Yea! The Talent Revue is almost here! The youth acts will start at 6:00 - YES - the time moved to 6:00! Bring a little bit of cash because we will sell refreshments (dessert, beverages) in between, with all proceeds going to the Heritage Youth Missions Fund. Then, at 7:30 sharp, we will start the adult acts. We plan to be done before 9:00. All ages are welcome!
We have a great show planned! Tell you friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. This is going to be a fun night! We want to fill the auditorium, so make plans to be there!!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
You guys are intense...
If you have not commented on my last post - don't hesitate! I would love to know your opinion! To take the edge off of the tension from that post, I am posting a video Thomas showed me on youtube.com.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Church
**The following post is not meant to offend. It is meant to make us think.**
I go to a church that is what I call an 80/20 church. I started calling it that today, after an extensive conversation with Thomas regarding the project I am working on. Talking about the Talent Revue led to talking about Music Camp, which led to talking about volunteers in the children's ministry. I will be the FIRST person to tell you I love our church. I am willing to drive to Keller 3+ times per week because I feel like Thomas and I have been called to worship and serve there. It is 30-40 minutes to get there (which really isn't a big deal because it is just like our church in California), but when gas is through the roof, it hits the pocket book.
Anyway, let me explain my 80/20 philosophy about our church. 20% of the people who are members at our church are the "doers." They MAKE the time in their schedules to attend every event they can and they are always the people who are the "default volunteers" for everything that no one else wants to do. These people, who are in the 20%, are usually a lot more busy than I could ever be. I know one family, who I am very close to, that juggle their whole lives, but you know they are dedicated to our church. The parents both work full-time, they have three children, all involved in school and extra-curricular sports, but the whole family can be found at just about every event at the church. On top of that, the parents teach a vital class every Sunday and they will do almost anything they are asked. They have made it a BIG priority and show it. Their lives are much more complicated than I can write in a paragraph on a blog. I have a lot of close friends at church that are in this 20% category. (Just come to the Talent Revue and you will see them. I have conned them into doing a lot of extra things because even though we have a church of **900**, I can't find anyone else to help.)
Then, I have a lot of friends in the 80% category. These friends are wonderful to me. I love them, but I get secretly frustrated with them and sometimes, I am not good at making it a secret when I am with them. I am so glad they spend time at our church in worship. I am so glad they are there and I have been blessed to know them. The problem is, they are people of convenience when it comes to church. Their lives are so busy outside of church, that they get wrapped up in it and forget the mission. They are the people who rush in, some drop their kids off at class, they worship and then you don't see them again until the next week. Some of these people are the MOST talented people I have ever met. Their talents are in many areas - creativity, music, humor, organization, computer-oriented, cooking, etc. These talents are usually being wasted in so many cases. These are talents we can use so much at our church, but I think the 80% doesn't feel needed. They think, "If I don't volunteer, someone else will make sure it gets done." The problem is - I think the 20% gets worn out. If you are reading this blog and you started feeling like I might be talking about you when I discussed the 80%, don't feel alone. I have been in that 80%. Then, one day, I actually realized it and decided I could be a lot more fulfilled and have a much better experience if I changed it. So I did. The moment I started helping at church, I felt needed and I felt like God was leading me into these roles. Well, honestly, I didn't change it. God did, by way of our old Children's Minister (I think he had a little help from my sister). He asked me to direct the kids in the Children's Musical that year. Up until that point, I can't even say I was even really apart of the 80%. Believe me, I have had relapses, but I want my daughter (and future baby #2) to KNOW what my priorities are. I want them to see what I saw in my parents - dedication to the mission of bringing people to Christ.
So, after this LONG blog, I have a question for you. How many people in our church are not feeling needed? How many are the ones we should be ministering to? When we talk about ministering to the community, we cannot forget about our own church community. There are some who are hurting and that has caused them to be in the 80%. Some are feeling tired, some are needing someone, ANYONE, to come into their lives and let them know they are not alone. Some just need that extra push that says, "WE NEED YOU." I needed someone to help me with an aspect of the show today and told them, "I need you!" The problem is - they are in the 20%. They are worn out and when I said it, you could see it all over their face. I should have said it to someone in the 80% and I will.
