mind over matter...

So since I want to be a faithful blogger, I figured it was about time for me to focus long enough to put a few sentences together. Let me start off with some highlights from the past week or so...

We kicked off the year with the annual A.C. (accountability cell) Family COSTUME PARTY this past Tuesday evening! It was pretty phenomenal. There were super heroes and zombies. We even had a guest appearance from the cast of Sesame Street, complete with song and dance! The interns hysterical! The manterns dressed as Jeanne (I happily supplied half of them with dresses), while the femterns dresses as Pastor Sam. I have a few pictures from the night on Facebook if you want to get a feel for the night. To give you an idea, here is our staff picture - REVENGE OF THE NERD!

As you can tell, it was a pretty fantastic night!

This year's first years have officially experienced their first split off, and this Sunday they jump into their small groups! Lot's of firsts still happening...it's so exciting.

As for me, things are going pretty well. I'm not going to lie, the 2nd year in my job is WAY easier than the first. It is pretty nice not feeling like I am completely clueless all of the time. The best part is I feel like God is really re-teaching me lessons through the students, especially through my 2nd years.

This has been a pretty big week for them...actually, it's been a pretty big month for them. Many of them made HUGE sacrifices to be here this year. They are learning how to be friends with opposite sex without crossing emotional boundaries. They are now forced to be leaders 24-7. Between their apartments, AC Families, small groups and projects they have no choice but be with it from the time they wake up to the time they hit the bed again. They are having to find the balance between being a coach and companion...whether they value being like over being respected. It's a crazy season.

Through the heart to heart conversations, prayers and accountability sheets, I'm reminded of a very valuable lesson...

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition
from mediocre minds.” -Albert Einstein

The funny thing is, I don't think Albert was referring to other people, as much as his own mind - his own insanely brilliant mind! I think that's why the Bible tells us to "...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)." I'm pretty sure the God who created us knows how over-critical and conscientious we can be...in fact, I think Paul was writing this to me (not the church of Corinth).

I had a student in my office today who is practically paralyzed by his/her mind. This person literally defeats them self before they even begin. How often does the enemy defeat us in our mind so he doesn't have to fight us in reality?

I am choosing one day at a time to know who I am in Christ. I am choosing to see myself in His eyes...join me?

Starting...Again...

I feel like there are a lot of things "STARTING" in my life right now.

1. I'm helping launch our church's (The Tabernacle) guest assimilation program. [SIDE NOTE: I know the word "assimilation" is lame; however, the name is never publicized to people. And unfortunately assimilation happens to be the easiest word to describe what we are doing - assimilating guests into our church family]. We are launching welcome callers and a welcome lunch. Bumping up our greeting and cleaning up are parking lot. We are evening going to give our lovely church signs a good scrubbing.

2. The obvious, I am starting to blog again. I never was really consistent with blogging before so "starting again" doesn't really feel like an accurate description of what's happening. Either way, I am typing this blog right now. I'm not sure who I am expecting to read this or why I feel the need to write it; yet, here I am...blogging.

3. I have also started a new Bible reading plan. I am reading though the Gospels. It was supposed to be in 30 days...but I'm a little behind. I really am enjoying reading the apostle's account of Christ and His ministry with a bilateral perspective. The bigger thing that I am continuing/restarting is to read the Bible everyday until God teaches me something new. I am tired of just reading the His Word so I can check it off my TO DO LIST. I want to read THE WORD with purpose...so if that takes 3 verses or 25 chapters, I don't want to stop reading until I learn something new.

4. Yesterday we officially welcomed the seventh first year class of Master's Commission Atlanta. Summer seemed to fly by. Here we are again, jumping into Orientation Week. So many fun things planned for this week...and this year. I sat back yesterday in awe of God and the amazing privilege He has given me. I GET TO PARTNER WITH HIM TO HELP MAKE PEOPLE MORE LIKE CHRIST. It's amazing gift yet sobering responsibility.

If I really sat and thought about it, I am sure I could come up with a few more things I am involved in starting, but I think we all get the idea. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a little anxious reading over this list. You may be reading this thinking this is all a piece of cake, but I know it's going to more than my strength and talents to pull these things off.

Here is the bottom line: I never want to stop starting - because if I stop starting, all that's left is ending.

So I am writing my first blog as a celebration. I am celebrating that fact that once again without relying on God and working in His strength, I WILL FAIL. In other words, I am being stretched beyond what I am capable of doing...and I am happy.

When I was a first year in Master's, I couldn't wait for the day to come where I didn't have to be stretch beyond my comfort zone. I didn't realize back then what my COMFORT ZONE really was...After spending some significant quality time in my comfort zone a few years again, I realized my comfort zone is really just a sand trap of insatiable laziness. Have you ever realized that you can never "do nothing" enough. It's like a vacuum of couch dwelling and re-runs of Bonanza...yikes.

I think that's why Paul was okay with being poured out like a "drink offering" of the church of Philippi (Philippians 2). I think Paul realized, that a life in the COMFORT ZONE wasn't a life at all. Don't get me wrong, I not saying we should all devote every waking minute to ministry, stress ourselves out and run ourselves ragged. All I am try saying is that I want to be uncomfortable.

I want to love Jay beyond my comforts...to love him inconveniently and unselfishly. I want to serve and coach my second year girls when it hurts me the most...when I am literally fitting to say what I know they need to hear. I want to feel awkward and insecure, in order to go out of my way to make guest feel welcome at our church...

So here's to a year of starting uncomfortable...