Fear, World Religions, and the Media... Stopping Stupid in it's Tracks..

I am a college student and old one, but "one" none the less. If you don't know much about college you should know that in college you try to take classes that interest you after your core and required classes are met.. I took Philosophy of Religions because of my religious back ground and calling in my church. This is a tough course that keeps you on your toes. It has taught me that there are somethings in dire need of working on this world.

 I have been  blessed because the class also has a "World Religions" broad  course as a secondary part of the class beyond philosophies..I have learned about the world of religion and things that people think about particular faiths. It has been an eye opener. There seems to be one common thread though among humanity that no matter what we think or believe, if we allow ignorance about other religions to continue, it allows fear to be birthed. People like to assume things and that  fear from their assumptions can ruin us if we let it. I have also learned that  as long as people accept ignorance about these subjects we have less of a chance to find peace that the world so desperately needs.

We learn fear at an early age. Parents shout "don't touch that!" or "Hot!" so we will be afraid of getting burned (and rightfully so)..we learn to be careful around things, afraid of breaking stuff crossing the street. We learn to  fear our weird aunt Bessie when she comes over, mostly because she smells funny and pinches our cheeks.. After a while as we learn more about the world, we spend a lot of time developing a list of things to be afraid of. In the world that we live in the list of fears gets longer and longer with the blast of media control on our lives. Kids are exposed to hours and hours of horrific news on social media and they hear stories at school from their class mates about things.. and of course it is the "blown up" version of whatever happened. It is a wonder that the school lunch programs have not started passing out Prozac with the chocolate milk. Between all the "buzz word" reports and hype, our kids are getting the wrong message about everything from Islam to what it means to be in a loving committed relationship. Adults affirm these fears in a number of ways.

As a parent I admit my fears. I worry about my kids and the kids they go to school with. I worry about their futures and their hopes and dreams. My husband and I worry together about the bills and many things as he is going back to work and we will be three weeks with out money. Some how in my mind robbing a bank to solve my issues is not okay in any country, and my religion confirms that for me. (so do many others) I have a strong faith and in my personal theology I believe God loves us and cares for us. I believe He cares for my children even when they are in my presence but my mind always runs back to that  fearful place when things happen. It says "what will you do about?!!?..." I know that our needs will be met, but this is just an example of daily fears that come up to many people...... Hinduism says that if I act on an impulse to rob the bank my actions make my world worse. Karma is not "what goes around comes around" It is about living in what we have made of the world.. While I am mostly grounded and logical "What if's" run wildly in my head and  my mind paints a stupid picture about the worst of everything. The mind is a mad monkey and I have tried to meditate to reach nirvana like many Buddhist to find my place in the midst of my stress. Nirvana by the way is a state of mind "outside the mind", not a rock band. (That is another discussion...)  I am thankful for my faith and my friends in faith because it keeps me grounded. I am thankful for others who choose not to do harm to me for having mad monkeys and a "nirvanaless" life.. Others though don't know how to cope with their own mad monkeys (fears) so they make it up as they go... it gives stupid a racetrack in the human mind. Then they sell tickets and invite the neighborhood.

This class about religions that I have been taking, has helped me to learn many things about the world's major religions and what people don't really know about them and most of what they think they know is very skewed thanks to media and ignorance in general. Most of us are "religion stupid" for lack of better words and it is beginning to have devastating effects on our world.  I have learned that religion, no matter what form, keeps us grounded. It helps us to develop our morals and to develop a sense of rightness. This is true even if our rightness is not what others accept or agree with, there has to be a place to start. Religion keeps us connected with others along a common thread of belief..

