Church: Building? Body? Both?

I'm taking a seminary class entitled "The Worshipping Church" about intentional worship planning, thoughtful worship theology, and worship that is about giving God glory. My professor likened the goal of worship to his experience of seeing Slumdog Millionaire (which I saw today- powerful). Dr. Olson said he left Slumdog still wrestling with the images and ideas...he was uncomfortable but changed. It has made me think of the times I leave church thinking of what I got out of it, what I "liked". Instead, the goal of worship is to GIVE glory to God and then to leave challenged, changed, but not necessarily comfortable. The worship experience should stay with us outside the church building.

Which is another thought provoking thing going on in my head. (I have these thoughts often in the still-er moments of my day...usually while driving or feeding Andi- see why they never get to the computer...there aren't computers in those locales!)

The thought is church: is it a building or a body of people who believe?
My answer: both.

Followers of God have almost always had some sort of physical space for gathering and encountering the Divine: the tabernacle, temple, synagogue, and home church are Biblical examples. The current culture of church buildings is much different from the originals but I think maintains some necessary and powerful purposes. The church building in no way contains God. However, it is a representative space of what worship calls us to: holy ground (See Moses' encounter with the burning bush). A sacred, special, and separate place where we come to meet with God. The building is a place to discipline our bodies and minds, a place to house objects that help us engage the story (the altar, communion elements, chapels for prayer etc..). There is something about going to a place that establishes a rhythm by which we are shaped over a "life-time of Sundays"-(Mike Graves).

However, the church exists outside the building. The church is the people of God gathered in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The church the body fulfills the work of the Kingdom every day in every space (ideally? hopefully?). As a body, the church is diverse and unified, gifted, called, and commissioned.

My sister is getting married in April- they are going to be married in a church,and with their church. They are getting married in Colorado, in a church building they found that fit their size and geographic desires, but with which they have no connection. They want to get married in a church building because they want to covenant with God in a symbolic, sacred space. A space that generates an experience of God's presence and calls forth human respect and awe of the God who comes to join them together.

They are also getting married with their church. Their community of fellow Jesus followers is coming to Colorado. Their church, the body of believers, will be invited to journey to gather with them, to witness, pledge support, and celebrate their union. This body church will gather with God, in God, and because of God so that the wedding will give glory to God.

I'm excited to learn more about worship (one interesting thing I want to explore is how to involve and invite children into worship at a young age)
and I'm excited for Laura and James to get married!

And here are some photos of the fam.

Christmas Club Talk

I shared this with our Park Hill Young Life club kids on Wednesday night. Merry Christmas to you.

"I'd love to share with you three real life stories. I was eating at Cracker Barrel with a friend years ago when I looked over and saw a 3 year old boy putting his hand in syrup, then putting his hand on his mom's sleeve. Syrup. Sleeve. Goo.

Just recently, we traveled to Table Rock lake with our friends. We played down by the lake and our friend's two year old Andrew took two steps and sunk in deep, gooey mud. He was covered! From shoes to shirt, he was muddy. His mom, Amanda, stepped right in and scooped him up. She carried him to the house, muddy and all.

In my own life, when Andi was 8 days old she started throwing up after every feeding. She would cover herself and me with baby throw-up mulitple times a day. Smelling like baby puke was the last thing on my mind however because I was so concerned about Andi.

See there's a thing about moms, they are not afraid to get messy. In fact, when you love someone, you are not afraid to enter their mess. More than mom's however, I believe God practices this the best.

Christmas, as I've been thinking about it, is a messy celebration. Christmas is a celebration of God's heart for all of us on earth. Christmas says God does not want to be distant, God does not want to leave us to go it alone. God wants to enter our lives, no matter how messy. Christmas is a celebration of God's presence, entering into the world in the most real ways. On Christmas, we celebrate Jesus- a visible presence of the invisible God, coming to earth.

If you look at the details of Jesus' birth, the characteristics of Christmas, it was all a bit messy. Jesus' birth was messy because:
1. His mom was not married to his dad. In that day, this was severely disgraceful. You could be kicked out of your family or village, lose your friends.
2. It was messy because Jesus' mom and dad were in the middle of traveling when it came time for him to be born and he was born in a smelly, messy, stable.
3. Jesus' visitors were mangey (sp?) old shepherds. Unpopular men who lived on mountain sides with sheep as friends. Not exactly high status visitors.
4. Finally, things were a little politically messy in that day. The reigning king had heard rumors of Jesus and wanted him killed; his life was threatened, even as a tiny baby.

At the very beginning of his life, Jesus made sure everyone knew he was unafraid to enter into any kinds of human messes.
It's an idea to celebrate. We celebrate Christmas in part by singing songs. The same was true at the very beginning. There were three men who sang songs about Jesus' birth that are recorded in the Bible. The words from their songs, while not as catchy as Rudolph, give us a good idea about why we celebrate Jesus' birth.

