my old friend

I'm becoming excited anew about my little old friend, the Danskin Triathlon. First I threw it all out the window at the prospect of doing a bigger, greater, more extravagant triathlon. Then I decided that this was my FIRST, it MADE me, and I should do it again, just for fun (I owe it, afterall), so I was going to do it as a relay team, in addition to the other. But THEN, amidst new sparks of interest from a few ladies at church and a couple other friends, who are really THISCLOSE to registering, I decided to do it all! So I registered today, yippee, in hopes that this year I will have a crowd of friends around me (or perhaps 4 or 5) to inspire me to go faster and not nearly hyperventilate in the lake, or slow down whilst my shoes melt on the pavement in the 95 degree weather, because we are a TEAM! WOOHOO!!! (Come on you guys, I registered, your turn...)

I'm posting already!

Happy daylight savings...why is it that one little hour knocks me off kilter for almost a week!? I'm tired. Yet it shouldn't be this late...
Played guitar for the women's retreat this weekend. Eek! I got over my nauseous perma-anxiety pretty much only this morning for the last session. (It was my first time.) Leading worship is something I've always wanted to do but I haven't put the time into really developing my skills to do so well. This was kind of inspiring to me. I'm glad I did it. It went pretty well, and I feel privileged to be able to help people enter into worship. I enjoyed the fellowship and rehearsals with the other ladies on the worship team. I felt like I was putting myself REALLY out there, mostly because they really needed someone. But it turned out to have its blessings. :)

Practice...

teaching or preaching?

My sister and I do similar things. We both have teaching roles at our churches. That is where the similarities end, we realized. She and her husband are the college pastors at a large Foursquare church. I teach women’s Bible studies at a Baptist church. First difference resulting in our denominations. Also,
Sister: “I’m preaching tonight.”
Me: “I’m teaching tonight too.”
Sister: “I have a lot of work to do on my sermon.”
Me: “I’m nearly done with my message.”
Essentially we are doing exactly the same thing, except in a Foursquare church she preaches, and in a Baptist church I teach. :)
She is a “pastor,” and I am a women’s Bible study teacher. She is as egalitarian as they come. I’ve changed a little since I’ve been around these parts, though I never had a firm opinion previously. I guess I might still be more egalitarian than some people in my church (though I wouldn’t call myself that exactly), but I sure don’t mind that I’m not a pastor preaching sermons. That sounds like a lot of pressure. :)

brea 8k

The only place where you can watch people chowing down on pizza, tacos, chips & salsa, salad, and pasta at 9:00 in the morning. Sick. I didn't feel so good after a short night, early rise, and a dinner at Cheesecake factory last night (!) but pulled off 44:15 which was faster than last year. :)

Jesus is Lost on a tropical island

This weekend I watched the Gospel of John movie, all three hours of it (the "theatrical" version). I love this depiction of Jesus and his ministry, it's one of my favorites. The guy who plays Jesus, Henry Ian Cusick, does a great job, plus he's easy on the eyes :) (Okay something feels just WRONG about saying that about Jesus.) Anyway, I had read that Jim Caviezel became a Christian after filming the Passion of the Christ, so I was very curious about Henry Ian Cusick's story. The John film was made for evangelistic purposes, so surely he must be a believer...?

I found this article on him, which starts off on a humorous note ("When I last saw Jesus, he was showing the wounds of his crucifixion to his disciples. Now he is leaning across the counter of Starbucks, craning to read the menu.") and gives some information on the actor. He is half Peruvian and half Scottish, a stage actor in London (did you know Jesus had a British accent?), and he grew up Roman Catholic. So after memorizing the entire book of John and portraying Jesus from baptism to ministry to crucifixion and beyond, this is what he had to say:

"The whole experience has rubbed off on me, too. It's made me think more carefully about who Jesus was. I go to Mass more often, and when the priest reads from the Gospel of John, I find myself saying: I know every word of this." Hmmm. I found myself disappointed. He was able to portray the charisma and character of Jesus so well, he memorized all his words from that gospel (and undoubtedly still knows them to some extent). Yet for all of that, the message apparently remains external. The true meaning of those words seems to be lost. How does that happen?

Speaking of Lost, which I never got into, Jesus is now one of the main characters on the show! I'm glad I haven't been watching it, that would definitely throw me off. :)

Jesus in a tie

Lunch

tonight

Joshua Bible Study, most of us (picture of the day!!) :)

Let me out!

Who invented the 8 hour workday?

