No one cares about your church

Please head over to my good friend, Tim Schraeder's blog. 

Tim did a great job on this topic. 

Loved it!! Enjoy!

Do Your Research, Dear Christian Fanatic

There are days I am ashamed to be a Christian. The Christian "Right" should be called the "Christian Herd" for the follow the leader herd mentality exhibited time and time again. Don't believe everything "they" say!! Take a moment and do 5 minutes of research for yourself.

Ground Zero Mosque

1. September 11th Memorial
Did you know the building housing the mosque will ALSO have a September 11th memorial and quiet contemplation space?

2. Among Other Things
The mosque is being built INSIDE a much larger Community Center facility housing: a Recreation Center (pool, gym, basketball court), 500-seat Auditorium, Culinary School and Restaurant, Library, Art Studios, Childcare Services. The mosque is to be run separately from the community center. Speaking as someone who lives in a large city, I can tell you there can't be enough community centers and places to take my children.

3. Location
Have you SEEN the location that is "only 2 blocks" from Ground Zero? Look at the map!! In a city as large as New York, 2 blocks is not the same thing as in suburban America. There are a lot of buildings crammed into those blocks. In addition, the Mosque is not straight down the street. You have to go down 2 blocks and turn down another street. Someone visiting Ground Zero is NOT going to stumble upon this place. You have to seek it out.

3. Not All Muslims are Terrorists
That's like saying all Christians are Jesus freaks that go stand on street corners preaching and speaking in tongues all day long, slaying people in the spirit, holding healing meetings and prophesying about death and damnation. Personally, I haven't done any of those "extreme" Christian actions lately. Have you? I'm thinking not many Muslims blow themselves up in suicide missions or they would be in danger of extinction by now (along with the rest of civilization).

4. Not in My Backyard
Mayor Bloomberg had no legal grounds to deny the building of the mosque, thanks to American laws and the American constitution. Our Christian school in Chicago recently received a permit to build non-profit leased spaces - including space for churches to meet. Should Chicago say yes to a church and New York say no to a mosque? Click here to read Mayor Bloomberg's amazing speech.

But don't take my word on all of this. Go research BOTH sides of the argument for yourself.

Faith Like Draino

We are told that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Have you seen how itty bitty teeny weeny tiny a mustard seed is? And have you seen any news reports of shifting mountains? Does that mean us humans are faithless creatures?

When I was young and impressionable, I was full of faith!! One time, my bathtub was not draining. I thought I had done something wrong so I was too scared to tell my landlord. And it had never happened at my parents' home, so I guess I didn't think to tell my dad. I knew I had a whole lot of faith to make that water go down. So I started praying up a storm and speaking to that mountain of water!! Nothing happened. I gave it the night.

The next morning, I leaped out of bed, bounded into the bathroom, pulled back that shower curtain and still nothing. That night, I practically ran into the house and raced down the hall to the bathroom. No drainage. Or the next day either. Finally, I mentioned it to a co-worker who told me to buy Draino. Draino worked.

There's really nothing wrong with being young, stupid, and full of wide-eyed belief. What this faith experience taught me was that there are some things that have a natural course and path and nothing we do will change that. And there are things that we don't need faith for. We just need Draino.

Imagine you are pregnant and about to go for an ultrasound to find out if you are having a boy or a girl. You are praying and begging God that you are going to have whichever sex you have your little heart set on. 4-5 months ago, when your baby was conceived, the sex was determined. There are laws of nature that we can't manipulate and God doesn't interfere with. No amount of Draino will change the sex of that baby.

Ever dream about what you are going to do and buy when you win the lottery? When was the last time you bought a lottery ticket? You need to buy a ticket - and some Draino.

My brother became extremely ill a number of years ago. His heart stopped beating in the ICU. His stats were off the charts. If he survived, he was going to have to have dialysis for the rest of his life. The doctors were at a loss. They had been doing everything they could to save my brother's life but it wasn't working. Everyone we knew joined their faith with ours and prayed for him to be healed. My brother's health turned around. The doctors and hospital staff were amazed. Within a couple days, he was released from the hospital and has never had residual effects. That was mustard seed faith that moved a mountain of sickness.

What are you hoping and wishing and praying for?

Truthful Tuesday - Open Minds

I work for a private Christian school in Chicago that embodies the spirit of the city. I love the progressive, forward thinking of this school and of Christians in Chicago on the whole. See, I came from living for 9 years in a place where there is not as much diversity.

