic Part II

Ok so I wanted to post more about this yesterday, but I didn't get to it, and truthfully right now I really should be cleaning my Apartment, but I had to post this. So yesterday Peter Rollins the author of How (Not) To Speak of God ( ihaven't read it yet but after listening to him speak i'm sure it's good) was at school. He spoke at chapel and the did a book talk afterward. And I saw what worship could be. He started this faith experience in Belfast Ireland, at a pub, where people come to worship and to experience God. It just looked and sounded amazing. It's consider to be part of the emergent church movement. I'm not quite ready to jump on to that label yet (partly due to my generational rejection of labels), but it sounds more and more exciting. I share the fear that Peter expressed to us in his talk that the Emergent church label runs the risk of being comercialized or exploited. But it seems to be more and more what church should be. How I want to be able to help people experience God.

I also checked out the website The Ooze. There is some really great discussions going on there. People talking from all different perspectives of faith.

Just the other day we were talking about constructive theology in class. A lot of my classmates wanted to talk about the dangers of people constructing their own theologies. Yes there are dangers, but what about the good stuff. The developing of one's faith. Developing a deep connection with God that come out of thought, questions and experience. What a wonderful feeling.

I see where Christianity should be , where it should go. We need to go back to our roots.

Organic

Hopefully I'll be able to post more on this soon... but that is what we need to get back to. Organic church experiences

Blogging

Sorry my blogging has been very lack luster lately.... I've just been busy with school and church stuff. It's a good busy though! Hopefully I'll have something fun and interesting to post about soon. The next two weeks I'm preaching so I'm excited for that. This Sunday I'm preaching a mini-sermon for Laity Sunday and next week I am preaching for Chirst the King Sunday
That's about all the is exciting right now!

Friday five

Those of us who are in the United States have just been through quite a topsy-turvy election. During the campaign we heard a fair amount about red states and blue states, when in fact most of us live in some shade of purple. And so... a lighter look at those confounding colors:

1. Favorite red food... strawberries and rasberries

2. Tell us about the bluest body of water you've ever seen in person.

3. It's movie rental time: Blue Planet, The Color Purple, or Crimson Tide? the color purple

4. What has you seeing red these days? close minded people

5. What or who picks you up when you're feeling blue? I have lots of lovely people in my life who pick me up

Good Things Happening at Seminary

I have to say we are more then half-way through the semester, and this experience has been such a blessing so far. It's seems funny to me that people have a fear of losing their faith in seminary. I guess I can understand where that could come from, but for me so far this has been nothing but a spiritually enriching experience. I have met amazing people, had the most amazing discussions, and even learned a think or two in class. Yes, there is a ton of reading and work to be done. And yes it can be overwhelming, and yes there have been a few times when I have said to myself why the heck am I here, but even in all that it has been a joy.

I simply can not get over the depth of the conversations we are having. Especially conversations on race. Race is almost becoming a four letter word around here these days. Particularly for the non-minority students. It sound as though they feel as if they are being blamed for actions that they had no control over. It is true they had no control over them. I agree we need to stop living in the past. But that is not to say that we should forget about it either. Being at Drew has allowed me to see so many side of this conversation. And has allowed and encouraged me to embrace my biracial heritage. To not have to hide or favor one side or the other.

I was struggling very heavily that identity for a very long time. The struggle is by no means over, but not I have realized it ok to feel uncomfortable. Along with that it is ok just to say this is ME, this is Who I AM, I can't change it and I don't want to change, and I don't need to fit into a constructed racial identity. I think that if we would stop trying to put people in boxes as a way to understand them we could make progress in our ( the world's) discussion on race.

Happy Birthday Shout Out

This is not normal for my blog, but it is something that I must do. I know she pops in occasionally so I have to wish my Pastor a very very very happy _0 Birthday!

I know you weren't looking forward to this birthday, but you have done amazing things in you time here so far, and I know there are many more things to come.

Thank you for your unending support. I hope you have a wonderful day!!!!!

Spiritual Disciplines

So this week for our Public Practice of theology class we had to write a paper about our spiritual lives and our spiritual disciplines. I realized what a drastic change I have made over the past year and a half. It's been a year and a half since I experienced my call to ministry. Right before that time my prayer life had picked up a bit, but I didn't have to much else going on spiritually. Then came this very unexpected, sometimes till scary, but for the most wonderful call to ministry, and I tired to instill other spiritual disciplines in my life. The growth of those disciplines have been very helpful in my life. I feel that I my stress level while it tends to be higher ( I am in seminary folks!) it doesn't get the best of me a easily. Journaling and prayer are the most helpful with that. My prayer life has been great lately. It funny because everyone tells you that is the first to go in seminary. My Bible study ( beyond what we have to go for class) has been ok, but definitely has room for improvement.

