Today I had the honor and priviledge of being asked to sing at the Lake Quivira Community Ministry in Lake Quivira, Kansas. The chaplain at my school preaches there every other week, and they needed a cantor (soloist/song leader) today.
Even though it took us about 45 minutes to get out there (since Lake Quivira is on the other side of the world), it was such a blessing. A group of about 30 folks had shown up in their casual clothes and boat shoes, bringing pot-luck for breakfast and a heart of worship. As we sat and sang and listened, we could hear the waves gently lapping up on the beach right behind us. The sun was glistening on the water, and the docked boats floated snugly in their spots, just waiting for the afternoon activity that was surely to come.
Ben came with me, and I am SO glad. This, an outdoor service, is his favorite. Even with mostly strangers, we were a part of something special and wonderful today. And even though we were not at OUR church, we were at GOD'S church, and it was GOOD.
Holla -
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Funny Thursday
Me: (asking a new Pre-K student who is from Denmark and doesn't speak any English something about music)
New Student: (absolutely nothing I understand.) (Keep in mind that I had NO IDEA she is from Denmark and doesn't speak a lick of English. Nice, huh?)
Other student #1: She doesn't speak English!
Other student #2: She speaks DENVER!!!
Other student #1: No, she speaks Spanish.
Other student #2: No, she speaks DENVER!!!!!
Other student #1: She speaks SPANISH.
Other student #2: Then why isn't she from CHINA?!?!?!
New Student: (absolutely nothing I understand.) (Keep in mind that I had NO IDEA she is from Denmark and doesn't speak a lick of English. Nice, huh?)
Other student #1: She doesn't speak English!
Other student #2: She speaks DENVER!!!
Other student #1: No, she speaks Spanish.
Other student #2: No, she speaks DENVER!!!!!
Other student #1: She speaks SPANISH.
Other student #2: Then why isn't she from CHINA?!?!?!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Free Hugs
Last week in worship, Our pastor spoke about loving others and loving yourself, and it was a great sermon. I don't remember specifics, but I was definitely invested. Then, he shows this video, which, according to the amount of people who have viewed it, you have probably already seen.
I'm going to post it anyway:
As I watched this, the tears just streamed down my face. My heart just melted around the whole of humanity, and my heart grew 10 times (not that I was so grinch-like before). At the end, to add insult to lovely injury, my pastor stood at the front of the church and held up his OWN sign that said "FREE HUGS". No words, no speech, just a sign. In seconds, throngs of people flooded the pastor. He hugged. They hugged. Others hugged others. I stood up and walked down to the front to get a hug from a total stranger (not the pastor!), and then made my way back to my seat. On the way, I saw a girl about my age sitting by herself, wiping her own tears. So what are two girls full of love to do? We stood and hugged, completely foreign to each other, but connected in a beautiful way.
The point of this long story is...spread the love. You have NO IDEA who might need your hug (or kind word, or smile) the most today. Just in case, don't be stingy. If this video doesn't make you want to run out and hug strangers, then maybe YOU need a hug.
In that case, just give me a call, and I'll be right over. :-)
with a Hug-filled HOLLA -
I'm going to post it anyway:
As I watched this, the tears just streamed down my face. My heart just melted around the whole of humanity, and my heart grew 10 times (not that I was so grinch-like before). At the end, to add insult to lovely injury, my pastor stood at the front of the church and held up his OWN sign that said "FREE HUGS". No words, no speech, just a sign. In seconds, throngs of people flooded the pastor. He hugged. They hugged. Others hugged others. I stood up and walked down to the front to get a hug from a total stranger (not the pastor!), and then made my way back to my seat. On the way, I saw a girl about my age sitting by herself, wiping her own tears. So what are two girls full of love to do? We stood and hugged, completely foreign to each other, but connected in a beautiful way.
The point of this long story is...spread the love. You have NO IDEA who might need your hug (or kind word, or smile) the most today. Just in case, don't be stingy. If this video doesn't make you want to run out and hug strangers, then maybe YOU need a hug.
In that case, just give me a call, and I'll be right over. :-)
with a Hug-filled HOLLA -
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Ding Dong
About a month ago, my friend Colby came over for a music lesson. No, I don't give lessons to children, much less adults (much to Ben's chagrin), but Colby is an art teacher, and we worked out a deal. He teaches me art stuff, and I teach him music stuff.
