"No Need to Say Anything"

This fall, I've been participating in Beth Moore's latest Bible study entitled Children of the Day. The study encompasses First and Second Thessalonians. As per usual for a Beth Moore study, it has been insightful, informative, and has at times left me awed and amazed with wonder at the God who loves us in spite of ourselves.

As much as I've enjoyed the study, there as yet hadn't been anything profound for which I would have wanted to write a post. Moore has pretty much covered all of the important stuff and I prefer to only post about elements in scripture that the Holy Spirit has brought to my attention, outside of Moore's commentary. There has been much to learn, but nothing that had simply "Wowed!" me...

until this week.

Moore had once again (as in the study of James), asked the participants if they are so willing, to take a stab at memorizing both books of the Bible. You can see the huge impact the one small book of James has had on my life by the simple fact that on the right side of this blog, the topical index has 38 posts referenced to James. That's almost more than any other book I have listed. The lingering influence James has had upon me is in large part due to the prompting by Beth Moore to memorize it. I learned that memorizing scripture is not only a great mechanism for giving my brain a much needed workout...it truly makes God's Spirit-breathed Word come alive. I've heard Moore talk of her desire to have scripture be "bone deep". That is what the memorization of James did for me.

This is only the first month of my attempt at memorization, so chapter one of 1 Thessalonians is what I've been working on. Right away I found a few verses to claim for Abbey and her team in Houston. Daily believing and speaking these words on their behalf and inserting their names within this passage has helped alleviate the grief of missing her and inspired me to remember that I too am chosen by God (see verse 4).

But two days ago, as I prayed that these words would become "bone deep", there was another verse that leapt off the page and began stewing in my heart and mind. 

"For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything." (I Thessalonians 1:8)

Those five underlined words speak volumes...or should...about how I and my fellow Jesus followers are challenged to live. What if?

What if Paul, Silvanus (aka Silas), and Timothy were writing this letter today to the Hebronites, Burlingtonians, Florencians, and Unionites of Northern Kentuckionus? Could they sincerely write:  'For the word of the Lord has been lived out by you, not only in your hometowns, but also in your state, your nation and your world...every single place your beautiful feet have carried the Good News with you...so effectively that, you know what?...we don't need to say another word.'

Dream with me a minute and picture what that would be like:

• Care and involvement in the lives of the poor, the widow and the distressed
• Visiting the sick, the lonely and the imprisoned
• Anointing for healing of the sick and diseased
• Care and cultivation of God's beautiful creation and good stewardship of its limited resources
• Aiding the stranded traveller, the weary soul and the wounded heart

In other words, putting feet, hands, arms, faces and action onto the Gospel (aka Good News) that Jesus left behind for us to follow. 

My brothers and sisters who call yourselves by the Name that is above every other name...followers of the Son of the One true living God...this is precisely the challenge before us. We have the very Holy Spirit of God living in us begging us to put flesh and feet to His Good News. 

In the back of my mind I've always had this lingering thought, 'What if when I see Jesus, He shows me all of the opportunities I missed, the talents I squandered and the people with whom I didn't share His amazing Love? At the end of my days, I used to think I could hear nothing better than "Well done, good and faithful servant!" I'm not so sure now. 

I think the best response I could hope for is "Child...I have no need to say anything."

River Road Ramblings

I love living near the Ohio River. Honestly, I could easily while away the hours on a gorgeous day like today, simply listening to the gentle ripples as the warm breezes stir this majestic and beautiful river. We've been studying the Northern Kentucky region for school...its history, geography, ecology and even  the marine life contained within it.  Today, we wrapped up our study with an amazing drive along the river road that meanders across the tip of our state. We had no agenda...just clear blue skies, an unusually warm late October day, more happy fall color than Bob Ross could ever give a tree, a little bit of gas in the car and my always-ready-for-an-adventure attitude.

We often tread the path between our home and the Covington or Newport areas along this road. I enjoy driving the river route when we have the time, because the interstate just can't compare.

A little more than an hour into our trip today, we ended up in Augusta, Kentucky. This small river town hands down has to be one of the cutest little places I've ever seen. Just look at their Welcome Center...

As only I would, we saved this stop for last. (Welcome to my world!) Inside Dorothy greeted us with her space heaters cranked up to 90, smelling like my grandma, and a head full of history and trivia that only a tiny town like this could contain. I instantly loved her!

We only spoke to two people on our little excursion (Dorothy and a shopkeeper), but both conveniently name dropped George Clooney. It seems Mr. Clooney graduated from high school here and his parents still live in the town. Both ladies pointed out his mother's store, which would have been easy to identify if I had indeed known his mom's name is Nina.