Last night was my first meeting with my spiritual direction group. What an awesome and helpful experience.

For the past few weeks I've struggled a little bit with my call because I'm disappointed/disillusioned with the organized Church. However, somewhere along the line I turned that into disappointment/disillusionment with God. When really that was not the case at all. It's with the Church. I have no doubt about God or the presence of God in my life.

The weekend

So I have to be honest I didn't know what to expect this weekend. I went back to my undergrad for homecoming weekend. I skipped out on homecoming last year to attend my aunt's 50th birthday party. I had no idea what to expect especially because I am a totally different person from the person I was in undergrad. The first thing everyone wanted to know was " is she going to go to the bar?" Yes, I was a party girl in undergrad. And yes I went to the bar with my friends and yes I had a drink. I think it put everyone at ease. A lot of my friends and acquaintances still aren't sure of what to make of me going into the ministry, but it lead to a lot of great conversations.

I not only saw my peers, but I also got to visit with my former professors and our campus ministers. We talked a lot about the direction of the church. How young people are reacting, what we can do change the perceptions of church. I got lots of advice to enjoy seminary and to learn as much as I can, and get as many experiences as I can.

Overall it was fun weekend. I saw almost everyone I wanted to. I did miss some key people (sorry sis). But I did realize the past is the past and there is no going back.

Personality test

Everyone else was doing and I thought it was fun:

Benevolent Designer

not sure why it is showing up twice

Reading week

So It's reading week, and I had this wonderful idea that while it was reading week I was going to spend all my time getting ahead. Not just getting my work done for next week but really and truly getting ahead..... well that didn't work. It's crazy how much better I am about getting my work done when I don't have time to do it. So needless to say next weeks assignments are mostly read and I at least looked at my assignments for the following week. Oh well I guess my brain just needed a little break. At least I don't have any mid-terms or big papers due.

The good thing is today I start my traveling. I am visiting my one of my College friends in Philly today and tomorrow thru Sunday I'll be in Ohio visiting another friend! So reading week was useful for something.

Dear Church:Letters From a Disillusioned Generation

I've decided that I needed to do some simple pleasure reading. I know it's sounds crazy to most with all the reading that we do in seminary that I would picked to do more reading for enjoyment, but reading has always been my relaxation method. So I picked up a book about church(cause I jsut can't get enough) and my generation's disillusionment with the institutional church. I have really enjoyed it. Simply because it doesn't just point out the problems that my generation has with the church, but it puts some feelings behind it. Not only that, the book let's us know we do not have to disillusioned forever. There's a website that goes along with it www.dearchurch.com

I struggle all the time with my frustration of being called to ordained ministry, but feeling that the church in its current state just isn't what it should/could be. I want so much to be part of the positive change but fear that I may be stopped in my tracks. What keeps me strong is knowing the God is with me on this. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that. Sometimes I question the heck out of God as to why I'm here and if I can really do what God is calling me to do, but I just have to remember I'm not in any of this alone.

Identity

So much for trying to post at least once a week.. oh the life of a seminarian.

Lately I have been pretty down and I could not figure out why. I kept saying I needed some type of social justice issue to sink myself into, yet I could not figure out what. However, I realized that I was searching for an outward struggle because I am facing an internal struggle. I am having a struggle with my identity. My father is black my mother is white. I am mixed. Yet my skin color is very light. Most people just assume that I am white. However, I am much closer to my dad;s side of the family, so that is where I would prefer to identify myself.

Here at Drew there is such diversity and a lot of cultural opportunities for all kinds of cultures. IT is wonderful, but my struggle is finding my place in the balls community. It is where my heart is, but I just do not feel like I fit there. And maybe that is just my stuff. It may be all in my head that I am not accepted. I feel that I kind of am but I always feel like I have to prove some something.