So, here it goes. Some of you, reading my blog, are the ones we need. We need you to help in class, with church activities, I can certainly use all the help I can get at Music Camp, we need volunteers in the children's ministry, or any one of 100 different areas. Challenge yourself to be a "default volunteer." I guarantee you will be tired, but you will be more fulfilled than I can ever say. For those of you who have children, you will find that these are the things they will remember when they are adults. They will see you fulfilled and want the same thing for themselves and they will know exactly how to do it. You may not think they are watching, but they always are and now is the time to make sure they see Christ in you.
Comment - I want to know what you think.
I go to a church that is what I call an 80/20 church. I started calling it that today, after an extensive conversation with Thomas regarding the project I am working on. Talking about the Talent Revue led to talking about Music Camp, which led to talking about volunteers in the children's ministry. I will be the FIRST person to tell you I love our church. I am willing to drive to Keller 3+ times per week because I feel like Thomas and I have been called to worship and serve there. It is 30-40 minutes to get there (which really isn't a big deal because it is just like our church in California), but when gas is through the roof, it hits the pocket book.
Anyway, let me explain my 80/20 philosophy about our church. 20% of the people who are members at our church are the "doers." They MAKE the time in their schedules to attend every event they can and they are always the people who are the "default volunteers" for everything that no one else wants to do. These people, who are in the 20%, are usually a lot more busy than I could ever be. I know one family, who I am very close to, that juggle their whole lives, but you know they are dedicated to our church. The parents both work full-time, they have three children, all involved in school and extra-curricular sports, but the whole family can be found at just about every event at the church. On top of that, the parents teach a vital class every Sunday and they will do almost anything they are asked. They have made it a BIG priority and show it. Their lives are much more complicated than I can write in a paragraph on a blog. I have a lot of close friends at church that are in this 20% category. (Just come to the Talent Revue and you will see them. I have conned them into doing a lot of extra things because even though we have a church of **900**, I can't find anyone else to help.)
Then, I have a lot of friends in the 80% category. These friends are wonderful to me. I love them, but I get secretly frustrated with them and sometimes, I am not good at making it a secret when I am with them. I am so glad they spend time at our church in worship. I am so glad they are there and I have been blessed to know them. The problem is, they are people of convenience when it comes to church. Their lives are so busy outside of church, that they get wrapped up in it and forget the mission. They are the people who rush in, some drop their kids off at class, they worship and then you don't see them again until the next week. Some of these people are the MOST talented people I have ever met. Their talents are in many areas - creativity, music, humor, organization, computer-oriented, cooking, etc. These talents are usually being wasted in so many cases. These are talents we can use so much at our church, but I think the 80% doesn't feel needed. They think, "If I don't volunteer, someone else will make sure it gets done." The problem is - I think the 20% gets worn out. If you are reading this blog and you started feeling like I might be talking about you when I discussed the 80%, don't feel alone. I have been in that 80%. Then, one day, I actually realized it and decided I could be a lot more fulfilled and have a much better experience if I changed it. So I did. The moment I started helping at church, I felt needed and I felt like God was leading me into these roles. Well, honestly, I didn't change it. God did, by way of our old Children's Minister (I think he had a little help from my sister). He asked me to direct the kids in the Children's Musical that year. Up until that point, I can't even say I was even really apart of the 80%. Believe me, I have had relapses, but I want my daughter (and future baby #2) to KNOW what my priorities are. I want them to see what I saw in my parents - dedication to the mission of bringing people to Christ.
So, after this LONG blog, I have a question for you. How many people in our church are not feeling needed? How many are the ones we should be ministering to? When we talk about ministering to the community, we cannot forget about our own church community. There are some who are hurting and that has caused them to be in the 80%. Some are feeling tired, some are needing someone, ANYONE, to come into their lives and let them know they are not alone. Some just need that extra push that says, "WE NEED YOU." I needed someone to help me with an aspect of the show today and told them, "I need you!" The problem is - they are in the 20%. They are worn out and when I said it, you could see it all over their face. I should have said it to someone in the 80% and I will.
So, here it goes. Some of you, reading my blog, are the ones we need. We need you to help in class, with church activities, I can certainly use all the help I can get at Music Camp, we need volunteers in the children's ministry, or any one of 100 different areas. Challenge yourself to be a "default volunteer." I guarantee you will be tired, but you will be more fulfilled than I can ever say. For those of you who have children, you will find that these are the things they will remember when they are adults. They will see you fulfilled and want the same thing for themselves and they will know exactly how to do it. You may not think they are watching, but they always are and now is the time to make sure they see Christ in you.