I have been thinking about doing a "picture of the day" thing...so I'll try it. Can't promise every day, but I'll try (if I can remember to bring my camera with me).

pleasantries

Conversation yesterday regarding my unnamed but required Christian Education class with unnamed fellow Talbot student who also happens to be an unnamed overseer at church:

Unnamed Overseer: What class did you just have?
Me: [Unnamed unpleasant class]
U.O.: [laughs boisterously]
Me: Thanks
U.O.: How are you enjoying that?
Me: Ummm…well…
U.O.: It only gets worse!
Me: I can imagine.
U.O.: No, you really can’t!

Fabulous.

The other day I was struck by the hilarity of a parking lot. Do you ever think of normal everyday things such as traffic laws or even driving and think how weird it is that EVERYONE does it, knows how to do it, or submits to social norms and laws? I pulled into the big empty parking lot at church the other night, and maneuvered my car in between the two white lines comprising a parking spot, even though there were no other cars around. This struck me as weird at the moment, as does the fact frequently that I know how to and regularly operate a huge piece of metal machinery that is my car. Am I weird???

Perhaps my body was not made for this

I lathered up my toes in Vaseline, put on my double layer socks and tied my shoes loosely…yet by the end of our 9 miles I could barely walk! I seem to have been blessed with a heart that could power the Energizer bunny. But my knees are slowly failing me, and Saturday my feet hurt worse than anything else (at least I didn’t have any blisters). My running threshold seems to be 6-8 miles pain free. It could be that that is what I’m used to, and if I regularly ran longer distances my joints would adjust. But I’m not sure I want to take the chance, or face the toll that more and more miles per week would put on my whole body. Maybe I just need to be happy with 8 or less (which would mean no half marathon). I find it frustrating that my heart & lungs & muscles are fit for this, and I just love running for a long time! but my joints are just not as supportive of this hobby…blast my skeletal system!!

I’ve been curious about checking out a place like this, looking into things like correct training intensity, mechanical flaws, and possible orthotics (?) … just seems like so much trouble that takes the fun and ease out of just going outside and going for a run.

I'm trying to emit the right fragrance...

D. and I are memorizing 2 Corinthians together, four verses a week. We just finished chapter 2, and these last four verses have probably been the most meaningful to me yet. I'm not one for floofy figurative language (oops--am I allowed to call Paul floofy? I'm confident he was FAR from floofy) but I really like the "fragrance" and "aroma" imagery.

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” (14-17)

This causes me to check what kind of "aroma" I put off -- here's hoping it's more of a fragrance than an odor -- and it's also a great picture of the influence we have on those around us. (Just think of something like fish and how the smell carries, how long it lasts, and how certain smells seems to stick around in rooms or clothing! One lady at work has fish at least once a week, and I am fortunate to have the desk closest to the microwave...) I would pray that these verses characterize my life, as one who spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him. WE are the ones who are the aroma of Christ to those around us, believers and non-believers alike. Perhaps I can pray for a more distinct, pungent scent. :)

dying form of communication

I think handwriting is a lost art. Today I typed an entry for my journal, to print and then glue into my journal! More pages have typed glued in entries than are handwritten lately. And last semester I started taking all my class notes on my laptop. I used to write SO much when I was younger, journaling, writing stories, etc., that I think I did permanent damage to my hand. I can't write more than a few minutes without it starting to hurt. And it's partially laziness and partially because it's faster to type. But with email, Word, electronic calendars, blogs :) ... who even needs to write anymore?

What is Christian Education?

(I know I said I wasn't looking forward to my classes this semester, and that is sort of true, particularly one of them. However I have come to the realization that that feeling is largely due to the fact that this is my second-to-last semester of grad school, I have been at this for nearly four years, and I am just ready to be DONE!)

From the perspective of someone who teaches women's Bible Studies (yes ME), I found our class discussion today particularly interesting. Educating the church body is far more than simply teaching. It involves bringing individuals and community into a full knowledge of God through many different means, ultimately resulting in transformation of both the individual and the body.

As far as teaching is concerned, there are five different words used to describe this in Scripture, in two groups...

RATIONAL/INTELLECTUAL:
1. yarah (Ps. 32:8) - to instruct, direct, point out
2. bin (Dan. 8:16) - to understand + discern + distinguish concepts (intellect)
3. shanan (Deut. 6:7) - to impress, sharpen, pierce, convict

RELATIONAL/EXPERIENTIAL:
4. ra'ah (Ps. 23:1) - to tend or feed, edify (also Greek poimen, to shepherd or pastor)
5. lamad (Deut. 4:5) - to train

The reason I write all this out is because the pendulum of rational and relational teaching, faith, and worship is something I've been thinking about and swinging on for years. Really a full knowledge of God includes both, so good teaching has to include both. Today there is a heavy emphasis on the relational experience of faith (personal application), which is more post-modern. Older teaching you might notice (also older worship - hymns, etc.) focus heavily on content and reason rather than experience and application.