Matriculation

I realize that I didn't post about matriculation last wed. For those of you not familiar with the Drew Tradition, we have a Chapel service to celebrate our matriculation. We sign a book that has been signed for a 139 years. It was a great service. Len Sweet gave an inspiring sermon about weathering the perfect storm that the church is in now in. It was very memorable. My pastor who is a Drew alum came down. It was great to see her on her old stomping grounds. I feel like everyone here knows her. It's a little intimidating to know what a great student she was here and the impact that she made here. It does give me a little extra incentive to do better. Not that I needed any.... The other cool thing is that I'm starting exactly 10 years after she started. I love that I can share my experiences with her and she understands!

Anyway it is a day that I will never forget!

Work

Well now I don't have nearly as much time as I did before because I started working in the Undergraduate Dean's office. It's only been two days but it's been pretty good so far. A lot of it is similar to what I did in my years spent temping. I actually don't mind doing office work. I guess that will be a good thing when I'm a pastor, but I have feeling then I will not enjoy it nearly as much.

My time at Seminary keeps getting better and better even with a larger work load. The people that I have met and the friendships that are developing are great. Although I have noticed there are very few superficial conversations. Most conversations turn into deep theological discussions. It's pretty interesting.

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five: Brushes with Greatness

1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous.... I've met David Cassidy on several occasions. He comes into the little convenient store that I work at during the summer. He's pretty nice guy.

2. Tell us about a celebrity you'd like to meet.... This one is Easy.... BETTE MIDLER. She is a great performer and has done amazing things for NYC

3. Tell us about someone great who's *not* famous that you think everyone ought to have a chance to meet. ... My pastor. She is a great role model for strong females in Ministry. She is my strongest supporter.

4. Do you have any autographs of famous people? Mickey Mouse and the Disney crew but that's about it.

5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for? Being active in Social Justice

Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago? Paris Hilton and Company

Title change

I am at Drew, but I had thought about this before, I needed to change my blog title. I need to be inclusive. It has always been about God. When I first realized that I had used exclusive language and I mentioned to my pastor she said I just figured you were talking about Jesus. And yes I'm trying desperately to follow his example, but for me right now it's really about God. Yes, I know for some they are one in the same, and that is a debate for another day.....

Anyway, new title, same blog, hopefully with some more interesting posts coming.

WOW

So it's been two weeks at Drew.. and all I can say is wow. I am home. After a week of orientation an and a week of classes and a two day retreat and I know Drew is home. I have met the most wonderful people and had the must stimulating and exhausting and funny conversations that I have ever had. One of my classmates put it best when he said you don't pass through the school it also passes through you, and I can feel that. The people and the culture are so rich. I just thank God for it everyday

Reason no 1 why the administrative side of drew stinks

In the tradition of Melissa over at Going on to perfection... I am going to complain about the administrative side of Drew... so when setting up our room my roommate and I set up the TV and telephone by the cable and telephone jack only to find out today that those are the new jacks and they aren't working yet. So either we have to rearrange furniture or go with out phone or TV!!! HOW Annoying! Oh and the old phone jack doesn't even exist in out room anymore!!!!

First day

Well I had my first day of Class. It went well. I am really excited about all the learning that is going to occur here, both in and out of the classroom. Especially at lunch or any time when I am with my classmates for that matter. I am definitely off to a great start at making friends. And so far I've been pretty good about working out and getting school work done. Huge steps for me compared to undergrad. I know it's week one but I'[m pretty optimistic about both things staying on track.

Dinner and A day with perfect stranger

So haven't done a book review yet and this one won't quite be one either, but Dinner with a Perfect Stranger an invitation Worth Considering and A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory, are great books. For me they really speak to what my ministry is about right now; developing a relationship with God. And for me right now for as much as I want to be a pastor I don't care if that relationship takes place in the context of Church. It is more important for a person to develop a relationship with God then a relationship to a church. That is not to say that a Church, as it is commonly thought of can't foster that relationship, it is to say that we should not assume because one is not part of a church that they can not have a solid relationship with God.

I think that may be the downfall of current mainline religions. We have put emphasis on our membership numbers and our appearance as the Body of Christ and have not put our focus on building a relationship with God in order to become part of The Body. So often we struggle with the traditions , and rituals that lose sight of what those traditions and rituals are about. They are about having a greater connection with God.

We accept the difference and marriage styles, the different relationship parents have with their children, different styles of friends,etc. We accept that they are different but we still consider them acceptable. Why is that so often we do not feel the same way about a person's relationship with God. We do judge people if they don't meet their friends for coffee once a month as we do, but we are quick to judge them if they don't go to church on Sunday.