 Along time ago I decided to nip certain "religion fears" in the bud with my children. I did not want them to grow up bashing any religion because many faith communities do so in trying to prove their "rightness"(also people who choose to not believe anything at all have very defensive positions). I did not want them to think that religion (or lack there of)  blanket statements  are okay, just because it is the norm on television or other places in life. . I also tell them that they should ask about what they don't know from someone who does so that they are not disrespectful in the face of ignorance.  I  made it a point to introduce my children to people from many cultures and places so that they would have respect for life beyond the scope of their own eyes. I also taught them that you cannot assume that some one holds a particular belief, just because they live somewhere that others commonly hold them. It seems to be paying off as we have people from other countries in our home and my kids are at ease with them.. I want to say that  am not touting my perfection as a parent here. Parenting is a tough job and sometimes I fail miserably, but I wanted to give my kids a fighting chance at being good people that the world could benefit from. 

The media has blindly mixed countries, authenticity, religions, and nationality in verbiage. It for me sits as well in my stomach as four day old fruit salad in 90 degree weather. Media seems to use  invisible trash cans for what the world doesn't understand or like. Often the message says "if you don't like someone, stick them here in the can and you can make it disappear in the push of a button". So many cartoons now days show places being blown off the map and mass killing of species at war  as the norm ..   I have issues with my kids thinking that annihilating any part of the world is okay, especially if it is just because we are afraid of what others "might" do.  Television also shows using violence towards a neighbor is okay  to settle disputes when you have an issue, especially if that person is from a different religion or country. To me this is utter stupidity.. and stopping it needs to be in the forefront of our to do list. My campaign is "Stop Stupid in its Tracks". This is for my children, and yours.

While many people think that they are powerless to stop this kind stuff... actually you can. Opinion matters, and studying counts! Letting networks know when a show rankles your conscience is good place to start. Refusing to watch abusive television is very effective because ratings are everything. When news papers identify people or places incorrectly retractions and corrections are possible and are made when mistakes have been verified. When people you know are talking about things that they don't know, kind but firm words about stereotypes can go a long ways. When sharing on a topic admitting that you are not an expert in the religious or cultural area is helpful too. Letting people know what you need to learn more of is no thing of shame. Most importantly for your kids, talk to them! Turn off the tube and have some conversations.. I often interrupt my children even when they are not arguing, but have said things that are stereotyped or learned from uneducated class mates. I remind them that they do not want to be stereotyped and how they have felt when they were. I ask them why they felt justified in their feelings and try to help them become more educated about people and their religions, after all our neighbors come in many varieties. It won't cure the world's religion issues over night, but at least it is a place to start.. no ticket sales here!

Ministry of "Girlfriends"

                                             THE MINISTERS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

What am I Called to Do?

Finding Balance in the Kingdom & Serving in Reality

I am a doer. I like to be busy and I like to feel that I have done one thing each day that made a difference. I do not mean that I went out and moved a mountain, solved a budget crisis, or even managed to sort my junk drawer. I just like to do one thing of some kind daily. I think I get it from my Papa who is 97. He has always managed to fill his time doing something of sorts. Crosswords, wood working, and reading his Bible to name a few. Even at 97 he likes to feed the cats and do small tasks that give him a part in the world. I find now that my kids are getting older, I spend much less time with dishes and laundry, and more time with dusting and doing somethings I always wanted to have more time for like play my instruments and practice piano.  I still cook mostly from scratch and make beaded jewelry that I sell to fund mission trips to Brazil. I do this when I am not taking college classes at Mott, Harvard X, or other X groups that offer free Ivy League classes, or serving the church. I study languages and coordinate community programs for families in my area. All of these things mesh in ministry so in someways I volunteer full time with my faith community (I never thought that could be done). I drive people crazy with my Facebook posts that tend to be lists of things I have done, and being a multi-tasker at heart they seem large to people who read them. For me it is just everyday.

I used put a lot of emphasis on tasks getting done daily but I have learned that I needed to stop trying to be so driven to "chores tasking". College did that to me. I have missed priesthood meetings, prayer meetings, and Temple School classes. College did that too, because I take classes at night sometimes and can't be everywhere at once so trying to be the ultimate church tasker, I had to let that go in my life a bit too. I learned at camp that when you hit 30 you cannot be a camp super woman forever, when you work in the kitchen. I could not take classes, preach, and cook in the same week. It kills your mood and makes you deathly tired. I try to have a focus each camp that I attend depending on the "hat that I wear" at that camp. I now have more personal relationships with many people that I never really knew beyond their names, because I had time to talk to people. 

