I'm still here...
I know it might seem that way, but I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!
I moved to Chicago...started a new job, and am trying to get all my stuff set up in my new environment. I'm hoping to start blogging soon. Life seems to be a bit more exciting these days so stay tuned. There might be some good stories coming your way!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
To be slandered...
The new pastor of our congregation came to visit the church last weekend and tonight I heard through the grapevine that someone went up to him and told him that I was trouble and that someone should do something about me. He had to ask someone if there was a problem with me and my position at the church.
I'm upset that someone lied about me. I'm upset that someone tried to ruin my reputation with him. I'm upset that he even had to think for a second about having problems working with me.
I know I'm a bit of a handful. I know I have opinions about how things should happen sometimes...but I'm also willing to acknowledge my faults and the places where I've messed up. The combination of these things usually make me fairly easy to get along with but for some reason there is someone in my congregation who seems determined to spread false reports about me to my new colleague.
Luckily there was someone at my church who stuck for me and told the new pastor that I am a hard worker and am doing my best as a DCO. I'm grateful that someone spoke up on my behalf. It's nice to have people on your side.
end rant---
The new pastor of our congregation came to visit the church last weekend and tonight I heard through the grapevine that someone went up to him and told him that I was trouble and that someone should do something about me. He had to ask someone if there was a problem with me and my position at the church.
I'm upset that someone lied about me. I'm upset that someone tried to ruin my reputation with him. I'm upset that he even had to think for a second about having problems working with me.
I know I'm a bit of a handful. I know I have opinions about how things should happen sometimes...but I'm also willing to acknowledge my faults and the places where I've messed up. The combination of these things usually make me fairly easy to get along with but for some reason there is someone in my congregation who seems determined to spread false reports about me to my new colleague.
Luckily there was someone at my church who stuck for me and told the new pastor that I am a hard worker and am doing my best as a DCO. I'm grateful that someone spoke up on my behalf. It's nice to have people on your side.
end rant---
Update...
I haven't really posted much in the last month and for that I apologize. I figured I'd give you just a small update. I recently received a call to a church right outside of Chicago. The call process always stresses me out a bit...mostly because it means I have to make a decision and it sort of makes me feel like I'm going to disappoint someone, and that's always hard for me. I visited the church and knew that it wasn't the next place I would be serving God. The people were nice, and the idea of being in Chicago was great...but it just wasn't right. So I declined the call and am still in Kimberling City. There's a lot of excitement here right now...we've just recently met the man who is going to be our next pastor after the current one retires. So a time of transition is coming, which I know means patience will be required. If you know me, you know this won't be easy...but it will be exciting.
Also...since our trip to Haiti has officially been postponed to November, Linds and I have decided we couldn't wait that long and are taking a vacation to Haiti in June. We're trying to decide where we're going to serve while we're there and looking for some opportunities to open up. I'm so excited to be going back to Haiti...I really do miss it when I'm gone. I've been taking Creole lessons and have the vocabulary of a 5 year old! I'm not great, but at least I have some of the tools to communicate while I'm there. Someday I'll be fluent...I won't give up.
Last night I did something I haven't done in a while. I got home late from youth group. After youth group ended I spent the next hour and half driving kids home. I only put 70 miles on my car this wednesday...so it's not too bad considering some weeks I drive 120 miles to pick up kids and bring them home...but I want them here so you do what you have to do to get them here. Anyway...I digress. Last night I got home and ran. not far, and not long but I ran. When I was done I turned on the TV. I hardly ever watch TV anymore...I wonder why I even pay for cable. But I watched a movie that was on. This movie started at 10pm. I had read the book that the movie was adapted from and I had seen the movie but for some reason I couldn't remember what happened so I stayed up and watched the whole thing...it didn't end until 1...meaning that I watched 3 straight hours of TV...unreal.
that's about all for now folks...I'll try to be better about posting, and I'll try to be better about finding things that are interesting to write about.
I haven't really posted much in the last month and for that I apologize. I figured I'd give you just a small update. I recently received a call to a church right outside of Chicago. The call process always stresses me out a bit...mostly because it means I have to make a decision and it sort of makes me feel like I'm going to disappoint someone, and that's always hard for me. I visited the church and knew that it wasn't the next place I would be serving God. The people were nice, and the idea of being in Chicago was great...but it just wasn't right. So I declined the call and am still in Kimberling City. There's a lot of excitement here right now...we've just recently met the man who is going to be our next pastor after the current one retires. So a time of transition is coming, which I know means patience will be required. If you know me, you know this won't be easy...but it will be exciting.
