I was asked a question...how would you answer it...?

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4

Is abiding active or passive? What activities are inherent in the life of a person who is abiding in an excellent way?

For years now Andrew Murray has been one of my mentors on this topic of abiding. In one of the many things he says about abiding he says, "It is when the soul becomes utterly passive, looking and resting on what Christ is to do, that it's energies are stirred to their highest activitity, and that the we work more effectually because we know that He works in us."

Just as Christ drew us to him..."Come to me"...He keeps us with "Abide in me". Living and dwelling are active, in that they bring life and growth, depth .... Abiding is passive in that we can do nothing strategically to "make it happen". It is not our work to do. I believe it is for us to position ourselves, to create space, for Christ to speak and for us to hear. It is my ambition to know His voice, to stay, watch, listen and obey. Life itself will show me His glory if I am paying attention. The acts of obedience - to love, to study, to pray, to fellowship, to serve seem then to be natural responses to Jesus, not strivings of my own. These activities follow Jesus' activitiy rather than precede them. So, am I saying first passive then active? Or both passive and active? Actively passive.

Now, while I have meditated on this, studied it, prayed through it, wrestled with it for years now - I still have difficulty grasping the reality. (The "what it looks like" in our present reality.) The moments that I do get are fleeting. Where I get hung up is in the power of His presence is evidenced. It seems that there should be more evidence. There should be some obvious diffence between one who abides in Christ and one who does not.

While these are things we cannot see...dependency on Christ, reliance on the Scripture, prayer, and desire to always grow seem to be areas that are places we can begin examining our lives.

I do know that the true work in me, happens outside of my own strivings. This causes me to wonder if I am not so actively pursuing "abiding", I would gain some comprehension of these matters. Or - it will always be a matter of hindsight and I will never know what fruit is growing until it's time for the next crop.

My aim these days, "to allow Christ's Word to impact my life at it's deepest level". - whatever that looks like...

Thinking Theologically About Church: When Little is Big

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (John 1:14,18)

According to John 1:14 it is in Jesus Christ that we see the epitome of God’s way of dwelling with us. His clearest way of dwelling with us is through his Son, who exegetes the Father. If we want to find God, to see God, to know God, we need look no further than Jesus himself.

...surprisingly, perhaps astoundingly, the apostle who penned John 1:18 also wrote 1 John 4:12. In 1 John 4:12 John tells us that God is revealed in another place as well. In this verse he is answering the question, “Where can God be seen?” We would expect John’s answer to go something like this: “God the Father reveals himself and his love by means of his Son, Jesus Christ. So if you want to see God, look toward Jesus.” But instead, John states, “No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” John teaches here that God the Father reveals himself in the loving community of those who follow Jesus. The churches to which he was writing were scattered and fledgling. Yet that is where God chooses to dwell.

Yes, we believe and know that God revealed himself through our Lord Jesus. But the second aspect of that parallel, that God reveals himself within the local church, would be difficult for us to affirm if we did not have 1 John 4:12, wouldn’t it?

Nevertheless if we do not learn to affirm this parallel truth we miss an opportunity to be encouraged. Our church (work) is vitally important to God and his mission because he has chosen to dwell in our churches. And this is true regardless of their size. So be encouraged that little is big, that even small churches can be significant because God dwells within them and wants to reveal himself there. Continue to dream and work toward the day when the Church will be larger than it is. But in the meantime, remember that small can be significant.

To read the full article and many others like it go to Church Planting and Theology (Dale W. Little Ph.D

Taking Time for Personal Growth

One of the paradoxes of motherhood is that what we need as mothers is often the first thing we give up in order to be mothers. This is certainly true of making time for our own spiritual and personal growth. We often forego it in order to focus more fully on our children. It’s a dilemma: see to your own needs, or see to theirs.

When my youngest child was in preschool, I decided to take tap dancing lessons. Doing so was the first time since the birth of my children that I acknowledged I didn’t cease to exist the moment they were born—and admitted I could continue to have a life outside my role as “mom.” It’s a lesson my mom modeled for me, but until I was a mother myself, I didn’t understand it.

A theater major in college, my mom continued to be active in community theater, doing one play a year, so as not to lose touch with her roots. (I have fond memories of seeing her as the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio!)Recently, she shared with me why she did it. Here’s what she said:

"I did it to prove that there was still a 'me' inside of 'mother.' I always made sure the homework was in process, that everyone's needs were met, then I set out to fill my own need, that of expressing myself as a person. It released the artistic angst within me, and since I felt fulfilled and alive and vibrant, I am sure I was a much better mother. I felt like I was a person in my own right."

A search for the “me” in mother. It’s a lesson we can learn from. If we’re not looking for the “me” in mother, we end up simply seeing the “other” in mother.

We don’t have to give ourselves over completely to our children. It is possible to continue to exist separately from them, even as we are existing for them.