I have missed college classes to go to funerals, doctors appointments, and because of snow.. I have also missed classes to go to Brazil and to cook for retreats at camp occasionally. I have given up church camps to be in Brazil. I have also given up time in Brazil, because I have to be here. College is important. Ministry is my life. Cooking and cleaning brings me a weird joy. (My sisters would say I have a touch of mental illness) How do I decide where I supposed to be, and when? The first thing I did was I decided that my Lord always comes first. While some people say that is not healthy, my family should come first, by serving God that means my families needs are always on the front burner, and I consider God's place in our family as I take care of them. There is no competition between God and my family, because they are interconnected. I also have a very competent husband who makes this an easy thing to accomplish. His support allows me to be in other places physically because he is a very good parent. Just because we have emergencies does not mean that I have to handle them personally. My husband makes good decisions, and would tell me if I needed to be at home. Instead we handling things over the phone and do pretty much the same as if I cam home.

When I first accepted the call to serve in Brazil, I only assumed that it would be a few weeks each fall. I never imagined it would be a nearly full time task. I often spend 2-3 hours a day working with the brothers and sisters there over Facebook counseling and praying. Sometimes I write and post prayers and sermons in Portuguese. I often wash laundry these days so that I am being "task productive" while my butt is glued to my office chair. I have also learned that my college classes are part of my ministry, it doesn't have to compete with it. Education is key in many ways to reaching the people around you. Every time you learn something, it opens the door to relationship building in another area, two third of kingdom building is understanding someone else. 

I love my beads but find that I am hard pressed to create things when I have classes and other things to do. I no longer try to push my self "just to make". I now day dream about things I want to make when I have time, and I find that I get more made when I am not trying so hard. As for the priesthood meetings, I miss the fellowship and the planning time with those that I serve with, but they keep me up to date and they understand that having kids and going to school makes things tough. It is as they all call it, real life. 

I found that my true happiness came when I learned that everything can be done in conjunction with my spiritual life, and that one thing does not have to trump the other. You can wear many hats at once and find balance with in them all. I don't worry so much about what I am called to do at each moment, instead I take each moment and do what comes next because that is reality. I found that I am a better servant when I can do what comes next well, rather than because it is what I feel I need to do to get a big list done. The pressure is off, and that is a relief. 

Running From "ifs" and "buts"

Searching our Hearts Regarding Suicide...

Yesterday I received terrible news, my friend whom I have loved deeply since the day that he and my son were baptized together, took his own life. My friend was bald and I lovingly called him "Curly", because he was a teaser, and always looking for a way to pick at me. No one else was allowed to call him that, but today I will use that name to help you to get to know my friend. 

Curly was in the US Navy and he was a proud veteran. He had splashes of tattoos on his arms gained from his "younger days of mayhem" as he liked to call them. I didn't really know Curly until he was 65ish and I came to his congregation full time. His daughter was my friend for years before.In his older days he was an accomplished bee keeper and had told me the number of times he was stung was probably about 10,000 or more. He and his wife served as presidents of a local county wide bee association. He was like a bee dad to 100,000 stinging little kids, and he loved it.

Curly also was a fantastic church camp cook, and often cleaned floors after the crew retired because he said that "He trained in the military to mop decks, so he was the professional floor care man". I was the person who had cleaned floors for years before him because I had little kids and wanted to contribute. After a while I joined the cooks crew and did both. One day Curly asked me if I wanted to go church, bed, or something, because I looked like "crap", he always told me this when I had a cold or was coming down with the flu. When Curly took notice, that meant that he cared. He often messed up my hair when I was supposed to preach, and gave me big bear hugs with a towel in his hand as he helped my grandma in the kitchen. He just loved to tease, and in truth I loved being egged into our next argument about nothing. 