When I moved to California three and a half years ago and started to look for a church, I had a hard time finding one that balanced my mind (which I think is more rational) and my experience of faith (yep, the Foursquare roots). :) I have swung back and forth on this pendulum, and I think most churches have a difficult time balancing the two as well. I notice that my teaching is a lot more focused on the rational & intellectual, mostly because I have a harder time thinking of good illustrations here and there, plus I just really like to dig into the text! :) But holistic teaching, as was Jesus' teaching, involves both the mind AND the heart, intellect and personal application that should cause the listener to make changes leading to life transformation.

Talbot puts a lot of emphasis on Spiritual Formation in addition to intellectual study. This balance is vital in communicating the truths of God from the head to the heart. Those times when my faith is balanced appropriately are the best. I find myself attending and working at a Baptist church, sometimes moonlighting at a Vineyard church (Sunday evenings!) to get my charismatic kick, and balancing it with some theological study and personal study and prayer time. It works for me. :)

boot camp

I would do THIS in a heartbeat. Give me six weeks, send me away, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it. :)

And it begins...

Here we go again...started class yesterday. This is the first semester in awhile that I have not been looking forward to. Just two required classes.
Goodbye social life.
Goodbye sleep.
Goodbye freedom.

I have a lot of work to do...

Sure, I swam a mile on Friday. But at a nice, steady, even (SLOWISH) pace. So tonight I tried "speed drills" or something like that, with the idea of doing one lap fast, then resting, two laps, rest, three, etc. up to five, and then back down 4-3-2-1, with rests in between, and swimming fast...blah blah. I made it approximately one lap. :) (and finished the rest of my swim a little slower!) There's something wrong with swimming--you can't breathe whenever you want! I can run fast because I can gulp in as much air as I need whenever I need it. How in the WORLD am I supposed to breathe faster when I'm underwater??? Argh...or should I say, gargle...

sovereignty

I'm teaching on Joshua 9 tomorrow, the chapter about the "Gibeonite deception" as many Bibles label it. It's hard to know what application to take from it, as far as seeking the counsel of the Lord in particular situations or consequences to specific actions (or lack of action). I really don't think that's the point of the passage. Really what I've been impressed with is what this incident says about God. I've found it particularly relevant to some current circumstances my family is dealing with: God is still sovereign. His purposes are not thwarted or altered by our foolishness or even our sin. In fact, not only does his plan work in spite of our mistakes, sometimes his purpose is served by our follies. I find this encouraging, and also convicting. How much better are his purposes served when we ARE actively seeking his will and guidance. How different things could have been for the Israelites, and how different things can be in our own lives if we and those around us are seeking God.

Anyway. I'm thankful for his sovereignty that is not contingent upon our righteousness or doing things right.

The Super-Weekend

What a weekend! Blessings cause me to feel invigorated and encouraged like nothing else...

• Still thankful for my lunch on Saturday (see post below)
• I got to talk with my Syrian apartment manager for an hour on Sunday. I've been praying for him since we moved here. We had a great conversation about life, family, and of course his view on Israel and the Middle East (LOL). He has a very sweet spirit and is highly intelligent. He knows about my faith and educational background and I think because of this he likes to talk. :) I will continue praying for him and trying to build that relationship.
• Someone offered to pay for 50% of the cost for me to go on our church's women's retreat. This is a HUGE answer to a specific prayer, as I was not thinking I'd be able to afford it!!! What a blessing!!!
• Some good extended time with the Lord.
• Lots of time to relax, and some good times and conversations with friends.
• I did two of the events of my June 9 triathlon this weekend, namely a one mile swim and a 6.2 mile run, and felt great doing both. Gotta get on my bike!
• Today before work I made myself a wholesome breakfast of two scrambled eggs with a cup of broccoli mixed in and a piece of whole grain toast. Not exactly part of my weekend, but I felt very proud of myself, so I had to throw that in there. :)

a little encouragement

I had lunch with an old friend today. She was one of my first friends when I moved to LA, and she and I and another friend became close as we met bi-weekly for prayer and some examination of spiritual things and life issues we were all going through at the same time. It was a valuable time for all of us. We haven't kept up much over the last year, I moved, it's been busy, etc. Lately I've been aware that I've been missing relationships with peers that have that kind of depth and spiritual connection and accountability that we had. Today at lunch I was reminded of what that feels like, and we decided to continue our lunches every other weekend. I feel so encouraged! I pray that this can be a fruitful relationship for both of us as we start over but also build on the depth that is still there from years past. Today I'm thankful for this pleasant surprise and blessing. :)

swimming update

I swam a mile yesterday! Yahoo! Felt good. That takes a long time!! :)

Snow in Seattle

Well, Redmond actually... my mom sent me this picture of her house this morning. It has snowed several times in the last couple months where she lives! Very unseasonable. (Although maybe not, since she moved to a place with just a bit of higher elevation.)