So I was sitting at my kitchen table with the stereo playing loudly waiting for him to get here. The doorbell rings.
"COME IN," I yell.
No answer. Then the doorbell rings again, but this time he pushes the button for a reeeeally long time. Smarty pants.
"OPEN THE G. D. DOOR!" Even louder I yell this time. (No I did not say the real words. Still, Lord, I apologize.)
No answer. Now he's just playing around with me.
I hop out of my chair and go to the door to let Colby in. Except it's not Colby. It's a missionary. Wanting to tell me about Jesus and pray for me.
I think I need it.
HOLY HOLLA -
So I was sitting at my kitchen table with the stereo playing loudly waiting for him to get here. The doorbell rings.
"COME IN," I yell.
No answer. Then the doorbell rings again, but this time he pushes the button for a reeeeally long time. Smarty pants.
"OPEN THE G. D. DOOR!" Even louder I yell this time. (No I did not say the real words. Still, Lord, I apologize.)
No answer. Now he's just playing around with me.
I hop out of my chair and go to the door to let Colby in. Except it's not Colby. It's a missionary. Wanting to tell me about Jesus and pray for me.
I think I need it.
HOLY HOLLA -
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday Tunes
Here's a song by Dave, dedicated to the lazy days of summer, now drawing to a close. To all children, whose spirits are alive always. And to all used-to-be-children: may you never lose the child within!
Summer's Last Words
Today is my last day of summer vacation. I have to go back to school tomorrow...to early mornings and meetings and emails and hallway conversations and paperwork. And the best part - smiling faces. I miss my kids. I miss their laughs and their skips and their hugs and their funny stories. I miss their voices and their energy and their excitement.
I am ready.
To be honest, this summer was kind of weird. It wasn't the kind of summer that left me with a full, satisfied feeling...more of a awkward, unrested feeling. There was the June camping trip, and a week of summer school, spending time with my nieces for a few days, my daily jaunts to the library and the gym (let's be honest - the two or three, or maybe even one time(s) a WEEK jaunts), my 30th birthday, my 3rd anniversary. Good stuff...great stuff. But all of that excitement didn't even come CLOSE to lasting me a whole summer.
I don't do well by myself. I don't look at a whole empty week on my calendar and jump with joy at the possibilities. It makes me anxious and panicky. I prefer a week stocked full of appointments and meetings, lunches and evening activities. I want human interaction; I need to converse with multiple people on a regular basis.
Inactivity is brutal. Activity is LIFE.
Thank God for transitions, for awkward times and the wriggling out of old skin and into the new.
HOLLA -
I am ready.
To be honest, this summer was kind of weird. It wasn't the kind of summer that left me with a full, satisfied feeling...more of a awkward, unrested feeling. There was the June camping trip, and a week of summer school, spending time with my nieces for a few days, my daily jaunts to the library and the gym (let's be honest - the two or three, or maybe even one time(s) a WEEK jaunts), my 30th birthday, my 3rd anniversary. Good stuff...great stuff. But all of that excitement didn't even come CLOSE to lasting me a whole summer.
I don't do well by myself. I don't look at a whole empty week on my calendar and jump with joy at the possibilities. It makes me anxious and panicky. I prefer a week stocked full of appointments and meetings, lunches and evening activities. I want human interaction; I need to converse with multiple people on a regular basis.
Inactivity is brutal. Activity is LIFE.
Thank God for transitions, for awkward times and the wriggling out of old skin and into the new.
HOLLA -
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tuesday Tunes
Heard this one on the radio today, then checked my friend Sylvia's blog, and wouldn't you know? There it is again!
I'm pretty sure I've heard this before, but it really caught my attention today. I don't know anyone in any situation in the world that couldn't use this message.
Love, love, love.....
Here's the singer, Matt Maher, explaining the story behind the song. Good stuff.
If there was one thing that I would want people in the world to know, it would be love. God is love. Love your neighbor, love your enemy, love your friend, love, love, love.
With a happy heart,
I HOLLA -
I'm pretty sure I've heard this before, but it really caught my attention today. I don't know anyone in any situation in the world that couldn't use this message.
Love, love, love.....
Here's the singer, Matt Maher, explaining the story behind the song. Good stuff.
If there was one thing that I would want people in the world to know, it would be love. God is love. Love your neighbor, love your enemy, love your friend, love, love, love.
With a happy heart,
I HOLLA -
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