There's also a ferry boat that crosses here and Dorothy told us pedestrians are free to cross. But if you have your own boat, you can pull right up to the riverside park. I'm not a boating person myself, but boat ties on the side of the river seem to indicate to me that it's deep enough for you to dock here.

Dorothy also informed us that the longest stretch of the Ohio River that is straight is about 9 miles long...and Augusta lies on that stretch. All of the homes along the riverfront were built in the 1700s or 1800s. I'll add to Dorothy's helpful information that these house are also absolutely adorable.

On our brief walking tour, my kids chastised me for taking a picture of this private yard. My response? "Anyone who spends this much time on their garden, wants it to be admired."

Leah mentioned several times that the town reminded her of Storybrook. That's the fictional town where her favorite TV program, Once Upon a Time, takes place. I had to admit, Augusta felt more "Southern" than I am accustomed to feeling in Northern Kentucky. I could almost picture myself standing next to the Mighty Mississippi somewhere in Louisiana, instead of standing across the river from the state of Ohio.

As we were looking around, I kept picturing this cute little place all dressed up for Christmas. Both ladies we spoke with concurred that Christmas would be a great time to return. I think we'll be back.

Last week, we also worked in a trip to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, when my parents were here. Yes, you read that correctly, Rabbit Hash. This is what I expect a Kentucky river town to look like. We love Rabbit Hash, but there's not much to do there on a weekday, other than visit the General Store. 

As we continue to explore Kentucky, little treasures like Bellevue and Augusta reinforce my love for this beautiful state. Next region...Bluegrass.

Fury- A Movie Review

I'll give you my rating first: B (on a typical school letter scale)

Now, I'll confess that I had high hopes for this film. That it did not meet those high expectations is only partly why I give this movie a B rating. Lest you think, "But a B is still above average"...whilst true, you should now that World War II is one of my two favorite time periods in modern history. You should also know that simply having WWII as its subject matter will almost always warrant an A rating from me. All that would remain to be seen is if the A is + or -.

So why would I give Fury what is equivalent to a subpar rating for me? I hope there are no spoilers in what I divulge, but the story takes place within the final two months of the European portion of the war. Some seasoned pros are showing the "newbie" the ropes. Okay, that's the premise.

You can easily denote from this premise that the four veterans would be battle-hardened (to say the least). Watching their behavior (that is not much better than the Germans they are killing) does nothing to endear them to me later when their lives are at risk.

Let me put it in terms of Saving Private Ryan so that I don't spoil anything for you in Fury. We care about the men who are on the special mission to save Pvt. Ryan because we've travelled with them. We see them laugh, fight, cry, and FUBAR their way across Normandy. The only depth we receive from the characters in Fury are some stories about what happened since North Africa as Shia LeBouf works up some well-timed tears.

To be fair, this is most likely a more accurate portrayal of soldiers in the trenches and tanks of war. As much as I want redemption, closure and beauty to be portrayed...some guys are quite simply colossal jerks and there are no excuses for their behavior, no matter how pretty you try to paint it. The depravity of war only enhances and exacerbates our inherent ugliness.

This is a Rated R movie, so do your homework if you're going to take your children. My 16 year old son went with me, but there are a plethora of F-bombs and violent special effects. I actually jumped twice in my seat. As we headed into the theatre, I joked with Noah that we were really there to see the new Nicholas Sparks chick-flick. "But I thought you were the cool mom that takes me to see action films?" he replied.

I do like action films. As I've processed why this movie didn't resonate with me, when most superhero and war films do, I could only point to two things:

1. The story was just too weak to help me engage with the characters, and 

2. As if seeing 4 and 6 year old-ish boys with their families in this film wasn't bad enough, the dad and his six year old son calling out "Ooh", "Aah", "Boom!", "Look at that!" accompanied by laughter and guffawing, had me nauseous within the first 30 minutes. It's the first time I've ever seriously contemplated approaching someone about keeping quiet during a movie. Given their attitude toward the violence being portrayed on the screen, I knew they could have no compunction at verbally berating me, so I remained silent. 

I don't think I've ever been so repulsed by the behavior of other human beings. It was like they were watching a video game instead of an accurate depiction of the horrendous nature of war. That being said, I will watch Fury again...on DVD. Who knows...maybe the absence of  a clueless parent and his violent-son-in-training, the film may prove to be worthy of a bump or two up the ratings scale.

Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott: A Book Review

Anne Lamott just has a way with words. This is my third or fourth time reading her work. I've lost track of exactly how many in the same way you lose count of number of times you've met a dear friend over a great cup of coffee.

If you've never read or even heard of Lamott, I'll caution any ultra-conservatives, she may be an affront to your perception of how a Christian should think, speak and behave. I believe her salvation is just as true as mine though. We may not agree on every theological point but the essentials are non-negotiable: Love the Lord your God with everything in you and Love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus said these were the two greatest commandments and that everything else could be summed up by them. Lamott's authentic, raw and candid disclosures of her path to live out grace and Love is nothing short of beautiful.

God is working this out in each of us at the pace only He knows best. Lamott makes absolutely no pretense of "having it all together". She doubts, she frets, she stews, she slips and falls, but between the pages of her honest and witty glimpses into her life, you will find grace...eventually.

Bringing the Garden Inside

The patio garden starts to look pretty bleak this time of year. As the weather dips cooler and the sun's rays are shorter, I begin to transition the garden inside for the winter.

I will continue to leave the herbs and greens outside until the frost is too heavy and the greenhouse can't protect them through the night, but some of the late tomatoes will survive up against our building at least until the days are cold too.

This year, I did bring one tomato plant inside and I've already moved our dining room around to accommodate the winter "jungle" that my kids just love (sarcasm intended!)

The citrus trees and a few greens have been placed under the grow light and I'm really praying that the trees make it through to next summer so they can go outside again in the warm weather.

This year, for the first time, I'm attempting to grow greens and kale hydroponically in a deep water culture tank. I've researched this for over a year now and was still highly intimidated. I don't know why it's so scary, but I think adding the right mix of chemicals is what seems overwhelming. The always friendly and helpful staff at Worm's Way make it sound relatively easy though and I know they're only a phone call away if I have any questions.

So while most gardeners, myself included, are cleaning up their plots or patios and gearing down for a season of rest, I've actually been spending quite a bit of time transitioning into my secondary growing season. I hope to keep you updated on the indoor garden process. My goal is to produce enough sprouts and greens that we need not purchase them at the store. It's an admirable goal and one that for the first time I think is actually attainable with the hydroponic system. 

Tent Day

What is Tent Day? Tent Day is what happens when churches take food, fun and fellowship outside of the church walls and to neighborhoods where people need to experience God's Love. We all need God's Love, but some communities are more receptive to people sharing life with them. Such is the case on Tuesday and Thursday nights in two Northern Kentucky neighborhoods.

CityMerge is a relatively new non-profit whose vision not only includes Tent Day, but meeting real needs for real people. The needs can't fully be known until the relationships are established through consistent involvement in the lives of neighborhood families though. Once the needs are identified (i.e. homework assistance, nutrition classes, or small home repairs for the elderly), the needs can be met by church members, Tent Day volunteers, or local agencies that are already active and funded in the community.

The biggest need that is met by Tent Day is relationship. In poor communities, you don't want to feel like a "project"...you want to know you are loved, valued and a needed part of your neighborhood. Through informal community dinners, games and conversation, neighbors step out of their homes and into each others lives. When you know your neighbors are working together, you know that your contribution can make a difference.

Just as this Gigi's cupcake brings BIG icing to Tent Day...CityMerge's BIG dream involves transformation of lives and neighborhoods on nothing less than a massive scale. But as I've learned over the last year, it all starts with the little things. Obedience, time, listening, discernment, personal study, dedication and love...above all else Love...is what will make lasting change in the lives of those who are marginalized in our society.

But the flip-side of this is that the Tent Day volunteers will most likely be the most transformed! When you invest your own obedience, time, listening, discernment, etc. into the lives of people in your local community who only have their lives and time to give in return, you quickly become the recipient of priceless gifts like honesty, authenticity, joy, fun, conversation, insight, perspective on what really matters, and love...above all else Love.

CityMerge hopes to one day have other Northern Kentucky churches capture the vision and adopt neighborhoods in their own communities. What would happen if every church in Northern Kentucky took one night each week to feed their neighbors and talk with them about what's going on in their homes, schools and neighborhoods? 

Can you see it?

It may turn out to be nothing more than a cut-throat game of Trouble...

or maybe...just maybe...it could become the beautiful Body of Christ that Jesus envisioned His Church could be: On Earth as it is in Heaven!