Comment - I want to know what you think.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Severe Weather
UPDATE: We survived. Haven't checked the roof yet for wind damage, but grateful our prayers were answered. Sorry I am such a Debbie Downer.
One of my biggest fears is severe weather. As I write this, we have tornadic weather/damaging winds/large hail/flash flooding headed our way. If I could convince Thomas to move out of this area, I would - in a heartbeat - just for this reason. I sit here and am so afraid. I know God will take care of us in my mind, but my heart fears for Thomas, Callie, our unborn baby and our two dogs. Thomas sleeps peacefully and there is no way I can think about going to sleep until all of it is over. I have already put some items in our safest room - our camera, which holds pictures of all of our stuff for the insurance company, some other pictures, a few bottles of water and I have my cell phone in hand. I can't even explain to you how afraid I am of this type of weather. I grew up in earthquake country and the time we lived in the Texas panhandle before that, we had a basement and I knew we were safe. Here - I don't know. I would take an earthquake ANY day over this.
On top of watching the radar like a hawk and text messaging my sister when it is coming her way, I think of how this is just the tip of the iceberg for severe weather season. I had to do a story when I was in college (I was a Broadcast Journalism major, but I did a lot of writing for the ACU newspaper) about the beginning of severe weather season and how to stay safe. For me, as a Californian, it was relatively eye-opening. I think it worsened my fears. When Thomas and I lived downtown (in Sanger Lofts), I always felt very safe. I mean, we had a parking garage underground that was multi-level! A tornado sideswiped that building and they had mostly broken glass and that was it.
So, if someone can refer me to a counselor who can help me overcome my fears, that would be great. Just kidding. Well, maybe I am not. If we move, we MUST try to find a house with a basement. Tim H., if you ever read this, we need a house with a basement or a safe room!
All that being said, IF something does happen to us tonight, my will is not notarized yet, but my brother has a copy. I promise we mean every word of it. Also, I want an above-ground, upright headstone. Since Callie will be fine (because I will be shielding her with every bone in my body), make her take piano and guitar lessons and play soccer. Thomas knows all of this, but I suspect that if something happens to me, it will happen to him because he will probably be shielding ME with every bone in HIS body. Or, he may still be asleep on the couch. He can sleep through anything.
I told you - I am really scared. I'm not kidding. Am I alone?
One of my biggest fears is severe weather. As I write this, we have tornadic weather/damaging winds/large hail/flash flooding headed our way. If I could convince Thomas to move out of this area, I would - in a heartbeat - just for this reason. I sit here and am so afraid. I know God will take care of us in my mind, but my heart fears for Thomas, Callie, our unborn baby and our two dogs. Thomas sleeps peacefully and there is no way I can think about going to sleep until all of it is over. I have already put some items in our safest room - our camera, which holds pictures of all of our stuff for the insurance company, some other pictures, a few bottles of water and I have my cell phone in hand. I can't even explain to you how afraid I am of this type of weather. I grew up in earthquake country and the time we lived in the Texas panhandle before that, we had a basement and I knew we were safe. Here - I don't know. I would take an earthquake ANY day over this.
On top of watching the radar like a hawk and text messaging my sister when it is coming her way, I think of how this is just the tip of the iceberg for severe weather season. I had to do a story when I was in college (I was a Broadcast Journalism major, but I did a lot of writing for the ACU newspaper) about the beginning of severe weather season and how to stay safe. For me, as a Californian, it was relatively eye-opening. I think it worsened my fears. When Thomas and I lived downtown (in Sanger Lofts), I always felt very safe. I mean, we had a parking garage underground that was multi-level! A tornado sideswiped that building and they had mostly broken glass and that was it.
So, if someone can refer me to a counselor who can help me overcome my fears, that would be great. Just kidding. Well, maybe I am not. If we move, we MUST try to find a house with a basement. Tim H., if you ever read this, we need a house with a basement or a safe room!
All that being said, IF something does happen to us tonight, my will is not notarized yet, but my brother has a copy. I promise we mean every word of it. Also, I want an above-ground, upright headstone. Since Callie will be fine (because I will be shielding her with every bone in my body), make her take piano and guitar lessons and play soccer. Thomas knows all of this, but I suspect that if something happens to me, it will happen to him because he will probably be shielding ME with every bone in HIS body. Or, he may still be asleep on the couch. He can sleep through anything.
I told you - I am really scared. I'm not kidding. Am I alone?
Saturday, March 1, 2008
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