Resolutions

1. Make my bed every morning
2. Tidy my bedroom and the living room before bed every night.
3. Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day.
4. Be in bed by 10:30 every night.
5. Fill up my gas tank when it reaches ¼ tank instead of E.
6. Floss five times a week.
7. Drink 8 glasses of water every day.
8. Eat chocolate only once a week.
9. Develop a good budget and stick to it.
10. Pack my gym bag the night before.
11. Get a massage once a month. Now we’re talking…

12.

Okay, just kidding, I’m not completely delusional. My eyes began to glaze over at #1. I think I make my bed when we have company, if they’re lucky, and that’s it! I’ve never been one to set resolutions, because everyone knows they don’t really stick anyway, especially if you have a long list, or if the changes are drastic. I have made a conscious effort to eat more fruit and vegetables every day, I have been in bed by 10:30 most week nights, and I haven’t had chocolate in January (that’s another story, and I plan to make it the entire month). Flossing…not so much…and I must say I let my gas tank go until the light goes on, and then some. It’s amazing how far you can get on fumes.

In January though I have already signed up for AAA (it took a flat tire and a couple hours of waiting to finally convince me), purchased extra dental and optical insurance (what…I’m supposed to go to the dentist HOW often??), and made an appointment for a consultation for laser eye surgery! That really is enough to last me the whole year in productivity.

Happy 2007

I really wasn't that reflective at the end of 2006; it didn't feel like New Year's Eve much during the day, just felt like Sunday. :) I had lots to be thankful for in 2006 ~ my sister got married, I moved closer to work and have a great apartment and roommate, I did my triathlon, and I have begun to feel very settled and at home in my community here. God is good, through the tough stuff and the fun stuff. There were plenty of both this year! I'm thankful for where I'm at right now, ready to start fresh in 2007.

I have to say, I am feeling much relief that I am not leaving for the Philippines tomorrow! I'm exhausted. The holidays are not so restful!

wild weather

It snowed here last night and today! It wasn't in the forecast, so it was weird to look out the window around midnight last night and see it dumping and already sticking. It was still around for most of the day today, and it's in the 20's tonight. What crazy weather up here the last couple months! It snows every time I come. I'm not sure what that means.

Christmas Pics

Trying to get four people to all smile at once... :) This is my sister Lindy, her husband Nate, me, and our ("little") brother Travis... I AM the big sister!! :)

After a morning of brunch, presents, and a lazy afternoon we went to visit my grandpa in the home he lives in. My grandma is on the left. I grew up about 5 minutes from them, and they still live in downtown Bellevue. Her condo is about a block from the nursing home so she's able to walk there each day. My mom goes about 4 days a week and I go a few times whenever I'm in town. Grandpa (middle-right) has M.S. but has lived a long full life! :)

Sis, me & Mom

Around 8pm we went to my cousin Dan & his wife LeeAnn's place for dessert and games. We stayed until after midnight! We always have a blast playing games and just hanging out with them. Lots of laughing. :) This is me and Dan; we grew up together and were close through high school.

Now I have a few more days to try and relax and sleep until I return to "the gates of Hell," according to one particular uncle that I see once a year (right around this time). Yesterday morning at brunch he asked "How's life down in the gates of Hell?" I suppose he meant L.A. ... ?? What is that supposed to mean?? I looked at him for a second before replying, "Umm...I kinda like it down there!" Bring me back to the pit of sin! LOL. :)

happiness and cheer...

Merry Christmas!Dad making his best pirate face, in my cousin's pirate hat

I've been trying to relax some up here. We all went to the Christmas Eve service at church last night, and opened family presents this morning. Brunch with extended family, and now it's just us again, laying around and watching movies. More fun and games tonight with the other side of the family.

I hope you are enjoying time with family and friends! It's good having our family together, for now, for a couple of days.

2007 Races

Look out, I'm coming after you to start training...