We harassed each other for years because he bought a box of junky frying pans I sold to him at a brown bag auction for a large sum of money. For years I would buy Curly junk at yard sales and wrap them in big beautiful boxes, and find away to get them to him at Christmas. Curly was a hard worker, and spent a lot of time working in the church, I think he had washed a few thousand dishes, and vacuumed miles of church carpet. 

Now that you know Curly, I need to come to my topic about running from the "ifs and buts".. Suicide tears people in to many peaces. We always wonder what we could have said or done differently when it happens. Sometimes we take the blame into our hearts or look to blame someone else.. and it always starts with "ifs and buts". I would have helped someone, but I didn't know, I would have told someone, but I didn't see it. The ugly truth is that for many people we don't really have any idea because not all people that commit suicide suffer from long term depression. Sometimes the shock of losing a job or getting a medical diagnosis can put those thoughts in to the minds of our loved ones in a single moment. 

Suicide has reared its ugly head in my own family, my maternal grandfather, some cousins, and my dear classmate at school. I was nearly 10 years in recovery with his death, because I learned about certain signs, and he had given me 1 big one I missed. I spent hours having dreams, nightmares really thinking of all the ways that I would have done things differently. It went like this in my mind, " If I would have known the signs, I would not have yelled at him for saying what he said to me, but I didn't so it is my fault". I was 17, helping my dad raise my siblings, and not a trained professional. My friend often said in complaining "I am going to kill myself", it was a bad day every day for a while with him. I had one bad day that I can play back in my mind. I had 4 deep surgical extractions from my jaw a week before and had dry socket in three places. My home was cold because it had been hit by a storm and only partial repairs could be made before winter hit and I did not sleep good. That day instead of "I am going to kill myself" he said "I am going to go home, and hang myself in the garage". I can't tell you what I said to him. The words still burn in my mind, and that is enough for me. I no longer wonder though about all of this, after recovery from drug and alcohol dependency developed from that day forth, I gained some knowledge from being a person of faith that allowed me to heal.

10 Years ago I might have tried to "if and but" myself over this situation with Curly, although my heart is broken and aching, at 35, I know that when people come to the place where they feel that their life is no longer worth living, something deep and painful has occurred that healthy people cannot grip. This is something that Christians especially struggle with, We say "God loved them so much, how could they knowing he is there?" Others take a stance that God said not to kill, and that suicide is a sin. The last one makes me shudder.. The first explains more than anything part of the problem. Human beings have to understand that when the mind disconnects with rational thought, things happen that we cannot try to reason out. Christians who are hurting that are able to think rationally, often turn to God for strength when they feel that they cannot depend on other people. They turn to God when they fear the road ahead through illness, imprisonment, and a host of life's terrible sufferings. People who don't know God in a personal sense often turn to their friends and family as a source of comfort.

I believe when a person reaches this deep state of fear or trauma, and they disconnect, they are hurting so deeply that they cannot rationally cling to hope anymore of any kind. They cannot cling to God because they are just not able to. When that happens, it is a sickness of "the body", and not something someone can judge as they might a person in good mental health. "Ifs and buts" solve nothing at this point, because we are trying to draw rational conclusions for an irrational situation developed in the sufferers mind, and can never find comfort. I believe that the way to healing to instead is to confront the loss, admit that we are confused, angry, helpless, and that we cannot fix what has already been done. I believe that in those moments God weeps with us as we release the anger and the pain of going through this process, and I believe that He is with those people in this condition, because one that He loves so deeply cannot feel him calling out to them. How can God be angry with someone who is not truly present in thoughts and actions in a rational way? I just don't feel that He is. 