I am a church going person. In fact I truly enjoy going to church. I feel that is where I most often connect with deeply with God. But it is not the only place that I connect with God. If another person doesn't feel comfortable in a church setting I would never want them to see that as a barrier to their relationship with God. Because their are certainly other ways to meet God and to a foster a relationship with God.

greetings from Drew

I am sorry for the time lapse in blogging, but as you can imagine I was very busy geting ready for school. I feel like busy is the theme of this blog. However. I have arrived at DREW. I am HERE!!!! In case you cna't tell I am so very excited about it. Orientation was very long but informative. I hvae have no doubt that I am at the place God intented me to be at. I am so excited for this journey. Everyone keeps saying there will be ups and downs and I feel that there is no other place where I would like to expirence them.

The community here is so welcoming, open and honest. I have already met some amazing people. I know that this will be another place where I will make life long friends. I can't wiat for classes to start. I have such great anticpation for the discussions and the debates that willl occur.

The icing on the cake was meeting Ben and Melissa from the blogoshere world. They are truly great people and have very helpful to me.

Well I'm off to organixe my apartment some more and do a bit of fun readding before all the calss reading starts

Two weeks

Well orientation at Drew is less then two weeks away and I am super excited!!! I can't wait to start school. I've been buying new things, organizing and packing. I am really really excited.
I just can't wiat to get started and it's less then two weeks away!!! :-)

Practice what i preach....

So I preached a sermon on taking time for yourself to relax and refresh and most importantly to Pray. For about two weeks up until my sermon I as really good at doing that, but this week it just hasn't happened and I can really feel the difference. I know from what people have told me and what I have read that pastors are always told they need to spend time on self-care, and I am really really going to have to work on that and rememeber that both for now and in the future.

My time house sitting is almost over. I'm kind of sad to be leaving such a great space. However I'm very happy my pastor is coming home!

Sermon number 2

Well sermon number two has been preached. I had a Few family and friends there which was very nice. I did the whole service this time which was interesting, I made a few mistakes here and there about what was happening in the service. We moved the special music round and I forgot. More importantly I forgot to ask for other announcements... whoops. But over all it went very well. I didn't think this sermon was as good as the first one . It was ok and I received a few compliments on it. My congregation is very supportive of me, which is great.

The good thing is I'm looking forward to having more opportunities to preach. I'm learning more and more each time. The best advice I heard today was not to worry so much about how I sound or if I make a mistake, people are really listening from the message. Definitely something I need to remember.

Another learning experience with many more to come. Little over a month till school! :-)

House sitting

I was kind of excited about house sitting because it meant two weeks out of my parents house. However, as with most things I was a little nervous. I have never been one for spending time alone in a house. Even as a teen I didn't like it. I always use to leave all the lights on in the house.

Right now though I feel very at home and very relaxed. I'm House sitting for my pastor and I can really feel God in the house. My prayer time has been great. It's not as if there are a ton of crosses around or anything. There are a few and some beautiful ones, but nothing unusual. It just feels very homey and I feel good. I even felt better at work this morning and getting up early didn't even affect me.

I'm pretty sure it's the combination of the sense of freedom doesn't hurt.

But truly feeling God in your living space makes such a difference.

Hair cuts

I have decided if I could only have one extravagance in life it would be getting my hair cut. I'd give up going out to eat, shopping, destination vacations, etc... I went and got a great inexpensive hair cut at a relatively new place just out of town. I hadn't had my hair cut in a few months and it was really starting to show. So today on my day off I got it cut. There is nothing better then someone washing and then blow drying my hair.

Plus, I've decided to let my hair grow for the next three years and then chop it off and donate it to locks of love after I graduate from Seminary. I always get frustrated with my long hair and then chop it off but this time I'm sticking to the plan. In three years it will be long enough so that when I donate it my hair won't be to super short.

Just an Update

So apparently Blogger ate my Friday Five post :-(... Oh well hopefully next week. Last weekend was great to spend four days with my best friend from college. Again, this past week was spent working. Luckily, this week I have a whole day off where I don't have to work at either job which will be nice.

Sermon writing is coming along. It's still not polished ( or finished) but the ideas are coming along. It is definitely a case of needing to practice what I am preaching. I need to take more time for rest and spiritual renewal.

Orientation information came last week for Drew. I'm starting to get very excited, and nervous. I never had really though about going to grad school so soon after graduation and now it's really coming.

Starting Sat. I'm house sitting for two weeks. Hopefully I'll get lots of time to read and blog!