You still have things to learn. Things to experience. Things to do. And it’s important that your children know this. Self-growth is the way we show our children that life doesn’t stop just because we are adults--that the process of becoming who God intends us to be is lifelong.

The lesson is best shared by modeling. It may be as simple as letting your children see you reading a book. Or studying your Bible. Or looking up something in the dictionary. Or digging in your garden. Or knitting your first scarf. Or beading a bracelet. Or identifying a bird in your backyard. Or decorating a cake. Or making a soufflé. Or organizing a school party. What they see is not important. That they see it is.

Though modeling growth for your children is important for them, it’s also important for you. Your own growth is like a well of cool, refreshing water. When you are filled with energy, enthusiasm, and excitement, you can let your kids and spouse drink from your well without worrying if there will be enough water for everyone. You know there will be. And though you might have to fight for the time to see to your own growth, knowing your well is full makes the fight worth it, because when we see to our own spiritual and personal growth, we can, by extension, see to the growth of our children.

Article written by Mary Byers. Mary is a professional speaker and author of the newest Hearts at Home book, The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family, which will be released soon. She will be speaking at the 2005 Hearts at Home conferences, where she will encourage moms to take care of themselves so that they are more able to care for their families. She lives with her husband and two youngest children in central Illinois.


"Copyright Hearts at Home 2006, used with permission. For more information about Hearts at Home: 1-309-888-MOMS or www.hearts-at-home.org."

just a taste of the Pastor's/Wives retreat in Door County...

When last have you taken time to dream? When last have you consciously allowed your thoughts to go places you won't normally venture? What if, today, you allowed yourself to go into every nook and cranny of your ideal self, your ideal life, your ideal world? What would that even look like? What would it feel like?

Today, let's move into those dreams that come into your consciousness and stir up your desire for a better self and a better world. Click here and... DREAM BIG!

It might be fun to take time to comment once working through some of this.


May your Dreams take you to the places of your truest self. May your Dreams give you insight into who you really are and what you can accomplish. May your Dreams remind you that you are powerful, necessary and unique. Remember, only you can bring the Beauty of your Authentic Life to this world. May you know Courage, Focus and Determination as you follow your Dreams.

cartoon of the week...

Pastors and their spouses face as much stress as any of the highest executives in America. Now, more than ever, those in ministry must find times of refreshment and renewal. Many may just need a short rest, while others may only need a time of encouragement and fellowship. Wherever you stand, we feel that everyone can benefit from this specially designed three-day two-night retreat.
Since much of the cost is being underwritten by Focus on the Family, the total cost for early registration per couple for two nights lodging, four meals and all conference materials is only $200. (Cost increases to $300 per couple within eight weeks of the retreat.)

Rev. H.B. London Jr., from Focus on the Family, and other Christian speakers and entertainers will be there as well. Between words of encouragement and peace, laughter and quality time alone, this is sure to be the rest you've been looking for. For more info. go to www.parsonage.org..

Up in Smoke by Tillie Marchaman

"Most senseless of all is the incredibly fast pace of living that robs everybody of everything but their unwanted fatigue." When I first read this sad statement describing the American lifestyle, it caused me to stop and take a good look at my life and what I was doing with my time. As a result, I made the commitment to simplify my life in any way I could, take a good look at my priorities, and to determine what was really important to me and to God.

Consequently, the daily-grind type of stress that Chuck Swindoll calls "the tyranny of the urgent," the kind that comes with overcommitment and living the hurried lifestyle, has eased considerably.

But there are other kinds of stress that come from living in a world where Jesus promised us that we would have suffering. He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b).

Because we live in an imperfect world, this kind of stress can "hit us from the blind side". We may feel shocked, hurt, or sad. We may even find ourselves questioning God.

Oswald Chambers said, "The things we try to avoid and fight against – Tribulation...Suffering...Persecution...are the very things that produce abundant Joy!"

to read complete article by Tillie Marchaman..go to ...Just Between Us

The Gospel according to Jelly Beans...

by S.A. Cooke If the number of jelly beans produced each Easter were lined up end-to-end, they would circle the earth almost three times. According to the National Confectioners’ Association, Easter is the second most popular candy eating occasion. Fifteen billion jellybeans, 2 million marshmallow chicks, and 60 million chocolate Easter bunnies are produced for this holiday. What do Easter eggs and jelly beans have to do with the holiest celebration of the year? To people who don't know Jesus, they are goodies left by the Easter Bunny for children to find. For Christians, they can be not only a sweet treat, but also an effective tool for celebrating and presenting the message of salvation. to read more, go to Christian Women Today.

What went wrong?

Have you followed the news story ... minister's wife shooting her husband? I first heard about it at work - lunch room commentary. I fortunately was not asked for my thoughts on this story, just took some interesting glances. Gene read this piece on Yahoo News and asked me if he was next. I finally sat down this afternoon to read the story and view the pics of the family. I still don't know which direction to head with thoughts, emotions. I have run through being judgemental, speculative, defensive, sad, mad, curious... the only thing that I know isn't right would be to make fun of this tragedy.