Feb 25. Brea 8k
June 3. Danskin Triathlon

If I can find another triathlon to do on my own this summer, I'm considering doing this June 3 one (the one I did last year) as part of a relay team. I figure that is the only realistic way I'm going to get my friends to join me. :) So let me know if you're ready to start training!!!

I'd still like to do a half marathon this year too...hopefully in January I can focus on getting well and running longer distances again. I'll see in a month or two how realistic the half is.

Winter Wishes

Despite the fact that I just canceled out my kickboxing class with the macaroni and cheese I have been craving all day, I am feeling a lot better! I've been sick for almost a month now, two colds and a general run-down feeling. But the semester is over, and I now have six weeks to celebrate my laziness!!!

'Tis the season for...Holiday Cards??? I went to pick up a box of CHRISTMAS CARDS last week and in the section now renamed Holiday Cards, I was hard-pressed to find one that actually said "Merry Christmas." I found an abundant supply of Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, and Winter Wishes. Nothing wrong with that except for the fact that they have all but replaced the whole reason we send cards anyway. The only "Christmas" cards I found had Santa Claus or snowmen on them! There were plenty of "Feliz Navidad" packs...why don't they have an issue with Christmas?? Just us, I guess.

Imagine a big round conference table. Then imagine it COMPLETELY covered with all kinds of Christmas baked goods…all kinds of cookies, breads, brownies, fudge, cakes, and everything in between. Oh and a fruit basket. :) NOW imagine that your desk is ten feet away from said conference table, and all this food is in your direct line of sight all day long.

This is not good...

just a little break

I am alive! It's finals week and I'm trying to muster up motivation to get everything done. I'd rather just watch TV for 6 hours in a row right now. (I may have done that on Saturday...hmmm...I'm sick again/still, so that is my excuse.) Things are busy busy busy. I will be back soon with something more intelligent and exciting to write about! :)

One note, I have decided not to go to the Philippines in January. I feel much more settled with that decision than when I was going. I also am already looking forward to having the month of January off. I am not going to take a class, just will focus on rest and maybe personal study. I am still working on the Disciplines stuff, and I look forward to having more time for that.

'Tis the season...working on cultivating all my Christmas cheer...fa la la la la la la la la. :)

I've always had this understanding of evil and pain in the world that's sufficed for my own faith and relationship with God as reason for the bad things that happen. Sin, evil, free will, and the understanding of "already but not yet" - God's kingdom not yet fully realized here as it is in heaven.

But more and more, as I see hard, ugly things, and I see how my own explanations don't suffice for others' personal understandings or questions, I ache more for this "kingdom" to come. For the victory to be full and for complete victory over sin and death. We grow weary of struggles with sin and pain; longing for God's kingdom to come, on earth as it is in heaven.

home...sort of

Me with mom & sister, Lindy @ T-giving dinner

Happy Thanksgiving! (again) Thursday was eventful...I arrived home in Seattle around 2pm, hung out at the airport until 3ish when my dad arrived on his last minute flight he was able to get from San Diego (originally wasn't going to be able to come home, but he was able to get a flight!) and came out to the new house in Redmond that my parents moved into last month, for about 20 minutes, then back down to Kirkland to meet up with the rest of the Talbott clan for dinner.

It's a little weird to be staying in a different house; I lived in the other one my whole life, so this doesn't quite feel "right" yet. My mom has made the adjustment well and feels right at home, but for me who is just home for holidays, I now don't even know how to find this neighborhood from the freeway! Not sure what needs to take place to make it feel like home, perhaps having Christmas here next month will help. I'm glad I got to stay for a couple days and start getting used to it. :)

Happy T-day

Happy Thanksgiving!
I fly out in the morning, home to the new house in Redmond, WA...barring any traffic or airport issues, I'll make in time for the Talbott turkey dinner. We've rented out a community center to hold the 50+ of us that can make it. :) Looking forward to seeing everyone and spending a long weekend with mom! (Shopping anyone??)

Overload

Here is what I am thinking and feeling in bullet form, since that is about the only way I can make sense of it right now, because:

• I am really sick, just a head cold, but a miserable one that my drugs are not touching. Bad headache, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, need I go on... and this is no doubt affecting how I am processing this other information...
• I got some really difficult news earlier today that I am not sure what to do with, how to respond, how to react to this person that I love very much but who is really hurting others with their actions, including me. I'm at a loss to know what to do, and long term prayers that have no noticeable answer yet seem to add to my confusion. I don't know how to deal with this this time.
• I just gave my full name as it appears on my passport for my ticket to the Philippines in January.
• An idea for a possible full-time missions opportunity for after school has been floated, and the ministry, language, etc. seem to be a great fit. Something to pray specifically about, and possibly take a visit to in the next year!
• I found out today that the vacant position at work that I have been sort of filling in for has been eliminated. My added responsibilities are now going to be permanent. This is hard in the sense that I'm not sure how things are going to work without someone in that position. But it's good because I now will get to learn new design programs and new things for my job! This is exciting.
• I am really not feeling good and I have no sick days left. The day's almost over...and I have a test tonight.

prayer

Discipline #2: Prayer

"To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us."