Recently, a teacher at the school where I work shared that when she decided 3rd/4th grade was what she wanted to teach, she read the entire Harry Potter series. It's what kids that age are in to. In Tulsa, there was so much anti-Potter sentiment when the first movie came out, it was even 'preached' against from the pulpit of our church. J and I decided we wanted to learn about it for ourselves and to not just take what 'they' said.

J's sound booth in Tulsa was in the middle of 2 gym floors. He played a song with Eastern style music. J witnessed a lower elementary child jokingly pretend to be in a yoga position. The P.E. teacher told the child yoga was of the devil. Needless to say, when we learned one of the classes in the Christian school where I teach (and where Motor Mouth attends) did a model Chinese home, complete with a Buddha, we were floored and impressed. How best to teach a Christian worldview than to share the religious beliefs of others in the world and those they will come in contact with in Chicago? I should mention we often run in to Motor Mouth's teacher after her evening yoga class.

Since moving to Chicago, I've met Christians who love Jesus and are - get this - Democrats! For 9 years, I did not realize you could be destined for Heaven AND vote for a Democrat. This is not only a Tulsa phenomenon. Clearly, there are red states and blue states. This was just my experience. I'm Canadian and therefore neither Republican nor Democrat. I have to say, I did love me some Reagan and some George W.

The thing I love about politics in Chicago is that you can have differing opinions and still be friends with someone. You can have differing opinions and still have a decent relationship with your family. They won't accuse you of living in a Godless city because people are allowed to have their own thoughts and their own opinions - especially after much study.

What I've struggled with a lot over the last few years is the number of my Tulsa acquaintances suddenly getting divorces because this one was cheating on that one, or friends who have $50K - $100K in credit card debt, or knowing some people have strap ons hidden in their homes but they act morally supreme, or they get fired because they are abusing prescription drugs or they are closet alcoholics, etc.

So when I came to Chicago and on one of the first Sundays we were in church here, a guy got up and talked about his porn addiction in front of the whole church, I knew we weren't in Tulsa anymore!! I missed it, but a previous week a guy talked about his struggles with homosexuality and I've heard women talk about their formerly promiscuous lifestyles.

Are people in Chicago perfect? Absolutely not. But I believe that in being honest about your struggles, you can face them head on and work through them. Is everyone in Chicago just voyeuristic and share their yucky life stuff? Nope. But in doing so, it helps other people to face and deal with the yuckyness of their lives. You can have a group of people who care about you supporting you and helping to keep you accountable. God is a god of light, not darkness. What we hide can eat us up inside. If we bring it in to the light, we can get help and live in the freedom God designs for us.

Although this may sound like a bash Tulsa entry, it is not. I love the friends I made there and value my friends. I'm merely reaffirming why I love living in this big city. And why I felt like I was dying in Tulsa. Why I had to get out of there before my soul shriveled up and died.

My Sabbatical Has Ended

I didn't think I could make it 6 months. I did. Then, I didn't think I wanted to get involved even after my 1 year. I did.

#1. Website

I'm going to work on redesigning a website for a mom's site. This is the third non-profit site I'll be working with. I am the person who meets with the artist and the programmer and says, "I want this and this and this and this here and there and over there." This is perfect to ease back in - I'm sitting on my couch designing, not running around meeting with a bunch of people.

#2. Training

My rogue mom's group is full. We have 12 moms and all of those children!! It's such a great group of ladies, we all want to invite other mom's to join us. But we can't. There's no room for them. So, we might be splitting in the fall. It's an option. Not definite. Just in case, I am taking a small group leader training class at church, so I am officially qualified (by our church) to co-lead a group, should we decide to split. This way, I can throw my name in the hat in the fall.

Why Not?

My personal philosophy is that we should all give more to our community than we receive. When I was 11, I first heard John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech. I embraced his, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." Even though I was Canadian.

You need to know I have been a community and church volunteer since I was 10. When I volunteer, I put my whole heart and soul into it. I have worked at it an average of 10 hrs/week. 

Volunteering has been as important to me as it was to the people I helped. I got my kicks out of helping people. Knowing I made a difference in that one life at that one moment was how I found fulfillment.

In Nov '07, I felt like I was supposed to quit all volunteering. I didn't believe it so I didn't say anything. But I still had this nagging feeling. It wasn't like God was audibly telling me to quit. It was just this impression that I needed to get other people to start doing the things I was doing. 

Finally, in Jan '08, I told my executive director I was going to step down as of April 30th. She asked me who could do the various things I was doing. We began seeking these people out, and getting things lined up. I started telling people because I figured if I didn't, I wouldn't quit. 

