Riverpark Ladies' Tea - "Bountiful Blessings"

No real reason for this post other than to share these pics of my ADORABLE little "Baby Kate" in a beautiful dress and hat that her Aunt Kristi bought for her when she was born.  We attended the "Ladies Tea" at Riverpark Bible Church with my mother-in-law, and it was the perfect occasion for this outfit.  I am glad I stumbled across it in her closet, or we might have missed the chance to wear it altogether!  

As a side note, the tea itself was lovely, with the theme of "God's Bountiful Blessings"....my mom, aunt, and friend attended with us, I made a new friend, and the guest speaker was an old friend from high school.  Kate's appearance was short; she started to get fussy as we began to eat, so Grandpa came to the rescue and babysat while we finished at the party.  (It takes a village!)

Thoughts On Love

So many modern-day "proverbs" capture the concerns that plague my mind most days.  And they're all pinned to my Pinterest boards, waiting for me to change my life -- my thinking, my diet, my habits -- in a hundred different ways.  I have them filed as "Inspirational," but taken together they are actually pretty depressing...it would take a LOT of work (and time, energy I don't have) to makeover my life to look like the "highlight reels" I see in my online social networking circles everyday.

 

These two are front of mind for me today:

 

"Comparison is the thief of joy."

"Expectation is the root of all heartache."

 

And then this one creeps in...it's not on my "Inspirational" board, but it's replaying in my mind the more I think about all the changes Pinterest wants me to make in my life:

 

"Love never fails."

 

A few weeks ago during church I went back to that very popular and over-quoted passage, 1 Corinthians 13.  I was reading in the Amplified Bible and I've even read this passage in this version before, but this time it hit me between the eyes.  I haven't been able to stop coming back to it since: love.

 

The passage is below with the bold type and notes in blue added by me -- these are the parts that really struck me. 

 

1 Corinthians 13 (excerpts from the Amplified Bible)

 

And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

 

Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

 

Love isn't just cultivating "loving feelings" about my life or the people I associate with.  God knows that is so hard for me on a daily basis! Without "God's love in me," as the source, I'm a nobody and earn nothing of value -- even if I mastered all of the inspiration that Pinterest has to offer.

 

And here is what this love -- "God's love in me" -- looks like in practice.  Toward my family, my friends, my boss, my coworkers, and even acquaintances and strangers. Yes, even toward myself.

 

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious*, does not display itself haughtily**.

 

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

 

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

 

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].  Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].
 

*Vainglory -- "Excessive pride over one's achievements or abilities; boastful vanity."

**Haughty -- "Disdainfully proud or arrogant."

 

 Love is the answer.  How cliché does that sound?  As cliché as the little sayings I'm collecting on Pinterest, honestly.  The love that I love with is so flawed, so fickle, so weak, and so self-centered.   It fails constantly. But this passage isn't about MY love, it's about the truest LOVE there is.  This is the LOVE that lives in me, behind my own feeble attempts, and it is the LOVE that should be showing through.  Talk about inspirational!  Maybe, just maybe, I need to spend less time looking for inspiration on Pinterest and more time focused on LOVE. 

 

Be Thou My Vision

For as long as we can remember, my mom (Melody), aunt (Debbie), cousin (Valerie) and I have wanted to sing together.  Not just anything -- we wanted to prepare something special and perform it.  And this past weekend, we finally got our chance!  After a few months of practicing together when we could, we pulled off a beautiful a capella arrangement of "Be Thou My Vision" and sang it for the Sunday service at Reedley MB Church.  While the service is available to view on the church's website, it doesn't do our performance justice.  I was really tempted to be nervous, singing in front of the whole congregation, but I made sure that I knew my part like the back of my hand and focused on blending with the voices of the women next to me, and while it wasn't perfect, it was a beautiful offering.  We hope to be able to sing it together again....someday!

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

The Big ONE!

We had a wonderful time with friends and family celebrating our little Tess turning ONE!  Her party was on August 18th at the home of my amazingly generous and hospitable Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dick.  They have a gorgeous backyard and pool, as you'll see in the pics below!  It was HOT but not totally unbearable, and our guests enjoyed a light lunch, cake, swimming, and watching Tess open her presents.  We are so grateful to everyone who helped us with the party, from the planning and setup and hosting and serving to the tearing down and cleaning up! 