While suicide seems to be completely preventable, we need to remember that the only certain thing on earth is that people can be unpredictable. My sociology professor has said this many times, because my class is so young this term, and I think she is doing them a favor by reminding them. While we want to think that we can eradicate this terrible kind of event, we would have to engineer the perceptions of people in every  human mind to receive God's love or at least a healthy state of mind. That would make us something akin to robots, and it would require a Utopian state where people's minds would never be tested beyond the skills of their ability to cope. Mother Earth would have to get in on things and make it about 70 and sunny every day, everywhere. I know it seems as if I am taking a downward approach to this situation, but please read on. What I want to offer is that I am a realist, and I can find God in the midst of our pain and struggle. When we offer support, prayers, and our unconditional love to others in life he is able to work with us freely. In death God is still working with His people, we just have not experienced that yet. In my experience, the people who helped me kick drugs, alcohol, and nicotine are life long friends. They are the bread and butter of my deepest Spiritual experiences because I have felt God's love for me working through them. 

I have changed my thoughts from "ifs and buts" to "ifs and such". It goes like this "If I suffer anything difficult, if I lose anything wonderful, if my heart is broken, my body battered and soul bruised, such is the love of God, that I am not alone through it. Such is God's grace that we will always be learning, coping, and growing in our relationship with Him, because of all that has been done this far. It takes a long time to get here, and I think a lot of heart searching. I will miss Curly this summer when no one puts soapy hands on my neck in the kitchen. I will miss him when I have to carry heavy pans or wash potatoes all by myself... but then maybe, just maybe God will also send someone else that can help me. Someone I can tell about Curly and the day that he entered into the waters of baptism with my son. While I won't know what will be until I get there. such is the love of God that he will be with me when it happens. 

"Caja Mágica" And All Of The Rest Of The Ways She Cares

              Popular Brazilian Musician Anderson Karvlaho and I after a beach concert at the Atlantic Ocean. If  would not have learned a second language, chances are we would not have been able to be best friends...... 

Celebrities. They are the people we want to be. Athletes,actors and actresses, race car drives, singers, television personalities, rich people with no talent that just have money.. we want to be them..  We shape our lives around their likes and dislikes. If they drink cola, we drink cola. If they shave their heads, America becomes something of a "chrome dome" nation overnight..  Yet it only lasts for a moment.. some people are popular for a few months, and others a few years.. We have classics like Elvis and Marilyn Monroe that are sort of timeless, their popularity spanning generations. There are people today who believe that they are living, and that their deaths were staged.. for what ever reason, please people, let them go!.What gets me though is that at this point, many of these icons that are the most popular are not entirely contributing to the well-being of society, nor were some when they were alive. Elvis was a drugged out mess, Monroe had affairs with JFK, not exactly the best kind of role models, yet their presence lingers on . There are a few celebrities who have really stepped up though, Warren Buffet and his billions given to good causes, I am sure he is not perfect, but he is using what he does have to make the world take notice, and live life better.  George Lucas, Christopher Reeves..amazing people.. just take a moment to look them up.

Often times I like to introduce people here on this page, who are work -a- day Joes who should be given awards.. People whom the world should trend after immediately, because what they are doing changes lives, and it lasts in the fabric of community.  Many of these people are not asking for recognition, and they usually blush a bit after they read my praises. I feel that it is important to voice our gratitude to these individuals, because the world often takes for granted those who are way makers, life changers, in a real way. Being appreciated, allows people to continue on their worst days, and to celebrate the rest in between. Today I present to you all my beloved Spanish professor. I will call her just "Señora L" for now. I have been Señora L's student for 17 weeks now.. 15 weeks a year ago and now for two weeks into a new college semester. She teaches high school students by day French and Spanish, and college level Spanish at night. Many of her students follow her into the college classroom, because her teaching becomes a whole life experience. 

Often times professors are concerned with point systems, and grades. If a student doesn't understand material, they need to get a tutor, and study more at home. If you fail, many just say, take the class again. Señora L, has however set a very high bar in the area of compassion and learning. . She makes learning easy and rewarding. Students who want to learn Spanish but struggle, can. Señora L often gives praise, and complements when students speak or read, especially to those who are shaky to help build confidence. She talks with students about the materials, and tries to teach real life applications such as telephone conversation, dealing with family members and talking to a doctor. Many text books cannot teach these skills. You have to lean it by practice. On line studies often lack real life expressions and the real life situations that arise. In an emergency, people do not  speak in plain measured voices, and they certainly don't follow a script. You need a teacher to teach this, and one that can help you understand why people say the things they say. We play games and often use techniques that grade school kids use like songs and question and answer. While some people might laugh, they are great because they can be done by anyone. Again, this professor teaches a whole life, real life, experience. 