"We must hear, know, and obey the will of God before we pray it into the lives of others."

Rather than despairing at what lacks in our prayer life compared to those "giants of faith, we should remember that God always meets us where we are and slowly moves us along to deeper things. Occasional joggers do not suddenly enter an Olympic marathon. The prepare and train themselves over a period of time, and so should we. When such a progression is followed, we can expect to pray a year from now with greater authority and spiritual success than at present."

"We must never wait until we feel like praying before we pray for others. Prayer is like any other work; we may not feel like working, but once we have been at it for a bit, we begin to feel like working. Our prayer muscles need to be limbered up a bit and once the blood-flow of intercession begins, we will find that we feel like praying."

(From Celebration of Discipline)

Homework that is thought provoking! Imagine that.

I have had the song "Lion of Judah" in my head for weeks. We've been singing it in church a lot and I learned it on the guitar so I can play it whenever I want. But I think it has become stuck there because over the last week and a half I've been consumed with a big project on Revelation 5 for my Daniel & Revelation class.

The song is celebratory and extols the Lamb as I imagine the scene in Revelation 5, of ten thousands upon ten thousands of angels and all the heavenly host, plus every created being, worshiping the Lamb who was slain:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

Working on this project I was convicted: everything said here applies to our worship of Christ. I have heard of a book I think called "Your Jesus is too small" or something. I don't know what it's about but I think we suffer that syndrome. We easily lose the sense of the Jesus of Revelation: there is wrath, there is glory, power, and all authority. He is our friend and our brother, yes, but he is also the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! He is worthy of all worship from every created being.

I often forget this and my worship is nowhere on the scale of the worship Christ receives in Revelation. I am guilty of not offering him the level of worship that he deserves and demands. He is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Do I give him that in my life?

meditation, callouses, and other goals

I figure since I'm going to be teaching on the disciplines in January, now would be a good time for me to study them and practice different ones for myself. I ordered a few workbooks and study guides on the subject to see if any of them might be worth using in the Philippines, and also of course for myself! First I am turning back to Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
Last week I was challenged on the issue of living by faith. I was having a hard time identifying any area in my life in which I'm currently being required to live by faith (as opposed to madly holding everything together on my own). So here is where I begin... disciplines require faith for God's grace for inner transformation. It's his work, not our own, which is good, because my willpower can only get me so far (especially when you put a piece of chocolate cake in front of me).

First up: meditation.

Davette and I have decided to memorize 2 Corinthians. We are in week 2 of four verses a week. Foster suggests spending an entire week on a single passage for the purpose of meditation. I can memorize without meditating, though I'm not sure what the purpose of that would be. So I already have my passage chosen for me each week. I am internalizing the reality of God's comfort in troubles and suffering, which is for the purpose of then turning to comfort others. I've already been able to share that message with someone this week!

A central purpose of meditation is "centering." It is balace, peace through activities of the day, ability to rest and enjoy beauty, and ability to pace oneself. Again I can exercise faith in God's grace as I engage in this discipline regularly, and expect not only a growing desire to engage, but to see that balance and peace rule my day rather than hurry and noise.

On another PAINFUL note, I have been encouraged to start playing my guitar again regularly. I used to hide in my room for hours a day playing this baby, but it's been months. This week I feel a regular throbbing in my fingertips and horrible pain everytime I touch the strings. I have to build my callouses back up! It's the familiar mantra, "play through the pain." I want to lead worship again, and I want to improve to a point of feeling comfortable doing that. Hopefully I can be disciplined in this area too. I once heard someone say in response to a student expressing frustration about a plateauing rate of improvement: "Have you prayed over it?" So, for whatever it's worth, I prayed over my guitar today. :) It's not a spiritual discipline, but a physical one, one that I hope to engage in regularly as well...

I'm giving up

on the spacing for the post below...silly. It never looks like it's supposed to after you push "post." Pictures, captions, words, all over the place. I'm trying not to let it bother me. :)

We feel warmed!!

Kristin & I (roommates!)




We had a little gathering on Sunday for our "housewarming" ... it's feeling a lot like a home now (it better, with all the money we've spent on this place!). Yay for fun with friends...