Some time ago we had the idea to incorporate a dedication ceremony into her first birthday party.  We wanted to do this because it's important to us that everyone who's important to us (and who we are important to) know how we intend to raise our child(ren): to have a personal relationship with God and an understanding of their eternal purpose, and to be a blessing to everyone they meet in word and deed.  Since we do not attend a typical/traditional church, we didn't have an automatic venue for this type of event.  We realized that all the people we'd want at her dedication were the same people we wanted at her party, so we combined the two.  While it was a short ceremony -- just 10 minutes or so at the beginning of the party -- it was packed with meaning.  We were so blessed to have my cousin Andy (who is also a pastor) lead, and the three of us prayed over Tess and also invited anyone in the audience to pray for her and/or speak a blessing over her.  Although she was squirmy and a little loud, we believe the words spoken over Tess made a mark on her and will play an important part in her upbringing!

I was so glad that the party turned out exactly like I'd planned, although it was pretty much exhausting!  It kinda felt like throwing a small-to-medium sized wedding, with the 80+ people who attended.  Needless to say I will not be hosting such a huge shindig every birthday, but it was a fun and memorable way to celebrate Tess's first year.

 

A special "thank you" goes to my dear friend Tiffany for taking all of the party pics!

 

2012 Western Christian Conference

Last weekend we ventured down South and waaay up high to Lake Arrowhead for the Western Christian Conference.  We headed out of town Thursday night and made a stopover in Fullerton, then finished up the drive on Friday morning.  We've attended the WCC sporadically over the past 8 years or so, but were excited to attend this year for 2 main reasons: 1) we got to show off our Tess to our "conference friends," and 2) we got to hear an amazing speaker, Stephen Kaung. 

The conference was held this year in Twin Peaks -- a tiny little town near Lake Arrowhead -- at the Calvary Chapel Conference Center there.  (This conference was held at Westmont College in Santa Barbara for years! We were so sad when a fire destroyed much of the campus there, and the conference had to be moved to another location.)  While we were there we also got to visit some old family friends, Bruce and Christa, who hadn't met Tess yet.  They hosted us in their beautiful mountain home for a delicious dinner.  On Sunday when the conference was over, we headed back to Fullerton to spend the afternoon and evening with our Suich family there.  We had a great time catching up with everyone and watching them play with our Tess.  "Grandma" got Tess to walk with holding just one hand, which means that official walking is not far behind!

Most of you probably know that we attend a very small church group, which is basically like a "home church." It was some of our church friends who introduced us to the Western Christian Conference, which they've been attending for more than 30 years.  Basically it's a gathering of individuals/families from church groups like ours from all over the U.S. (but mostly from the West coast) who have been coming to the conference (and thus have known each other) for years and years.  The conference runs Wednesday through Sunday, and each year there are 2 keynote speakers.   There are morning and evening ministry meetings, afternoon discussion groups, prayer meetings, and lots of free time to catch up with friends.  We've always found it to be so encouraging, restful, and FUN.  This time the dynamic was much different, having a baby there.  No late nights spent hanging out with friends -- we were in our room by 8:00 sharp, keeping quiet so Tess could sleep.  We still had a wonderful time -- it was great to see everyone (and have Tess be seen), breathe the fresh mountain air, and get a break from "real life" for a few days!  See below for pictures from our weekend.

BSF With Tess

One of the really great things I've been able to do since I stopped working full-time is to attend BSF classes on Wednesdays (we meet from 9:00-11:00 at New Covenant Community Church).  BSF is Bible Study Fellowship -- something I've always been interested in but just couldn't fit into my schedule.  What I appreciate about BSF is the structure and depth it provides in studying the Bible.  Not everyone likes such "rigidity" (this is what people who don't like structure call structure) but I really thrive on having a specific plan to follow (and I won't lie; I get to use highlighters and take notes, just like in school -- and I'm a huge nerd in that way).  Here's a quick copy/paste of how it works:

The BSF systemThe BSF system of Bible study is highly organized and disciplined, and uses the technique of exegesis for expository study of the scriptures. BSF holds classes for men, women, children and young adults in 35 countries (2006). There are nearly 1000 classes worldwide. Classes for adult men and women are single-sex, though classes for children (toddlers and infants in Day Women's classes, and for Grades 1-12 in Evening Men's and Women's classes) and young adults (aged 18–35) are not. Each study lasts for approximately nine months, and over a eight-year cycle BSF classes cover Genesis, Romans, Matthew, Life of Moses, John, Isaiah, Israel and the Minor Prophets, and Acts of the Apostles. The BSF system involves four elements; daily questions to encourage personal Bible study, discussion groups (of up to 15 people) for sharing of personal answers to questions, a lecture by the class Teaching Leader covering the past week’s scripture with applications for daily living, and finally a set of notes reinforcing lessons from the previous week (plus a new set of questions for the week ahead). BSF classes and materials are provided free of charge.