Yesterday in a Spanish II evening class there was a student who had been out of  Spanish lessons for a very long time that had been struggling. This student wants to learn, and Señora L knows that.  Students who feel defeated in a college class at the beginning will often check out mentally for the rest of the semester, or self destruct their study habits. This is especially true when they feel they cannot understand material. Students with children and jobs are often strapped for time, and tutoring can be out of the question. Señora L, looked the struggling student in the eyes and said "listen, you know the stuff, and we are not going to leave you behind, it has just been a long time". She then begins to draw her"caja mágica"or  "magic box" for verb conjugation and starts a review. There was none of the typical professor questions "Why did you take this class, or why didn't you review your stuff before we started?". You could see a look of new determination in this students eyes, not only did she feel she could learn with the "caja mágica", but she began to understand that she was a part of the class as a contributor. Language classes tend to become like mini families because they have to talk a lot about what they are doing. When a student struggles to share, read, or understand they can easily feel left out of the class. Señora L. has no orphans. 

So why a language teacher for today's hero? In a world where globalization has taken hold chances of living in a neighborhood with a bi-lingual family is growing. Many areas that were considered English speaking rural or American suburban, are now multi-ethnic neighborhoods. When we meet our neighbors one of the best ways to live in peace is to have communication. Real life interactions with other human beings change lives, and build understanding. Señora L is giving students a real life ability to take part in this world. Her games that were fun, suddenly become a conversation with a human being. "Where did you live?", "How many children do you have".. no "I don't like movies, but I do like books".. people are connected because they know something about another person. That person is not just a body, but a human being with a connection to you. While I am sure the world will go on worshiping athletes and famous singers. I'd rather spend my money taking  Señora L's class than buying a starter jersey or poster. Even if the masses never know me, if I have one neighbor who remembers me in kindness it is all the fame I will ever need. Muchas Graçias.. Señora L..

O Que Estamos Pedindo?

Quarta-feira, 18 dezembro, 2013

Se Eu escrevesse o Senhor uma Carta

Passei algum tempo ontem a pensar no Natal , e todas as coisas que gastam tempo fazendo sobre os feriados ... muitas pessoas dizem que eles gostam de Natal porque os ajuda a se preparar ou reorientar a sua vida em Cristo. Algumas pessoas também têm a visão de que é um bom tempo para se preparar para o retorno de Cristo , porque a cruz foi a razão fundamental para o nascimento estamos celebrando ... Tenho vindo a sentir a necessidade de romper com o " duas vezes por ano alta igreja ", que vem de ser cristão .. Eu amo os feriados , e Páscoa será sempre o meu favorito de todos os feriados .. mas eu quero mais do que apenas duas pequenas explosões de entusiasmo na preparação para o Cristo .. Parece duro, mas que permite a preguiça em minha vida cristã .. tudo ao nosso redor pessoas precisam de esperança em suas vidas .. eles estão cansados ​​e quebrados .. e todos os domingos é um grande domingo para apresentá-los a minha família da igreja. Todo dia é um bom dia para a oração com aqueles que eu amo , e os que eu não sei . Nós muitas vezes esperar por desastres ou feriados para compartilhar com as pessoas sobre o Cristo.

Eu também percebi que eu posso passar a minha vida " se preparando " para Cristo , ou eu posso perceber que Ele é verdadeiramente aqui já nos rostos das pessoas que amo .. Eu pensei sobre as maneiras que as pessoas tentam obter a salvação pessoal, tentando viver uma "vida impecável " .... eles trabalham tão duro tentando encobrir seus próprios traseiros e manter uma aparência de perfeição, que a missão de Jesus sofre em torno deles. Tudo que a preparação e nenhum resultado de grande mudança para os preparadores que trabalharam tão duro para ser "perfeito" , porque as nossas relações uns com os outros produzem muito do que sentimos através de Cristo.