Oh yes we did...










Noah thinks it's not cheating to strategically "arrange" your apples before you bob for them.














Aaron is the current record holder. 6 apples in 17 seconds equals very wet floor.









My band (hey, it's Halloween isn't it?!)
























We couldn't get Aaron to take this mullet wig off all night.












Me, Janell and Ramesh...my friends from the complex next door. We go way back (to Seattle!) :)




(Hmmm, apparently Blogger has had enough with uploading pictures for the day...)

The Too Good to Hurry Kelsey

I got forwarded a link to an advertising slogan generator some time ago. You might have seen it before... recently it was sent to me again and this time the person suggested we put our name in. So I did, and went through the different options...

A Kelsey a Day Helps You Work, Rest and Play
Let Your Kelsey Do the Walking
I Like the Kelsey In You
Just What Kelsey Ordered
Silly Rabbit, Kelsey is for Kids
Nothin' Says Lovin' Like Kelsey From the Oven
So Easy, No Wonder Kelsey is #1

Ok and on and on they go...but I liked "The Too Good to Hurry Kelsey." I am always in a hurry of some kind. Work, driving, homework, devotions, conversations, I can find a way to rush anything. Most of those things are too good to hurry. I can miss out on a great many rich experiences and opportunities by rushing through them. I really should be the Too Good to Hurry Kelsey. :) All that from a slogan...what's yours?

Busy weekend!

I'm stiff today! :) We climbed Mt. Baldy yesterday. "The tallest mountain in LA County." Haha. They don't know what real mountains are around here. Anyhow, here is a smattering of snapshots from our day...what a good climb and we had perfect weather. There were some really funny shots, I'll just share these...and I slept really good last night.

more weekend activities...

Beach bonfire Friday night with some church friends...

I'll take the economy pack

It was a brutal week...I used up 5 bandaids per run. I think we're improving now, blisters are going away, new socks, new running shoes...whew.

Want to attend my marriage seminar?

Time again to revisit my impending trip to the Philippines, rescheduled for sometime in January (we are getting closer to having actual dates – very exciting!)…

My initial hesitations about doing a seminar for pastor’s wives have been quelled to some extent. We had an “informational meeting” a couple weeks ago (so I’m a little behind on my blogging) and since then I’ve been able to talk with a couple of the missionaries and other people with experience on the field. Teaching pastors’ wives how to “feed themselves” is not quite the intimidating task it would be here in my Talbot/Whittier Hills circles! Most of the pastors’ wives there have not even read their Bibles. They don’t even know where to start as far as what to read, how to read, and how to apply what they’re reading. Even a basic lesson on hermeneutics may be out of place here. We’re talking a very basic talk on personal disciplines and Bible interpretation. I can do that! :)

It seems like most people went into this meeting thinking “What is my role for this trip?” While we are looking for defined roles, the missionaries in the Philippines are asking what we want to do, and they will arrange it. Not easy for Western short term mission trippers! :) Each person asked to go has been asked for a specific purpose as far as what they can bring to this trip. We have a doctor, nurse, nutritionist, early childhood director, evangelists, teachers, and some who are being covertly recruited for long term ministry at the LRF over there (I’m not sure if I am supposed to be included in that group???). It’s quite exciting what is happening over there already, as far as training people in villages in different skills and ways to support themselves (making bread, digging wells, fishing, making bricks, grinding corn, etc.), and it seems like whatever skills we bring would be welcome, whether they be ministry- or life-skills.

So I told the leader I’m 80% sure I’m going, but who am I kidding, of course I’ll go. :)

Do you REALLY prefer organic??

Noah and I went up to Oak Glen to pick apples today...or at least, look at them. Fun playing in the shops, drinking cider (it was a good drizzley day for hot cider), chowing on smoked cheese and "apple burritos," and then stuffing ourselves with Mexican food...perfect. :)






Mad Hatters!

















This is how it's done.












This is not how it's done.













Mmm...apple anyone??
"If you don't like your apples with blemishes, don't pick at this orchard. These are organic. We don't use pesticides. That means they got BUGS growin' in 'em."

Breakfast of Champions

One 2-egg, refried bean and salsa breakfast burrito later (of about 650 calories and 35g of protein)...I did it! I finished my 8.5 mile trail run yesterday. I felt 100% better than last week, and finished well. I think the breakfast made significant difference. Achieved goals feel good...especially challenging ones! :) This is a really great run if anyone wants to join me (I mean it! Come run!!). Special thanks to Mat Kearney, Jacob's Well, Sheryl Crow, and most of all Janell who rode my mountain bike on the trail and checked in periodically. :)












These are my white feet and brown legs - a nice faux tan after this dusty run that washes off in the shower! :)

Hindsight is 20/20

Do you ever wish you could go back to being that 18 year old college freshman selecting a degree path with your current passions, knowledge and desires in mind? What would you major in if you could do it again?