Baby girl's BSF nametag.

I came into this year's class (Acts of the Apostles) a few months late, but I still have had a wonderful experience digging into the weekly lessons and getting to know the gals in my discussion group.  But what's been MOST exciting and rewarding about BSF is the opportunity for Tess to participate.  The children's program is phenomenal, and is designed to follow and complement the adult program.  In other words, the kids are learning the same lessons as the grownups, but in kid-sized chunks.  The organization also provides tools for parents to discuss and apply the week's lesson at home with the entire family.  I got to experience the children's classes first hand last month when I was assigned to help with the 2-year-olds.  I was extremely blessed and encouraged by what I saw, and so I'm really thrilled about the idea of Tess growing up in the BSF program.

This year's class finishes up May 23rd and we break for the Summer, then resume in September.  Next year we're studying Genesis!

 

Baby's First Easter

We had a lovely Easter Sunday, celebrating with local family and friends!  In the morning we attended our small church group and after the meeting had a lovely brunch together.  From there, Chad and I headed to Reedley for a beautiful Easter dinner at my Aunt and Uncle's house out in the country.  I managed to get some adorable pics of Tess out on the grass with a little Peter Rabbit from her very first Easter basket (thank you, Grandma!).  While we ate and visited in the backyard, Tess napped in the warm, fresh air in her Pack 'N' Play. In the afternoon we left Reedley and headed to Chad's mom's place for a light dinner and dessert, and another Easter basket for our little Tess.  See below for pics from "Baby's First Easter" -- we were so blessed to have such a wonderful day for this milestone!

Seattle Trip & Tess's First Travel Adventure

While Daddy was away at a weekend debate tournament, Tess and I had our own little adventure in Seattle!  We spent the long weekend up there, along with my dear friend Danielle and her fiance, Cory.  Interestingly, Dani and I both have an aunt/uncle/cousins in the Seattle area -- who live less than 3 miles from each other and actually even know each other.  (We've been friends for about 7 years but just discovered this about a year ago!)  So, thanks to a fantastic deal on airfare from Alaska Airlines, we were able to take a trip together that included visiting our respective families. 

We arrived Thursday morning and spent the day adventuring around Bellevue and Mercer Island and visiting the PrideStaff office in Tukwila.  We also took a very fun and much-anticipated trip to the Glassybaby store -- this was super exciting for me, since I am a proud owner of 3 Glassybabys but had never been to any of their retail locations.  (Most of you are probably wondering, "What the heck is 'Glassybaby'?" They're beautiful, one-of-a-kind votive candle holders made ONLY in Seattle. Sales proceeds benefit various nonprofits.) On Thursday night we had dinner with our good friend David Brown, who we've known for years through PrideStaff.  Danielle's fiance, Cory, joined us on Friday morning and we spent the day doing "touristy" stuff downtown (Pike Place, Space Needle, etc.). On Friday evening Dani and I parted ways to spend time with our families.  I was so grateful that my cousin Heather drove all the way from Spokane, with her 2 1/2 year old daughter Gabby, so that she could spend the weekend at her parents' house with me and Tess. On Saturday, Heather and I did some shopping and joined up with Danielle and her Aunt Tiff for some wine tasting (in the snow!).  Tess and I spent Saturday evening enjoying a lovely dinner at Dani's aunt and uncle's house, where I got to meet Barcelona's lead singer, Brian Fennell, and his lovely fiance, Marion.  On Sunday, Danielle, Cory and I visited Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue, where Dani's uncle is the worship and media pastor. (Also, her uncle -- Timothy James Meaney -- is also pretty big in Christian music circles, for those of you who are interested.)  We spent Sunday afternoon hanging out at the Meaney's house, watching football (that fantastic 49er's playoff game!) and watching the snow fall. Little did we know that our flight out on Sunday evening was just in time for a record-breaking snowstorm in the Seattle area!

And now a word about traveling by plane with a 5-month old baby, without her Daddy... Our little Tess did SO great! She is SO inquisitive that looking around kept her pretty preoccupied during the short flight.  Everyone on the plane fell in love with her, of course.  She was not fussy and was just talkative enough to be super cute.  Having Danielle with me was a HUGE help -- I can't imagine taking my first trip with a baby ALONE! I had been really nervous about all the logistics of traveling with a baby (from what to pack to what I should carry on the plane to how to deal with sleeping away from home) and all my worry was for nothing.  Have baby, will travel!  It turns out that people are much more kind and understanding and helpful when you've got an adorable kiddo with you than they are otherwise.  Although I have to admit, even with the fantastic help, spending 4 days as a "single parent" -- especially away from home and all of our usual baby "stuff"-- was pretty exhausting.  We had a wonderful time but were so glad to be home!