Eu pensei por um tempo que uma carta para Deus soaria como .. pleaing para o Cristo para ser enviado de volta para nós para apenas um dia da minha vida. Percebi também através dela, o quanto sua presença é tida como certa na " escrita " da carta. Seria algo como isto.

"Querido Deus,

Você sabe que o mundo é uma bagunça, para você o criou, e pode ver que a Criação foi abusada . As pessoas não se tratam bem. Nós temos a pobreza , temos injustiça .. Você pode por favor enviar Jesus de volta em forma humana para corrigir isso para o dia ? Você sabe que no caso de pobreza que temos muitas pessoas com alimentos e roupas para fora. Se ele pudesse voltar e cuidar de que tudo seria muito melhor .. Oh, espere , temos Abolir missões em situação de pobreza e fim. Oh sim e fora de alcance internacional , boa sustentável ... Mesmo quando Jesus caminhou sobre a terra toda a pobreza não foi abolida, porque ele está em processo que exige um trabalho constante, vamos juntos indo, isso é certo. Acho que as pessoas encontrá-Lo já quando compartilhamos . Talvez a gente precisa se concentrar em outra coisa que precisa. Nós só temos um dia ... Hmm .


Ok Senhor , temos pecado. tantas opções ruins. Pessoas machucar uns aos outros com raiva e ódio. Podemos ter Jesus conosco por um dia para que isso tudo vai terminar . Oh wait. Um dia, 365 dias por ano , mesmo quando Jesus estava aqui , as pessoas tratavam mal, porque eles não poderiam ser ensinados de uma só vez .. Eu acho que ele já está nos ajudando em persuing paz e os ministérios de cuidado que prestamos. Se fosse só por um dia, quantas pessoas iriam sofrer o resto do ano? ? O foco deve escolho Senhor? , Se isso um dia Jesus viria algo teria que ser perfeito.

Acho que tenho agora .. Precisamos preparar as pessoas para servi-lo, para ensinar-lhes tudo e experimentar congregações na missão de tal forma o mundo muda. Como sobre isso. Jesus pode ser nosso congregações pastor por um dia? Se ele pode ensinar-nos a servir, e para fazê-lo fora do nosso talento , nossa congregação seria perfeito. Ei, espere .. E se Jesus não toca piano? E se ele realmente não sabe como fazer um powerpoint ? O que podemos fazer? E se nós realmente não faz bem para o projeto que ele quer que façamos na comunidade ? Oh meu Deus, eu acho que nós precisamos conversar abertamente com nossos pastores sobre as nossas congregações esperanças e sonhos , e que eles saibam o que é bom. Eu acho que precisamos de gastar tempo a crescer mais perto de Jesus nas aulas e programas de treinamento para que possamos expandir nossas opções para servir.

Ok Senhor, eu tê-lo! E se Jesus voltar para o dia e convida a todos para estar com ele ! Ele resolve tudo .. eles iriam vê-lo em carne e sei como é maravilhoso ser um discípulo de Cristo pode ficar. Oh hey esperar .. Eu me lembro que sendo ridicularizado e correu para fora da cidade aconteceu pela primeira vez Ele estava aqui. Lembro-me também que muitas pessoas levaram anos para se tornar verdadeiramente aquainted com Jesus .. Thomas , Peter , mesmo James seu próprio irmão tinha que ter tempo para aceitá-lo .. então eu acho que isso significa que o que estamos indo ter que assumir o trabalho em conjunto e mantê-la se estamos indo cada vez para chegar a algum lugar . Ao invés de esperar por Jesus para voltar e consertar as coisas para mim , eu tenho que ajudá -lo com o trabalho que está sendo feito ...