While I don't wish for a second to have to repeat college (it was great but I've been over that for 7 years thank you...or 6...5? I forget), I do wish that I had had a better idea of what I might want to do back then. I chose (after changing at least 4 times) a bachelor's in sociology and minors in spanish and cross-cultural ministries (they didn't offer a CCM major at that time). A BA feels pretty worthless at times. The ccm minor still fits, and sociology fits very broadly (in terms of working with people!) but there are just so many other things I want to do.

Counseling, physical therapy, christian education, nutrition, and the list goes on. All of those (minus CE) involve advanced degrees which I could still do, but who wants to be in school for the next ten years? I wouldn't trade my current MA (theology and biblical studies), though I would trade the BA, and I can't help but thinking how any of the above options would be useful overseas. Today I was perusing the American Dietetic Association's website to discover the fact that it would take about four years to become a registered dietician.

Oh well. I am where I am right now, for a reason... :)

My, is my life exciting

Some random guy on the Fullerton Loop :)


School, work, school, work, bible study, school, running, work. And that’s about it. :) I had a very insightful post this weekend and then I wasn’t in the mood to put it on here…I wrote while feeling very thoughtful and reflective, then got interrupted, and pretty much haven’t been back there since. :)

I am currently working on a new running goal, an 8.5 mile trail run near my house. I have run farther than that but never on trails, which includes steep hills and swirling dust and uneven ground and reckless mountain bikers whizzing past (one of which I am myself, frequently). I didn’t make it all the way…my English muffin and yogurt breakfast lasted me about 3 miles and I continued on empty until I would guess somewhere around 7.5 miles when I had to walk a bit. Boy was I mad…so close. When you’re done, you’re done, I guess…that was the first time I haven’t accomplished a fitness goal in awhile (possibly because I rarely set goals...but moving on). I will try again this Friday!

Except that once again I am injured! Argh… a blister gone bad has had me hobbling around for three days and on antibiotics, Epsom salt soaks and advil. :) I am SO FRUSTRATED when I can’t get out and do normal things. Every runner I’ve seen this week I have stared at longingly, envying their fully functioning toes. For the second time in a few weeks I am relegated to the stationary bike in the gym, which just about drives me crazy. I’m trying to be patient…and I hate it. (And I'm done whining now.)

I also wanted to mention my Philippines trip that is approaching in January. I will write more details later, but this trip that never materialized this past August is now officially on the calendar, with a large team and multiple agendas. I’m struggling to be excited about it this time. A lot of it is the unknown of what exactly is going on and what is expected of me. Supposedly they want me to teach a seminar to pastors’ wives. One problem…my experience as a pastor’s wife, or even a wife, is severely lacking! Also, I am not I feel adequately prepared to do a whole seminar on my own. I could be a part, but at this point my teaching experience has been half hour bible study lessons. I am up for being challenged and stretched…but not for being in completely over my head. We have a meeting this Sunday; hopefully I can get some questions answered.

That pretty much sums up…well, everything…right now. I am enjoying reading other people’s exciting blogs these days about being overseas, going through important life issues, etc. rather than writing about my own life full of desk work and reading dead theologians. :)

sunday night...

Natasha Mulenga Kalombo, born Wednesday, September 27, 2006














Beth and Gil had their baby! These are my old roommates and their new 3-day-old baby girl. Got to spend some time with them on Friday.

I am working on another Daniel project, chapter 7 this time.... aaaaaauuuggh!!! Having trouble thinking of pastoral/theological application for beasts with 4 heads and talking horns. !? Anyone?

My ADD is kicking in…it’s actually SIADD, a "medical condition" known as Self-Inflicted Attention Deficit Disorder. I distract myself, basically, with my computer, baking, cleaning, television, anything but my homework! I have been sitting here since 2:00, whittling the daylight away, and suddenly cannot seem to focus any longer. So I cooked some fish, cleaned my bathroom, checked NFL scores for my pigskin pick ‘em pool (very important) and went online for awhile (hey here I am now). I am very productive when I am supposed to be studying.

Do you ever have SIADD?? :)

Tip for the day: it really is important to not leave full glasses of water next to your computer, digital camera, and cell phone. (I decided to post this as a "tip" rather than admitting that I had any sort of mishap relating to such a careless move.)