My 1-year sabbatical from volunteer work is up at the end of this month. It's hard for me to believe I'm not ready to start volunteering again. It has been great to not have to worry about anyone but my family for a year. To just focus on my kids and my husband. To focus on me and learn my new roles. Learn my new city.

I am so thrilled our leadership team at J's work (our church) understand this and have not pressured me. It means the world to me to be given this time with my family. There have been a couple times when I could have easily slipped into volunteering at our new church, or Motor Mouth's school. I am so all about being on a PTO/PTA. I am so all about volunteering in multiple areas in our church.

To be honest, I did 'slip' 3 times. I ran words for J one service, helped a friend in the church office get some minor shopping done for a conference, and made cornbread muffins for a homeless shelter.  

Ooops! 3 1/2 times. I bought some fixings for a meal for a homeless shelter but didn't end up helping my mom's group put it together...

No one is pressuring me to start volunteering with/for them. And that is good. I wouldn't want to do anything until school is out in June, anyway. But still, July and August are looming and then there is September, with all that extra time if both kids are in a brick and mortar school. 

I don't have any desire to volunteer. I thought I would be chomping at the bit. I'm not. I see other people filling roles. Honestly, after 28 years, it's kinda nice to see the younguns step up and get involved. 

I'll get involved again. But slowly. Slowly. Slowly. Just an hour/month here. A casserole to a new mom there. Slowly. Slowly. 

...Um...That's what I say now...

Come back in 6 months

Featured in a Magazine!!

The architecture of our new church building is 

featured in a magazine!! 

Click here to check out the 

picture slide show:

It doesn't show what J does. 

There are pictures of the outside and the mix of textures inside. How cool for our church to be featured!!!

What's He Telling Ya??

It's Sunday. Let's go spiritual...

Motor Mouth wonders how I 'know' what he is doing when I can't see him. For example: "Lay down and stop playing with your train." - his door has frosted glass I can make out shadows through. Or, "Stop choking Mini Me!" - she is making gagging sounds and he is laughing. Or, I ask Mini Me, "Did you break xyz toy?" and when she breaks into tears, I tell her 'I KNOW you broke it. That was naughty." Not real rocket science stuff.

As any good mother, who is loathe to reveal her secrets, would do, I told him the Holy Spirit talks to me. The Holy Spirit tells me when they are being naughty and when they are lying. 

Now, Motor Mouth asks me what the Holy Spirit has told me before I even read their body language or hear the telltale signs. I could really use some divine intervention at those times.

What A Difference A Year Makes!!

Last year at this time, J was working long hours to make the stage/auditorium special for Christmas at the church he worked for then. 

Only his superiors hated everything he did.  

He was laid off/fired in January. 

We moved to Chicago for a new church job.

This year, J is busting his butt to make the stage/auditorium/atmosphere for worship special for Christmas at the church he currently works for. Only his superiors loved everything he did this past Sunday and are thrilled to have J as part of their team.

Tonight, we were eating dinner at Panera. I started crying right there. (I think I'm in early menopause, the hormones are a raging!). The kids were so concerned. I had to explain that it was a good cry. My husband is wanted and appreciated at his job. They like him. They really like him. As a wife, it does my soul well. 

Ah crap. I'm crying again. My nose is running, 

the whole works. I gotta go. 

Check out My Man's blog for details on what he did.

Awana Hair

This is my son at Awana last week.

It was crazy hair/crazy clothes week

Motor Mouth attends Awana each week. It is one of the places he gets religious schooling outside of our home. The other day, he came home quoting John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, he gave his only son, Jesus, that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life." My Mom was soooo happy she said she would put some money in the bank account for him. 

Day One of Seven

We were both so tired last night we didn't want to maintain our commitment. But a commitment is a commitment and so we trudged along and did our due diligence. Ever dread going somewhere or doing something and then when you get done you are so very happy you did? Yeah. It was like that.

CHURCH SEX

Our favorite church in Dallas is Fellowship Church, pastored by Ed Young, Jr.  This week, J and I are going to partner with Fellowship Church for their upcoming series entitled: 7 Days of Sex. 

For 7 days, beginning on Sunday, November 15th, I am purposing to have sex with my husband. It will be a challenge, but I'm up for it!

Are you up for the challenge? If you so, I recommend you watch/listen to Fellowship Church's podcast on Sunday to hear the message and understand the significance to your marriage.

Here is the promo from Fellowship Church

Lust Vegas Week 2 Promo from Fellowship Church on Vimeo.

Urban Jesus

Above is what my husband does for work

Below is what my pastor does for work

The city changes you. In many ways the city becomes you and you become the city. The church at Corinth allowed the city to change them, even their view of God. 