Also...since our trip to Haiti has officially been postponed to November, Linds and I have decided we couldn't wait that long and are taking a vacation to Haiti in June. We're trying to decide where we're going to serve while we're there and looking for some opportunities to open up. I'm so excited to be going back to Haiti...I really do miss it when I'm gone. I've been taking Creole lessons and have the vocabulary of a 5 year old! I'm not great, but at least I have some of the tools to communicate while I'm there. Someday I'll be fluent...I won't give up.
Last night I did something I haven't done in a while. I got home late from youth group. After youth group ended I spent the next hour and half driving kids home. I only put 70 miles on my car this wednesday...so it's not too bad considering some weeks I drive 120 miles to pick up kids and bring them home...but I want them here so you do what you have to do to get them here. Anyway...I digress. Last night I got home and ran. not far, and not long but I ran. When I was done I turned on the TV. I hardly ever watch TV anymore...I wonder why I even pay for cable. But I watched a movie that was on. This movie started at 10pm. I had read the book that the movie was adapted from and I had seen the movie but for some reason I couldn't remember what happened so I stayed up and watched the whole thing...it didn't end until 1...meaning that I watched 3 straight hours of TV...unreal.
that's about all for now folks...I'll try to be better about posting, and I'll try to be better about finding things that are interesting to write about.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
A Little Manic...
I realize that last night when I wrote my blog I was incredibly tired and possibly a little on the manic side. I thought about removing it and then decided not to. It was legitimately where my emotions were when I wrote, so I decided to leave it.
After sleeping and taking some time to think through the current situation in a country that I love so much, I feel like I can write a little more coherently. The past week has brought about a million ups and downs on the world stage. I have paid attention to none of them as much as I have to the riots in Haiti. For those of you who are unaware of what's been going on the past week, take a minute to read the news on Haiti. (you can find it by going to google and typing in Haiti) Riots have broken out around the country in response the rising food costs. Over the past 6 months to a year the cost of food has risen at least 40% and some reports are saying that it's been closer to 50%. This becomes difficult when 80% of the population lives on less than $2 a day and 50% of the population lives in abject poverty meaning that they make less than $1 a day. Considering that food prices in Haiti are now comparable to food prices in America (and in some cases even more expensive) it becomes easier to see why so many people are struggling to make ends meet and can't find ways to feed themselves and their families.
When it became a possibility and then a reality that we would not be going to Haiti this week because of the civil unrest, I was sad. I was sad that I wouldn't be seeing my American friends I was supposed to be travelling with. I was sad that I wouldn't be seeing my Haitian friends that three months ago I hadn't said goodbye to when I left their country because I knew I would be coming back. I was sad because people were suffering. I was sad that I wouldn't see Judie, the girl I sponsor with Compassion International. Then I became angry. I can eat (and arguably probably do it too much). I can go to target and spend 50 dollars and not really even flinch. (althought I can't do it that often) I can fill up my tank at a gas pump even though it now costs me $3.26 to do so. Rising prices have affected my life...but they haven't really changed the way I live. I'm angry at myself for not doing more to help people who are suffering. I'm angry that I don't have more information about what's going on in Haiti. I'm frustrated that I can't think of a great way to help. I'm angry that I have no control. I want to fix it.
I still have no answers. All i know is that there are great organizations that are making a difference. Organizations like Compassion International (www.compassion.com) and the Haiti Mission Project (www.haitimissionproject.org). I'm so proud of the people that I was supposed to be going on this trip with. Their outlook and dedication to helping suffering people humbles me and helps me to love the world around me better.
I apologize for the somewhat crazy tone in my last blog, but I really do mean it. I urge you to consider your life. I'm not saying that you should save the world. I'm not saying that you should give up the way of life that you have. I just ask you to consider how you can help the people around you that are suffering, whether they are in Haiti or elsewhere. I truly believe that we live in community with one another, and it is a global community. The way we choose to live impacts the lives of others. It's a pretty amazing thought.
Today I'm praying for Haiti.
I realize that last night when I wrote my blog I was incredibly tired and possibly a little on the manic side. I thought about removing it and then decided not to. It was legitimately where my emotions were when I wrote, so I decided to leave it.