Below is a slide show of my pics from the trip.  Next up for Tess is a trip to Dallas over Spring Break, to meet her "Uncle" Randy and "Aunt" Lindsey.

Bon voyage!

Busy Week & Father's Day

While Chad was in Dallas, TX for the National Forensic League championships last week (more on this in my next post), I kept myself very busy, with social commitments each night. It was intentional (although exhausting), in hopes of avoiding a constant state of missing him. The highlights of my week involved trips to Reedley to see my parents and spend time with family. On Wednesday night I headed to Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church for choir practice, of all things! The Worship Pastor asked my Mom if she would conduct a special ladies' choir for Father's Day, and she asked me to join the group. I had an absolute blast and was reminded of how much I love to sing with other people! I returned on Sunday for our performance and had a good time seeing old friends and family at RMBC. Afterward we stopped by the annual church picnic for lunch, and in the early evening we had family over to my parents' house to celebrate Father's Day. Below are some pics from our family time. It was a great way to end a long week without my sweetie -- I got to pick him up from the airport later that night!

Happy Birthday, Vince!

This past weekend we were invited to a 50th birthday party for our dear friend Vince Martinez.  Vince, his wife Linda, and their 5 kids are part of our small home church group that we have been meeting with for more than 11 years now.  They also happen to live right around the corner from us!  We have so enjoyed their friendship and influence in our lives over the years -- they can always be counted on for good advice, a fun night out, and a fantastic bottle of wine (at the very least!).  We're even more thrilled to look to them for parental advice in the coming years -- as you can see, they are pros! 

L to R below are Linda, Julianna (age 15), Rachel, (age 18), Abbi (age 21), and Vince, with their twin boys Nathan & Gabriel in the front (age 12).  What a beautiful family! 

I made a photo book for Vince from all the pictures I took at the party.  You should be able to view the book by clicking here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirect.jsp?token=898352613606%3A825631786. 

Enjoy!



Visit To New Hope Community Church

Last Sunday, after Chad’s super-impressive Baccalaureate speech for CNHS, I told him – “You just wait! Now the word is out that you’re a talented speaker, and you’ll be getting calls to speak more.” Less than 24 hours later he received an email from a pastor who was in the audience (his daughter was one of Chad’s AP Lit students) asking him to share his Baccalaureate address at their church the following Sunday. Chad graciously accepted, and so yesterday we were happy to attend services at New Hope Community Church where Chad spoke to the graduates in the congregation during both services. Pastor Tim Rolen (what a great guy!) couldn’t say enough about how impressed he is with Chad when introducing him, and of course many people wanted to talk to Chad after the service to thank him for speaking and for making such a positive impression on the students.

The speech was just as fantastic the second time around, and maybe even moreso as he was able to add a little bit more “meat” to his message given the church setting. I was literally on the edge of my seat (again) watching him. I was so glad that both of his parents could attend, too. He is so talented, with such an amazing heart, and his words really spoke to so many people in the audience (including me!). I couldn’t be more proud of him!

I have always loved New Hope church. I had never attended a service there, but always thought it looks like the epitome of a “little country church,” complete with stained glass windows. The sanctuary is warm and inviting, as are the congregation. The sermon was encouraging and practical – “7 Ways to Know You’re Making a Good Decision.” It was such a nice visit!

Micah 6:6-8

"With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?"

Mary's Song

We sang this worship song at church yesterday, and I love it so much that I had to share:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
And my spirit exalts in God my Savior
For He has looked with mercy on my lowliness
And His name shall be forever exalted

For my mighty God has done great things for me
And His mercy shall reach from age to age
Holy, holy, holy is His name

The lyrics are taken from the following passage:

Luke 1:46-55 ~ Mary’s Song

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Spiritual Truths From "The Karate Kid"

I wish I could take credit for this insight, but it was my dear friend Allison who shared this practical "spiritual object lesson" at our Sunday meeting this past weekend. Like "Daniel Son," we so easily get caught up in the routine of life's many mundane tasks (like my constant complaint that I feel like I'm always cleaning!) and forget that we are -- whether we realize it or not -- always working TO and FOR a higher purpose. Daniel was waxing cars, sanding floors, painting the fence, painting the house, and could not see the bigger picture -- that he was learning the art of karate. Everyday activities offer numerous opportunities to ensure we are equipped with the right tools, training, and mindset/focus to "run with endurance the race set before us." And let's not forget Mr. Miyagi's most important lesson -- "always look (Him) in the eye." Our focus must be upward, so that we can move onward.

