Happy Boo Day!

Happy Birthday today to my husband Joel! Joel "catches up" with me-- we're both the same age now. I thank God for Joel--I am so lucky!
Wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween!

Worth a look...

My buddy Andy B. encouraged me to look at this website created by his Bishop on his book, the five practices. Bishop Snase also has a link to his blog there. I commend him for working to find ways to help United Methodist churches get with a program. (In this case, it is his program.) The site is easy to access and is in its infancy, so I expect more stuff on it as people work with his materials. Check it out!

Fire update

As I returned home, incredibly jet-lagged, the first thing I wanted to see after my beloved husband was local coverage on the fires. Across the nation I got a different bend on them than what I get at home. Here are a couple of good blog entries I recommend from pastors I care deeply about who quickly responded in love to those at Qualcomm stadium.
Molly's entries are honest and helpful.
JT's entries express the on-scene experience he had trying to connect with beloved parishioners and pastor-colleagues. I talked to JT as he made his way down to the stadium. He called me to get the latest word on our friends, Andy and Camille in Malibu. I was grateful to report they were doing okay, except for some wind damage. I ask for your continued prayers for firefighters and families dealing with fire devastation in our region!

Returning home...

I love technology!
I'm sitting in the airport in Baltimore awaiting my flight home to Los Angeles. While I an anxious to experience more fully what I've missed at home this week, I'm grateful for the experiences at the Lewis Fellows Meeting this week. We had the opportunity to talk with three amazing folks who stretched us and helped us talk more fully about leadership, the emerging church and hospitality. I truly loved being at Brian McLaren's church and sitting and talking with him in this group. It was great! Here's a picture of Brian in full conversation (sorry Lovett--it's not the one you expected!) And, if you are Lewis Fellow and this is your first introduction to blogs...welcome! There are tons better than mine! Jump in, the water is fine!

Body Image

Andy wrote this for the most recent issue of Circuit Rider. Andy makes an interesting point that part of the reason we're having so much trouble sharing the Good News is that the message misses with many because of our body image. (The Church too often has a negative body image with all the sex scandals and financial troubles, not to mention the ways we go after those who are excluded from the church with clubs!)
It is fascinating to read this after I heard on the news this morning that a most teenage girls have negative body images. Perhaps they too need a theology of the cross...we are more than meets the eye! Check his article out and tell me what you think!

a really provocative site

Click on the image to see it "up close."
David introduced this to me. I've appreciated its humor and thoughtfulness. You can see more like this here.
Be sure to check the whole site out!

joy!

Okay, so I could be depressed after the Red Sox gave to the Angels this week. At least the Yankees lost! But mostly, I am feeling great joy for my friend Krista who will be commissioned as a missionary to Germany today. God has called her to this new and exciting adventure. This has been a very long process for Krista. I am thankful for the ways she's been able to remain faithful to her call, especially when the system moved slower than molasses. I appreciate her willingness to to be bold enough to say that being in a local church in this context is not where God wants her to serve. So now she's off to learn German, meet her new congregation, and experience the Holy Spirit's guidance in a whole new and different setting. Godspeed, KG!

Coffee Break

On my Americano from Starbucks this morning (double-cupped to protect my fingers):
"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."-- Madeleine K. Albright.
"On the battlefield of ideas, winning requires moving toward the sound of the guns."-- Newt Gingrich.
And to think I just needed caffeine!

Postseason joy!

The MLB postseason begins today with my two favorite teams facing off-- the Angels and the Red Sox! I'm rooting for the Yankees to LOSE, and great baseball to be played!

Being Authentic

I was having a conversation with a young adult who is an amazing leader and teacher in the Church. I wish I could bottle her energy and creativity. It's infectious! She has shown me time and again that young people have an amazing sense of the Gospel and how to share it in this new context and to emerging generations.
Yet, she works in a church where she has experienced sexism, ageism and routinely deals with leaders threatened by her gifts in ministry. They try and sabotage her. They do all they can to make her feel like she's half her age.
She reflected to me today that she can't quite connect the message of the church-- a desire to foster and nurture young leaders-- with the kind of behavior she's experienced therein.
Are we humble enough to say to her and to the rest of the world, we're a mess?
I know she'll grow through this experience. But I wish so much the Church could embrace and support her in ways that would allow her to be more effective. Sigh....