1st, there was an old priest named Zecheriah. His song is found in Luke 1:78-79. ("Because of God's tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light...and to guide us in the path of peace".)Secondly, there was a host of angels who appeared to the shepherds and their song is in Luke 2:14.("Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors"). Finally, there was an old man in a church who rejoiced when he heard of Jesus being born and said, in Luke 2:29-32, ("Lord, now I can die in peace...I have seen the Savior...He is a light to reveal God to the nations...").

You see, all of these men were waiting for someone worthy of their hope. Someone who could promise to be present with them in their lives, in good times and bad. They knew, they celebrated, that that person was Jesus.

All three songs talk about light and peace. And what more do we need in the middle of a mess but light and peace?!

I know for my family, every year, Christmas was a great celebration. The lights on our house, our tree, and from candles on the piano were symbols of the joy and peace we felt. This year however, Christmas in my family is a mess. And yet, I can celebrate. I know God will be present. I know God's love is so great that it brings light and peace even into the middle of messy situations. Jesus is still unafraid to enter into messy situations. By Jesus' promise to enter in, I have hope.

So I don't know what Christmas will look like for you this year, whether it will be centered on joy or cornered by a mess- but I hope this year when you see the lights on houses and trees, it reminds you of the light of Jesus, that entered this world with the power and the desire to love and bring peace.

Now I'm going to pray and then we'll go to Taco Bell"

End of club talk. May the God of light and peace bless your celebration.

Andi Gayle Grace

Today is Andi's 6 month birthday. (And marks the end of a 2 month period of me not blogging- busy times!)

Andi is an engaging, sitting up, smiling, excitable, grunting and growling girl with two teeth. These are 6 things I've learned with and from her in each of the last 6 months.

1- Having two kids excites me. Andi enlarged my enjoyment of being a parent. Sibling relationships are a passion of mine.

2- Sleep is overrated. I can survive and even thrive most days on an interuppted night's sleep.

3- Smiling directly at a stranger of any age can brighten their day.

4- People are the most fun things to play with. Andi loves to engage others- I am learning to take time to indulge her by offering her my undivided attention. However- I think Elijah is her favorite.

5- It is never worth sacrificing the safety of my children to get something done quickly or done at all.

6- Hugging, holding, singing, smiling, talking, and reading are great activities not only for Andi but for her mommy as well.

Thank you for teaching me Andi. I want to be an ever deliberate student of you, a steward of your spirit, and a knower of your heart.

Over

I have a disease- it is called "I am so super sad when things that I've looked forward to are over"- itus.

My current prognosis includes these now-over events:
-2 weeks in Colorado
-Summer
-Swimming
-My first triathlon
-The Olympics
-Turning 28
-Lazy, hazy days of no school and limited work
-The Olympics
-Vacations
-My potted flowers

It was a great summer. I was so excited to have the summer months to adjust to having two children, to connect with family, to relax from the stress of the spring school and work semester, to read (I did indeed read 5 Jodi Picoult novels this summer- thank you Natalie andthe Mid-Continent Public library), to stay up late with Drew and take some naps in the miracle moments of both children sleeping at the same time, and much more.

Perhaps my perscription for healing and moving forward should include:
-Reflection and journaling on the greatness of what has passed in the summer of 08
-Buying the Michael Phelps DVD to extend the Olympic obsession
-Being confident that we as a family are prepared for the fall because of the great summer moments
-Being thankful- for my family, for a job that engages my passions and my gifts, a seminary that challenges and blesses me, and that there are new adventures and vacations ahead.

Anyone want to join me in the KC 1/2 Marathon on Oct 18th? :)

Hopefully these pics will illustrate a piece of the greatness of our summer and help you understand my disease :)- shoot- can't get them to upload today. I'll try again!

Saltimbanco

I was fortunate enough to receive a generous invite to see the Cirque du Soleil show at the Sprint Center on Sunday. Thank you, Jennifer for the ticket and Drew for the child caretaking, for the chance to enjoy an afternoon among adults, doing "culture" and lunch without high chairs!

The show was amazing. I was expecting and had heard of the excellence and wow factors but didn't expect the awakening of my senses, the pricking of my brain, and the stirrings of Spirit that occurred throughout the fascinating 2 hours.

I saw the functioning of community as I believe God intends for it to be. There would be over thirty individuals with their own actions creating a singular fluid movement. A person, pair, or group would take center stage to perform/contribute their special talent or gift while the rest of the group used their selves to enhance the center act, to work in conjuction and support of the performing few. However, the song (played by the live costumed band or sung beautifully by the Ice-queen-type-woman with the spikey pink hair and flowing white gown) would change and those who were in the spotlight would fade back into the crowd and become an illuminator for the next individual who was ready to contibute their skill to the stage.