Ragamuffin- A Movie Review

Although it may not be Oscar-worthy, this movie is inspiring nonetheless. If you've ever had more than just surface conversation with me, you'll know what an impact Brennan Manning and his writings have had on my life. The Ragamuffin Gospel was truth, grace and Love that also spoke to the heart of Rich Mullins, one of contemporary Christian music's greatest gifts.

Mullins was talented, but so are a lot of other people. What set Rich apart was his abhorrence of fame, wealth and his passion to simply live like Jesus. At one point, Mullins specified to his accountant that he only wanted to be paid a salary equivalent to the average wage for an American worker...the rest was donated to churches and charities. The trappings of this world did not entice him. 

Instead, what he passionately sought after was the Love of his Savior. This movie chronicles a broken soul that only wanted to stand in the Presence of his Abba and know that he is loved. This is a message that is timeless, yet desperately needed in our culture today.

Mullins found that Love, he also discovered acceptance for whom he was and forgiveness for the failings of himself and others. I'm not promising miracles if you watch this movie. And although the actors are unknowns, their performances are pretty good for a "Christian" movie (always one of my biggest pet peeves!) But if Christians could continue to produce quality, honest, yet hope-filled movies like these...we just might see some barriers between "us" and "them" miraculously come tumbling down.




**Ragamuffin can currently be seen on Netflix or Amazon**

Books By the Banks- Cincinnati, Ohio

My friend Sarah shares an amazing calendar of events around our area that homeschoolers may find interesting. I am always thankful for her diligence and dedication to continually update the calendar...especially today.

Once the sky went from gray to blue this morning, I was determined to get out of the house during the pause between rainstorms. One glance at Sarah's calendar and the decision to check out the free "Books By the Banks" event was an easy one.

A large convention room full of authors, books and extra freebies available from libraries, arts organizations and more? Yeah...no question about going again in the future from me.

See this man? See the engagement in his face with the toddler you can't see because his mom with the red purse is blocking the camera's view? That man is Marc Brown, author of the Arthur series of books that spawned a PBS franchise that along with the books, provided my children (and myself!) hours of amusement and life lessons.

Speaking of kids...mine were a little too old for the Kids' Zone full of crafts, face painting, balloon animals, story time and games...but that did not stop us from having a photo shoot with The Snow Queen, courtesy of  Cincinnati Children's Theatre.

The only "bad" part about the festival? I absolutely spent too much money. Local authors are evidently my weak spot. This is not surprising if you know me. Evidently, I have my reading workload mapped out for the rest of the year.

But seriously though, you should keep Books By the Banks website "book"marked and reserve time on your calendar for next year's event. If you're book nerds like us, you'll be glad you did.

How To Let Go?

As a 40-something mother of four, I am thankful to a God who once planted into my soul that one of my greatest blessings would be to release our children into His service. I didn't know the how, the when, the where, or the why...I only knew from very nearly the start of the parenting journey that releasing them to His care and provision would always be one of my greatest acts of obedience.

When you're knee-deep in diapers, the throes of homeschooling woes, with the seasons flying by you in a blurry flurry of birthdays, holidays and milestones, sometimes it takes great effort to remember that these little gifts will one day have a mind of their own...and greater still...a path of their own. And then one day you wake up and it's time to start thinking about things like college vs. technical school vs. (dare we say it?) setting aside conventional thought and going straight into the plans God has for your child.

I'm not a parent that was blind-sided by my child's passion to serve Him and live out her giftedness. But if I had been, I guess I'd have to trust His leading and call upon her life. I'm not a parent that fears inner-city ministry. I'm thankful for documentaries, books and compassionate leaders that have opened my eyes to the gifts that people living in deep poverty have to offer to willing learners.

I'm by no means a perfect parent. Although I set aside my fear for her safety long ago, as the days quickly drew nearer for her to fly, the doubts assailed me. But I know I serve a God who laid down His greatest Gift for me, so how could I offer any less for those that need to know His Love and selfishly ask her to stay home?

From the first day that I saw Mission Year mentioned on The Simple Way's website, until the day she boarded that plane to Atlanta, it has been an absolutely beautiful journey to behold. Watching Abbey struggle with fear and overcome her doubts, the sometimes palpable stress of the unknown and using her specific gifts and passions to raise funds...only her Abba could be more proud than her parents have been. Her journey has already inspired many...including her own Mama.

I have repeatedly been awed and inspired by this Millennial Generation that is drawn by the Holy Spirit to abandon what my generation was told would give them comfort and ease. I love the Millennials, their passion, their devotion, their heart for service.

It's funny, when you think about "letting go"...I guess the peace is found in knowing that she was never mine to begin with.