Weekly Thought From T - Pray for Them

Week of 12-5-10

Hey Everyone!

Hope you've had a great weekend!

What I'm talking about this week has been on my mind for a couple of weeks now.  It all started with a prayer card written by one of you that said something like this, "God, please bless all the people who make fun of me at school.  I can't imagine how sad they have to be - or what must be going on in their lives for them to be so mean to someone."

WHAT?  Bless those who make fun of you?

I mean, I know this kid - a GREAT kid - and I wanted to knock some heads together!  Who would make fun of him?  He's the sweetest/greatest guy!

But he was right........someone who needed God's forgiveness, blessings, love. 

I don't know when I was in high school if I could have written a prayer card like that.......

Last week at LOOP I sat with the junior high.  We talked a lot about what they were going through - things they struggle with.  Through tears several boys and girls shared how difficult it was to be made fun of at school.  Some for the color of their skin - others for the way they looked........

It absolutely broke my heart.  My kids were with me and on the way home Anna-Prin asked, "Mom, why do people at school call that girl ugly?  She is beauuuuuuuuutiful!" 

I don't know Anna-Prin.......

Last week I was at the Advent Festival with my kids.  We were eating dinner in Great Hall when a little girl - with obvious special needs walked passed our table.  My son Carter looked at her and said, "MOM LOOK!!!!"  My heart sank for what was next - I was so nervous he was going to ask, "What happened to her?  Why does she look like that?" But instead he said, "Look how beautiful she looks!!"  She passed; the mom smiled and said, "Thank you so much....."  I couldn't help but get choked up - and said to Carter, "I have never been so proud of you."  He said, "Mom, why? And why are you crying?  She was beautiful." 

Of course she's beautiful.........but how many of us take the time to see that?

Why do we spend time making fun of people?  Why is that a popular thing to do?  When did that become cool?  And why doesn't it go away?

Fast.

I can only imagine how difficult it is for these kids after a class, or a lunch, or a day of being made fun of.  How do they recover from that?  The cost on someone else's soul - for a moment to feel cool.  When really - there's absolutely nothing cool about it. 

This afternoon I went to the cemetery where two of my children are buried.  There was a couple there who had recently buried their child.  The dad was reading a story to the grave - while the mother sobbed along side him.  As I walked away tears just poured down my cheeks and I thought, "We have absolutely no idea what people are going through."  I could have stood next to that person in the line at the grocery store today and never knew her pain.

I have no idea what people are going through.

You have no idea what people are going through.

And the boy who wrote the prayer card is right - Jesus has told us time and time again, the only choice we have when it comes to one another is pray.  Pray for each other, pray for our enemies and pray for ourselves.

In 1 Peter 3:9 it says, "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

I believe it.  I believe that we will blessed for being kind to those who don't deserve it - those who have sinned against us - hurt us.  I believe that we could never understand what they might be going through - how much hurt or sorrow or fear or insecurity or whatever it is that motivates such disappointing behavior.

Our love, compassion and prayers are really their only hope.

I love you.  Always will.

T

Weekly Thought From T - In Process

Week of 11-29-10

Hey Everyone! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I know I am an old woman to many of you - so - for those of you who aren't familiar with Andre Agassi - let me just start by saying he is one of the greatest tennis players of all time.  I recently finished his book "OPEN" and really loved it.  He has been through a lot in his life - and in this book seemed to be really honest with people - not only about tennis, but his life.  Andre spent most of his teenage years pretty angry - and conflicted.........he said something about that I really liked.  Here goes:

"Several sportswriters muse about my transformation from youth to adult - and that word rankles.  I think it misses the mark.  Transformation is change from on thing to another, but I started as nothing.  I didn't transform, I formed.  When I broke into tennis, I was like most kids: I didn't know who I was, and I rebelled at being told by older people.  I think older people make this mistake all the time with younger people, treating them as finished products when in fact they're in process.  It's like judging a tennis match before it's over, and I've come from behind too often, and had too many opponents come roaring back against me, to think that's a good idea."

I have to say, as a new mom - this hit me pretty hard.  I think I do this all the time to my kids.  I expect them to ALWAYS behave, use their manners, not act TOO silly.  I dream for them about what they are going to be when they grow up.  I tell them what foods they will eat - and determine when they are hungry and when they are full.  I think some times I live through them - like I didn't get this as a kid - or get to do that as a kid - and so I push what I feel like I missed and/or wanted on to them - when really, it might not be what they are missing or wanting at all.

I don't think this is just a parent to kid thing though.  I have heard so many of you say - I wish my mom was like ________________'s mom (you fill in the blank).  I wish my dad made more money.  I wish we went camping as a family like the so and so's or vacationed at _________________.  I wish my mom was funnier.  Smarter.  I wish my dad played more sports, went to more games.  I wish both of them were way more cool.

What the heck is wrong with who we all are?  JUST THE WAY WE ARE!

My daughter loves that song that says, "Cuz girl you're amazing......just the way you are!"  She sings it REALLY loud from the back seat every time it comes on.

I think I know why she likes it.  And why I like it.

Because we are amazing.  Just the way we are.

And aren't we all - no matter how old - "in process".......far from a "finished product"?? 

So - why are we all wishing our lives away??  Wishing those closest/most important to us, would change to be who WE want or think they should be instead of what they were created to be? 

Where is our grace for them? 
Our patience for their process? 
Our unconditional love?

LOVE WITHOUT JUDGEMENT.  LOVE WITHOUT CONDITION. 

What would our families look like if we really just appreciated where we all are in our "process"? 

Stop wishing. 
Start enjoying. 

I think that's the way God intended it to be.

I love you.  Always will.

T

Sunday School 11/21 - Sermon on the Mount Part 3

11-12 November 21, 2010 Our Polytheistic Roots

Polytheism??? you decide

9th and 10th 11-21-2010 Freewill vs Determinism

  

9-10 November 14, 2010 Angels, Demons, the Devil

How's this for a Sunday morning topic???  Enjoy

11-12 November 14, 2010 Editing Different Authors

I had to make this video "flying solo" not nearly as fun as making it with somebody else!  But hope it gives you a little insight into what we're doing Sunday!

JH 11-14-10 Sermon on the Mount part II

Please comment with questions and commentary!

Senior High (all) 11-7-2010

Next installment of our video blog... Just Stephen this time, but don't you worry, I will return!  Comment as you wish!

JH 11-7-2010 Intro beatitudes

Hey y'all, week two of our video blog.  Hopefully this is helpful.  Feel free to leave a note in the comment area.  My hope is that y'all will leave comments and this can become a discussion and y'all can learn from each other and talk through the topics with each other.  I realize it is already late in the week, but hopefully there is still time!

Enjoy

11-12 October 31 2010

Ok, so since I can't get Blogger to accept the video.  You'll have to click here to watch the video.  Again, its a facebook link, so if you don't have facebook you won't be able to watch it... sorry.  Maybe this is your excuse to finally get on facebook???

hope its helpful!

9-10 October 31, 2010

A different attempt... since I can't seem to upload the video onto this site and make it work.  I'm going to try uploading it via facebook.  If you don't have a facebook account you can't view this, so... maybe ask your youth if you can view it on their facebook??You can view it here

Sorry for the confusion.  I'll keep working on this and see if I can get it adjusted for next week!

JH 10-31-2010 Who do you say I am?

So here is our first attempt at a video blog.  Hopefully its helpful!