"Not everything is as it seems." ~ Mr. Miyagi

"Therefore...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~ Hebrews 12:1-2

There Is A Redeemer...

I've been so amazed and encouraged lately by thoughts of our God as Creator and Redeemer. Of course the Bible is full of verses that describe God's work of creation and restoration, and one could get seriously overwhelmed trying to locate and list them all....

This revelation comes on the heels of complaining about the issue of "entropy" or "things fall apart." I told someone several weeks ago, "Life just feels like a constant cycle of making messes and having to clean them up." I was referring to housekeeping, sure, but also the figurative messes that we make of life when we're not careful. I think I was also feeling sorry for myself.

But then something happened involving an email from a long-lost family member (it's a story too involved to tell here), and it prompted a shift in perspective. These words have been on my heart the past few weeks: create, transform, restore, renew, and redeem. Also the song in my heart has been "There is a Redeemer, Jesus God's own son...”

It's happening all around me, all the time, whether I'm seeing it or not.

God creates -- whether from nothing (Genesis 1:1), or from what has been damaged or broken (he restores, renews, and redeems). He can't stop creating/ redeeming, and He can't NOT be engaged in this process at all times, because it's at the core of who He is. And when we attach ourselves to Him, we automatically become part of the creation and redemption process. When we open our eyes and our hearts to really SEE this work going on, we can find it everywhere. I can't even begin to list the examples so evident in my own life, but I'm in awe when I think about all the ways that things/ circumstances/ people -- and even my own heart -- are being transformed.

Well, I could go on, but.... Here are some quick verses that come to mind. May our eyes continue to be opened to the creation and redemption happening all around us, all the time!

"It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands, and I ordained all their host." Isaiah 45:12
"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm." Exodus 6:6
"I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten." Joel 2:25
"Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth!" Isaiah 43:19
"He restores my soul." Psalm 23:3

A Little Retreat....

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go up to Shaver Lake for a mini-retreat with the women from my Bible Study. Aaaah, it was beautiful and relaxing. There was snow on the ground... we relaxed by the fire... we played games... we took a walk... we ate yummy food... we read magazines... we watched a chick flick... we talked... we worshipped... we fellowshipped about building the House of God.

Weekend Trip To Pasadena

This past weekend we drove South to visit our dear friends the Pikes - Tom, Jeannie, Amy, John & Reid. They have a lovely 1920's home in beautiful Pasadena, with a cozy loft bedroom above the garage that we got to use a our "bed and breakfast" for the weekend. The Pikes are just so fun and lovely, all of them. I'm sure Reid (age 14) does not appreciate being called lovely, but he's a great kid and they're all just so NICE to be around. We're so fortunate to know them and call them our friends!

I'll try to explain here how we know the Pikes.... We're connected to them through our small home fellowship group, which Chad blogged about in December. We met the Pikes through our friends Ray & Jan Kent, who have known Tom & Jeannie for ages and ages. Tom & Jeannie (along with their extended family) are part of another small "home" fellowship that meets in City of Industry (I say "home" because their group is larger than ours, and they don't meet in a home anymore -- they have a small church building -- but it's a very grassroots, community-oriented group like ours). Tom & Jeannie's daughter, Amy, just graduated from the master's program at Fresno State and has spent the last 6 years as part of our group here in Clovis. We saw a lot of the Pikes when Amy was living here -- she's since moved home to Pasadena to start her physical therapy career.

There are home fellowship groups like ours all over the country, both big and small (although ours seems to be the smallest), that are informally connected with each other (i.e., not through any formal alliance or organization). How they all met each other, many many moons ago, I have no idea.... But over the past 10 years, as we have grown into our spiritual "family," we have been privileged to meet more and more people who meet and fellowship like we do. There are groups in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Arizona, Richmond, Memphis, New York, etc. who hold various conferences and retreats throughout the year, and people from all over travel all over to see and fellowship with each other. One such conference we have attended a few times is the "West Coast Christian Conference," held at Westmont College in Santa Barbara every July. Some of you may have heard us talk about it. This year the conference will be held at Biola University because of the fire damage that was done to the Westmont campus in 2009.