Paul writes the first few chapters of I Corinthians focused on the person of Christ and how Jesus should change even how we live in the city. Urban Jesus is a study on how city dwellers should be transformed by the Gospel of Jesus even more than their city.

Blow Your Mind Info

In church yesterday, a video was played listing the following information. I found it eye opening and mind boggling. Had to share with my faithful followers!  As this is my blog and not my book report, if you want the sources for each statement, ask me. I have them.

While you are reading these statistics, keep in mind: The United States of America was founded and populated by Christian men and women who left their homeland in search of religious freedom. 

There are 120 million people in the United States who are not followers of Jesus

The U.S. is the largest mission field in the 

Western hemisphere

The U.S. is the 5th largest mission field in the world

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The number of unchurched in America has almost doubled from 1991 to 2004. 

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Approximately 98 million people are under the age of 25 in the United States, and those between the ages of 18 and 25 are the least likely to attend a church

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Only 1 State in the nation saw an increase in the percentage of people attending church 

from 2000 - 2004.    HAWAII 

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In 1900, the Census Bureau counted 212,000 churches.  In 2000, the number of churches that existed in the United States was 349,500.  

The number of churches increased just over 50 percent while the population of the USA has almost quadrupled.

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In 1900, there were 28 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

In 1950 there were 17 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

In 2000 there were 12 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

In 2004 there were 11 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

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3500 - 4000 churches close each year.

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In his book, Comeback Churches, Ed Stetzer estimates that 70% to 80% of all evangelical churches in the US have either stopped growing or are in decline!

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Churches under 3 years old are reaching 10 new people for every 100 church members

Churches 3-15 years old are reaching an average of 5 people for every 100 church members. 

Churches over 15 years old are reaching an average of 3 for every 100 church members. 

New church plants do the best job of reaching and including those who were previously unchurched. 

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New Churches have a much higher percentage of people who serve than do existing churches

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The average new church gains the majority of it's members (60 – 80%) from people who had not previously attended a church. 

The average established church gains 80-90 % of it's members from transfer growth from other churches. 

The average new church will bring 6-8 times more new people into the life of the Body of Christ than an older congregation of the same size.

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99% of church plants survive the 1^st year

92% of church plants survive the 2^nd year

81% of church plants survive the 3^rd year

68% of church plants survive the 4^th year

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Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.

Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated

My Mom has this saying, "Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated."

When Mom first began to use this phrase on us kids last year, it was a not-so-subtle hint that she felt her 30 & 40 something year old children were not worshipping her as the mother goddess she is (my words, not hers).  Typically, she would tell us she loves the people where she volunteers because THEY celebrate her, not tolerate her. As a 30-something year old brat, it was 'Whatever, Mom'. 

After our associate pastor, Chip Olin, passed away last year, things really started to change at J's job in Tulsa. I watched as my husband continued to spend precious time away from home to give his very best to the church where he and his family had worshipped for almost 25 years, the place where my husband had poured his heart and soul into for the past 8 years while on staff, the place where my husband worked his tail off to bring his area up to a standard of progressive excellence.

For a year, I told J the church was dying. I said, "Look around. The numbers are dwindling. Get out before they tell the staff they can't make payroll." I told him, "Get out before they start laying off staff.  It's coming. Get out first."  But he loved that place. He wanted to see it turn around and grow and flourish again. J wouldn't leave.

In January, J was laid off. We both knew there was nothing in Tulsa for him. J was courted by several great places, church and non-church. On our interview weekend, we both fell in love with Chicago.  I didn't really want J to work for another church, so part of me was wanting one of the other options in other states. We fell in love with the vision Jaxn has for the people of PCC. We found real people who were willing to live the truth before God and before people. 

My mother says, "Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated."  J is celebrated here. He is appreciated. He is accepted as he is and for who he is and for the talents he brings to the table. Instead of Jason spending energy worrying the senior pastor is pissed at Jason for his hair being too long past his collar, or too short, as in the case of a trendy faux hawk last year, J can focus his energy on making his work the best it can be. 

Every week, in one of their meetings, people go around the table telling one person in particular what they like about him/her. When it was J's turn for affirmation, several people commented on how nice J was during high pressure times when he could have been mean. It's funny, because in Oklahoma, J was told he was too harsh. Maybe that's a Chicago thing. Maybe that's a northerner thing. Whatever it is, it is refreshing to know, as a wife, that my husband is not taking time from our family to cast his pearls before swine. 