After sleeping and taking some time to think through the current situation in a country that I love so much, I feel like I can write a little more coherently. The past week has brought about a million ups and downs on the world stage. I have paid attention to none of them as much as I have to the riots in Haiti. For those of you who are unaware of what's been going on the past week, take a minute to read the news on Haiti. (you can find it by going to google and typing in Haiti) Riots have broken out around the country in response the rising food costs. Over the past 6 months to a year the cost of food has risen at least 40% and some reports are saying that it's been closer to 50%. This becomes difficult when 80% of the population lives on less than $2 a day and 50% of the population lives in abject poverty meaning that they make less than $1 a day. Considering that food prices in Haiti are now comparable to food prices in America (and in some cases even more expensive) it becomes easier to see why so many people are struggling to make ends meet and can't find ways to feed themselves and their families.
When it became a possibility and then a reality that we would not be going to Haiti this week because of the civil unrest, I was sad. I was sad that I wouldn't be seeing my American friends I was supposed to be travelling with. I was sad that I wouldn't be seeing my Haitian friends that three months ago I hadn't said goodbye to when I left their country because I knew I would be coming back. I was sad because people were suffering. I was sad that I wouldn't see Judie, the girl I sponsor with Compassion International. Then I became angry. I can eat (and arguably probably do it too much). I can go to target and spend 50 dollars and not really even flinch. (althought I can't do it that often) I can fill up my tank at a gas pump even though it now costs me $3.26 to do so. Rising prices have affected my life...but they haven't really changed the way I live. I'm angry at myself for not doing more to help people who are suffering. I'm angry that I don't have more information about what's going on in Haiti. I'm frustrated that I can't think of a great way to help. I'm angry that I have no control. I want to fix it.
I still have no answers. All i know is that there are great organizations that are making a difference. Organizations like Compassion International (www.compassion.com) and the Haiti Mission Project (www.haitimissionproject.org). I'm so proud of the people that I was supposed to be going on this trip with. Their outlook and dedication to helping suffering people humbles me and helps me to love the world around me better.
I apologize for the somewhat crazy tone in my last blog, but I really do mean it. I urge you to consider your life. I'm not saying that you should save the world. I'm not saying that you should give up the way of life that you have. I just ask you to consider how you can help the people around you that are suffering, whether they are in Haiti or elsewhere. I truly believe that we live in community with one another, and it is a global community. The way we choose to live impacts the lives of others. It's a pretty amazing thought.
Today I'm praying for Haiti.
Friday, April 11, 2008
We Have to do something....
If you've been following the news you may know that people in Haiti are rioting over the quick and high rise in food prices. Many people are unable to afford food.
People are literally starving.
We have to do something.
I wish I had a plan...a great plan to ask you all to join me in. At this point I don't. I was supposed to travel to Haiti tomorrow but because of the unrest we are unable to go.
If you want to know more, go to google and type in haiti...check the news links. There are tons of articles. If you want to help, here are some options that I know of right now. I'll let you know when I come up with more.
www.compassion.com
You can sponsor a child in haiti (there's a link on the side of my blog)
www.haitimissionproject.org
You can check on the website and see how to donate. This is the organization that I am most affiliated with. We'll make sure the money goes to help feed people if that's what you want to do with it.
www.kiva.org
You can help with microfinancing...not in haiti, but in other countries, and possibly keep them from being in the same situation.
There are more...I'll let you know. Please stand with me. Today I had three meals...and a snack. I am well fed as I get ready for bed...odds are you might be too. Tonight there are people who feel as if their stomach is being eaten by battery acid (that's how some haitians explain the feeling) and it's because they cannot afford the food. Please help if you can.
If you've been following the news you may know that people in Haiti are rioting over the quick and high rise in food prices. Many people are unable to afford food.
People are literally starving.
We have to do something.
I wish I had a plan...a great plan to ask you all to join me in. At this point I don't. I was supposed to travel to Haiti tomorrow but because of the unrest we are unable to go.
If you want to know more, go to google and type in haiti...check the news links. There are tons of articles. If you want to help, here are some options that I know of right now. I'll let you know when I come up with more.
www.compassion.com
You can sponsor a child in haiti (there's a link on the side of my blog)
www.haitimissionproject.org
You can check on the website and see how to donate. This is the organization that I am most affiliated with. We'll make sure the money goes to help feed people if that's what you want to do with it.
www.kiva.org
You can help with microfinancing...not in haiti, but in other countries, and possibly keep them from being in the same situation.
There are more...I'll let you know. Please stand with me. Today I had three meals...and a snack. I am well fed as I get ready for bed...odds are you might be too. Tonight there are people who feel as if their stomach is being eaten by battery acid (that's how some haitians explain the feeling) and it's because they cannot afford the food. Please help if you can.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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