                                                                            Seu em Seu Nome,
                                                                           Josie Dalton de Carvalho

What Are We Asking For?

If I Wrote the Lord a Letter

I spent some time yesterday thinking about Christmas, and all of the things that we spend time doing over the Holidays... many people say that they enjoy Christmas because it helps them to prepare or refocus their life in Christ. Some people also hold the view that it is a good time to prepare for the return of the Christ, because the cross was the ultimate reason for the birth we are celebrating... I have been feeling the need to break away from the "twice a year church high" that comes from being Christian.. I love the Holidays, and Easter will always be my favorite of all Holidays.. but I want more than just two little bursts of enthusiasm in preparing for the Christ.. It sounds harsh, but that enables laziness in my Christian life..all around us people are in need of hope in their lives.. they are weary and broken.. and every Sunday is a great Sunday to introduce them to my church family. Everyday is a good day for prayer with those I love, and those I do not know. We often wait for disasters or Holidays to share with people about the Christ. 

I also realized that I can spend my life "preparing" for Christ, or I can realize that He is truly here already in the faces of those I love.. I thought about the ways that people try to obtain personal salvation by trying to live a "spotless life".... they work so hard trying to cover their own backsides and maintaining an appearance of perfection, that the mission of Jesus suffers around them. All that preparing and no results of major change for the preparers who worked  so hard to be "perfect", because our relationships with each other produce so much of what we feel through Christ. 

I thought for a while what a letter to God would sound like.. pleaing for the Christ to be sent back for us for just one day of my life time. I also realized through it, how much His presence is taken for granted in the "writing" of the letter. It would be something like this.

" Dear God,

You know that the world is a mess, for you created it, and can see that Creation has been abused. People do not treat each other right. We have poverty, we have injustice.. Can you please send Jesus back in human form to fix this for the day?? You know in the case of poverty we have many people with out food and clothing. If He could come back and take care of that everything would be much better.. Oh wait, we have Abolish Poverty and End Suffering missions. Oh Yes and Out Reach International, sustainable good...  Even when Jesus walked the earth all poverty was not abolished, because it is on going process that requires constant work as we go together, that is right . I guess people meet Him already when we share. Maybe we need to focus on something else that has need. We only have one day... Hmm. 

Okay Lord, we have sin. so many bad choices. People hurt each other out of anger and hate. Can we have Jesus with us for one day so that this will all end. Oh wait. One day, 365 days a year, even when Jesus was here, people treated each other badly, because they could not all be taught at once.. I guess He is already helping us in persuing peace and the caring ministries we provide. If it was only for one day, how many people would suffer the rest of the year??? What focus shall I choose Lord?, if this one day Jesus would come something would have to be perfect.

I think I have it now.. We need to equip people to serve You, to teach them all and to experience congregations in mission in such a way the world changes. How about this. Jesus can be our congregations pastor for one day? If he can teach us to serve, and to do so out of our giftedness, our congregation would be perfect. Hey wait.. what if Jesus doesn't play the piano? What if he doesn't really know how to make a powerpoint?? What would we do? What if we don't really do well at the project he wants us to do in the community??  Oh my, I guess we need to talk openly with our pastors about our congregations hopes and dreams, and let them know what we are good at. I guess we need to spend time growing closer to Jesus in classes and  training programs so we can expand our options to serve.

Okay Lord, I have it! What if Jesus comes back for the day and invites everyone to be with him! It solves it all.. they would see him in the flesh and know how wonderful being a follwer of Christ can be.Oh hey wait.. I seem to remember that being mocked and ran out of town happened the first time He was here. I also remember that many people took years to become truly aquainted with Jesus.. Thomas, Peter, even James his own brother had to have time to accept him.. so I guess that means that what we are going to have to take up the work together and keep at it if we are ever going to get anywhere. Rather than waiting for Jesus to come back and fix things for me, I have to help Him with the work being done...

                                                                            Yours in His Name,

                                                                           Josie Dalton de Carvalho