I am honestly, whole-heartedly, most sincerely glad P.Bob and Dr. Stew fired J - and so is J. J would never have left that place. We may never have known the freedom and joy to worship our Savior as freely and openly as we feel right now. Most of all, J might still be working in a place where he was tolerated and not celebrated. 

Mini Date Night - Ministry Style!

J's parents had the kids all afternoon and evening Sunday. J had a last minute volunteer glitch for evening service. I asked if I could fill in.

After talking to J Mom of 5, who suggested J and I go out for ice cream after this evening's service, I decided to turn it into a mini date night - ministry style!

I was in the bat cave alone except for lots of high tech gear

Had my M & M's to keep me company

Part way through service, J came over the headset and told me I was doing a great job!

Still had some M & M's to keep me company

Then I screwed up on a video!!

And had less M & M's to keep me company

I worked really hard to not screw anything else up

I had no more M & M's so I was lonely

Soon, I got to leave the Bat Cave

And have a nice dinner with my husband.

For I Know the Plans...

Saturday was a wonderful day.

Motor Mouth asked to play with a blanket in his closet. Each of the baby blankets in Motor Mouth's closet holds special significance. There are the handmade ones from a dear lady in our Tulsa Sunday School Class (R.O.C.).  There's the ones J bought when we were believing for a baby. There's the ones from Grandma Grandma, Faith Chick, and KK. 

But this special blanket was the first baby blanket we received with a promise. Our friend Mystic Muse found the fabric and made this one. The fabric has the word "DREAM". For years we dreamed of having a child together. Then one day, an infertility specialist sitting behind an $11,000 desk told us we would never have children.

Mystic Muse was there throughout it all, really. She was the first person that knew we were going to elope. She was at the office the day we returned to work, from hearing the news from the doctor. Mystic Muse's home was the first home Motor Mouth visited, straight from the hospital. She's been with us through it all.

The blanket reads: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord..." Jeremiah 29:11. It was this scripture and this blanket that we held on to, believing we would one day be parents. 

On Saturday, my son asked to play with this blanket. I took the opportunity to tell him the story of the blanket. Now Motor Mouth knows how special this blanket is to our family. No need to tell him how special Mystic Muse is - he has always known.

Camera

It's gone. My camera is no longer in my possession. 

On Saturday evening, I was cautiously optimistic. On Sunday, after discovering my camera was not in either vehicle, I became weepy. All day, all I wanted to do was go off in a corner somewhere and just bawl! Would it have helped? Not find the camera, but I would have been better able to handle the everyday life situations that came my way yesterday. J would have wanted me to cry so I didn't call him at work in hysterics.

Today, J gave me perspective. If I get a new iPhone on Friday, I won't need a camera. I can take pictures and blog directly - as it happens!!!!!

J also said I would have to be a better blog writer to hold everyone's attention for text only blogs. How am I doing? 

Joy Box in Action

I may have lost my camera today. I am really hoping it is under the seats in my sister-in-law's car, or in the cargo area of our Jeep. It is dark out. I can't look tonight. I have to put this in my Joy Box (see my other posting under Faith for an explanation) and 'give it to God' to take care of. Otherwise, I won't sleep.

Where did I see it last? I know it was in the rental car when we were driving around, being Chicago tour guides.  I thought I took it out when we parked on Michigan Ave. I realized it was gone in Nordstrom's shopping mall, when I wanted to be stupid and do self-portraits with a friend who is in Chicago visiting this weekend.

All afternoon and evening, I didn't have a camera to take pictures with. When we finally went back to the cars, I couldn't find it at initial glance. I'll have to do a deep search Sunday morning, when I wake up. 

O.K., Widney Woman, breathe. Deep breaths. Breathe. Release the fear. Shooooooooo.

I'm trying to play this off lighthearted, but I just want to cry. I love my camera. It has brought me so much joy. It was a gift from J last year, for Mother's Day. I really hope I find it. It may not be a big ass professional camera like what J uses, but it what I use to record my children's lives. I didn't realize just how much I love that thing until I am faced with not having it. I think I will go cry.

Grandpa and Grandma in Chi-Town, Part 3

Motor Mouth decided he wanted to eat dinner in Chinatown. So we did. Then we went to the church, to take dinner to Daddy. Daddy was putting the final touches on the auditorium prep for Sunday morning's very 1st service in our new building!!!!

Playing with the Michigan Ave new toy stash

Chinatown Library

Mini Me on her 3rd bowl of egg drop soup

Our church opened it's new building on Sunday, June 22nd...

Part of the Coffee Shop

Women's Restroom - 17 Stalls!!!!!!!

Stage

More Stage

View from the Roof