I read this article, Depression Hits Some Preachers' Wives and thought about how sad the truth is at times. I glanced at some of the commentary from readers and saw headings like "Where was Jesus"... "Why didn't Jesus help her?" ...and became even more conflicted.

It seems that the people in the church respected this family, they are planting flowers in memory of their pastor so he must have been a good guy. -Why did she rent a condo on the beach? -This is a church that is facing trouble. How will they represent Jesus to their small community. How will God show His glory? Will she find peace in jail? What of the kids?

One thing I know to do is pray. It also causes me to think that us being committed to one another, bearing burdens, celebrating victories, dreaming, working, praying...together, is a very good thing. MaryAnn commented to me today that somewhere in our name it should also be said that "we live dangerous lives" - how true that is - in many ways.

Any thoughts?

Excellence in Ministry...

...is the theme for this year's retreat for Pastors and Wives. All GLBC ministry staff and other lay ministry leaders and spouses are invited. This should be a great time of fellowship, interaction, teaching, worship and celebration at the Wagon Trail Resort in Door County, WI. (For more information access the brochure on the GLBC web site.)

We can hang out and be dangerous together! April 17-19, it's not too late to plan to go.

Experiencing God at the movies...

Have you seen any good movies lately?

Recently, Gene and I rented The movie has rocked my world. This week I have been using the CRASH web site as a devotional guide. It's been fun and like I said, it's rocked my world a bit.

Our next gathering...

... we will be exploring at Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo. We are looking at the May 11-12. Overnight housing is still needed to make that happen. If we are not able to find overnight accomodations that are feasible, we are checking our calendars for Saturday May 12.

Comment here once you have checked your calendar and know if this date is going to work...and we'll go from there...



This may be setting our hopes high... Sue, out of her expertise in geology, may be showing us the potholes found at Devil's Lake. (If you want to get really excited about this day, visit the Devil's Lake web site - many of you have been there, it looks like a fascinating place!)

Dangerous Women...

This weekend we gathered...to learn, to dream, the share our stories. We began the day by sharing a little of our spirtual journey. We saw bits of a bigger picture coming together as we listened. We acknowledged God as the Master Artist, who unveils a bigger picture piece by individual piece.

We discussed our adventure together as women who are choosing to be intentional about being connected for the good of the Kingdom. We did a bit of brainstorming about what it could look like. Our husbands follow somewhat of a format based on the acronym: LEAD: Learn-Encourage-Achieve-Dream. We agreed that was something we could commit to as well.

After a time of dreaming we moved to the dining table where we shared a wonderful meal - all "girl-food". (chicken salad, Panera bread, and salad with strawberries and mandarine oranges...mmmm) This was thanks to Diane Doty who also owns the lake house we met at. Thanks Diane! Thanks Linda for introducing us to Diane.

One way we are going to try to stay connected between gatherings is here- in BLOG WORLD. This is only for the truly dangerous! It may take a bit of time to get it working as well as it can but we're going to give it a try. If anyone has difficulty with it, email Juli. This will be fun! We can share prayer requests, answers to prayer, resources, news, lessons learned, funny stories...whatever. So, dangerous women - get blogging!

Around the table we read an excerpt from the book by Lynne Hybels, Nice Girls Don't Change the World. It was then we thought...that's what we want...to be dangerous women. Together. We prayed for one another and exchanged prayer requests for the time in between our gatherings.


"A dangerous woman delves deeply into the truth of who she is, grounds herself daily in the healing and empowering love of God, and radically engages with the needs of the world. ... Women mentoring one another aand sharpening skills. Women volunteering time. ... Thinking creatively. Taking risks. Following their God-given dreams. Dangerous women. World-changing women. All of us. Together."


May we be dangerous women.

May we be women who acknowledgy our power to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.

May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.

May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.

May we pray deeply and teach wisely.

May we be strong and gentle leaders.

May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.

May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.

May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.

May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.

May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.

May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus. And in that name, and by that power, may we change the world.

Dear God, Please make us dangerous women.

Amen.

"A dangerous woman delves deeply into the truth of who she is, grounds herself daily in the healing and empowering love of God, and radically engages with the needs of the world. ... Women mentoring one another aand sharpening skills. Women volunteering time. ... Thinking creatively. Taking risks. Following their God-given dreams.
Dangerous women. World-changing women. All of us. Together." (Lynne Hybels)

the sisterhood gathers...

Sat. March 18 :: 10a.m-3p.m.
laughing...eating...praying....sharing...encouraging...discussing...

just the beginning....

Dreaming big....anyone could post here - stories....pictures... We could all contribute - lessons learned, great books read, conferences, news...
Anyone interested will be made a member and could post. I've got it started, but it's only the beginning...just to give you an idea of the potential.