Kingdom community should be similiar I think. Each person is uniquely gifted with skills and gifts, and each deserves an arena for exercising them. However, the individual gift is highlighted and enhanced in the context of community. Differences of gender, age, and race blurred beneath costumes, reinforcing the principal of a WHOLE, great because of its PARTS all working togther.

The Spirit ruminated inside me when the final act included four white artists in a bungee flying act, punctuated by beautiful music and singing that made me think of the angels and all creation and cosmos surrounding the Throne. Probably NOTHING close to the intended meaning but I was happy to go there with the Holy Spirit.

One final thought came during the amazing long-haired man juggling up to 8 or 9 bouncing balls. I saw a picture of parenting or family. He couldn't touch or hold all the balls at once but was still taking care of the whole group. I am limited in my physical ability to hold Drew, Elijah and Andi all at the same time but in giving them "touches" of careful attention in a rotating fashion, the whole of our family holds together.

It was an awesome afternoon and a great show. And I'm not all that into artsy stuff usually, nor do I feel like I've used this part of my brain all summer!

An Attitude of Latitude...and other lessons learned at altitude

My dad was the one to bring it up as we walked together towards the outhouse. We were camping in Poudre Canyon, Colorado alongside a rushing and powerful river in the beauty of the early Colorado summer. “I notice you and Drew are choosing to parent your children with latitude”, my dad said. Latitude, we discussed, means loving our kids enough to give them exciting life experiences, presenting them with challenges that grow them as they conquer or fail them, and setting strict and safe boundaries in which they can exercise great amounts of freedom.

The whole topic was immediately applicable as we were camping, with a 5 week old baby and an almost 2 year old, 50 yards from the aforementioned rushing river, in early June- a not so toasty time to live outdoors in Colorado. The adventurous life experiences we were excited to give our children that trip included: *A road trip across Kansas *Living in a tent *Running, climbing, stumbling, building, and digging in rocks and dirt. *Elijah building and loving to be around the campfire *Elijah throwing rocks in the river *Hiking 5 miles up to 7,500 feet in intense mountain sun (Andi, who rarely poops, pooped twice on the hike- I had one diaper and no wipes, and yes, pinecones are too rough for a 5 week old baby bum- I feared she was dehydrating and I started to lose it for a bit here- thinking this was too much latitude and was instead on the verge of parenting ineptness!!).

We hadn’t even really ever talked formally about our parenting style, but Drew and I agree we want to let our kids experience and tackle adventures. To explore new things on their own, to give them boundaries for their safety and well-being, to allow them to try and struggle, fail and overcome, to allow them to exercise their own decision making skills and live into their own personality and freedoms within those loving boundaries. We want to be ready to love them unconditionally, respect their uniqueness, and help them grow their sense of self!

We are amazed at how well are kids respond to adventure and have insurmountable amounts of joy watching them. Other adventures of late include a trip to the Shatto Milk Dairy farm and a Royals Game for Andi’s 8 week birthday! 

That's What They Said

There has been one quote that got me through having a baby when I felt like I already had a baby. While pregnant, I had questions about whether or not there would be enough love in me to share between two children. Then I read this and returned to it over and over:
"Only love can be divided endlessly and still not diminish"- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

And now I know its absolutely true. My love for Elijah remains and my love for Andi is now present. They are equal but unique loves.
When Drew and I married, we understood we didn't have enough love then to sustain a lifelong marriage. We knew God would sustain and grow us up in love. I'm assuming the same sort of thing happens with the gifts of children...that our love for them will grow, be molded, and intensify. I know all of this love depends on the One who is Love. And that Love is so great we'll never fully understand it.

There is so much about parenthood and mommy-ness that I don't yet know or understand. These quotes help me too!

"When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments: tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become" -Louis Pasteur

"Pregnancy defined is: Getting company inside one's skin" -Maggie Scarf
(Here I totally agree...in a sense I miss my babies once they are born...in my tummy they were always with me and we shared many great chats and adventures without the stress of carseats!)

"Children seldom misquote you. They more often repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said"- Mae Maloo
(This is our present reality with "Elijah the Mimick". There was a recent incident involving Drew and backing up our minivan and an unfortunate scooter of the neighbor girls...a bad word was spoken, and repeated!)

"Once you bring life into this world, you must protect it. We must protect it by changing the world" -Elie Weisel

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in"- Rachel Carson
(I don't completely resonate with the fairies part but like the idea of going with kids into discovery)

"List of parental requirements: Affection without sentiment, authority without cruelty, discipline without obligation, companionship without possessiveness."- William E. Blatz

"Parents are often so busy with the physical rearing of children that they miss the glory of parenthood, just as the grandeur of the trees is lost when raking leaves." -Marcelene Cox
(This is a tension I face with all of the pooping, crying, holding, washing, feeding that is required with two under the age of two. I hope I pause to take in the grandeur, even amidst the poop.)