Anyway, the weekend in Pasadena was a good one.... We saw so much beautiful architecture (love the craftsman style!), ate delicious food, and spent time with wonderful people. Saturday was wet and rainy -- we visited The Gamble House, had coffee at Jameson Brothers, and watched their friend Evan Chambers work in his glass blowing studio. Chad and I had a "date night" at Morton's Steakhouse, which was a very FUN experience -- they bring the raw meat to the table for you to "preview," including a live lobster! (We decided we like Ruth's Chris MUCH better.) Sunday was bright and sunshiny, and we got to attend their church meeting for the first time ever. We were blessed to see many familiar faces. See below for some pics of the weekend.... I'm still going crazy with the iPhone pics and using the "Tiltshift Generator" app to give everything a vintage feel, so that's why the pictures look a little different lately.

Why We Home Church

It used to be so easy. There was no controversy, no awkward moments, and no feigned expressions of acceptance. We could proudly shout off the roof tops in a confident, barbaric yawp that we had joined the rank and file evangelical community by attending Clovis EV Free. Our life had indeed found a comfort zone that we would never have to deviate from. We went to church on Sunday morning, attended a young married group later in the morning and were comforted knowing we were married by the pastor. But that blissful experience took a turn down a different path once we decided to forsake the rank and file Christian and join a cult.

I’m sorry… not a cult… a home church. For the majority of Evangelical Christians, the two terms seem synonymous. After all, if you’re not attending a strong, run of the mill, non-denominational institution that has some type of hierarchical accountability and, rather, attending a home church, one might as well be sacrificing goats on a full moon while chanting some demonic spell. Alright, so that might be stretching the truth. Nevertheless, the point is made.

Most evangelical Christians have little experience with those who chose to worship and study scripture in a “non-traditional” church setting. And as such, when asked what church we attend, we are more often met with a polite, but awkward, “Well… isn’t that nice.” Sarah and I have never flinched or been disillusioned by such responses. We understand. As much as Americans boast an attitude of tolerance and acceptance, the reality is that we fear that which we don’t understand. You can be Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, transgender, New Age, or Mormon and most have a tidy little box in which to place you. But what do you do with those who attend a home church?

I can almost hear Sister Agnes singing “What do you do with a problem like the home church?”

How do you solve a problem like [a home church]?

How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her

Many a thing she ought to understand

But how do you make her stay?

And listen to all you say?

How do you keep a wave upon the sand?

The question is begged: Why do we attend a home church instead of an institutional church? The answer is in the life of Maria Von Trapp. Much like Maria, the home church is gentle! She is wild! She's a riddle! She's a child! She's a headache! She's an angel! And She’s REAL!

After ten years attending the same tiny fellowship in downtown Clovis, we’ve come to appreciate an authenticity that is only fostered through an intimate gathering of saints. There are no ulterior motives in attending such a Spartan fellowship. There is no extravagant worship band, no digital power-point to take notes on, no powerful figures to rub shoulders with. Besides a few couches, some folding chairs, a guitar, and some homemade song books, our fellowship relies on the promise that “where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Our Sunday morning meetings consist of worship (we pick songs from our song books as the Lord leads), we take the Lord’s Table, and then have an open time to share what the Lord has been impressing on our hearts throughout the week. Everyone has the chance to share what the Lord has been speaking to them. This might be through a number of scriptures, an insightful chapter of a book or a testimony of what the Lord did in that person’s life during the week. The format allows for a tremendous amount of freedom. However, it also provides for an accountability that traditional congregations don’t have. That is, if no one was spending time in the Word or speaking to the Lord throughout the week, our meetings would be pretty darn short. And with only fifteen people attending the meeting, you can’t just sneak in and fall asleep in the back pew. Likewise, if you want to worship the Lord out of a genuine heart of gratitude and love, you have to belt out your song for all to hear. There is no room to be bashful or shy. Either you want to praise the Lord in front of everybody or you don’t. I think that’s what I appreciate most of our fellowship – authenticity and simplicity. It is what the early church experienced after Pentecost. They had the scriptures and the Holy Spirit; and that was enough.

A caveat should be made before going further. The home church is not holier than the institutional church. We have not been granted a special place in heaven reserved only for the elect that have seen the light and truth of the home church. We’re simply brothers and sisters who love Jesus and want to love Him, to share Him and to worship Him without the constraints that the institutional church can place on its members. For us, the home church is the church of Robert Frost and Henry David Thoreau. It is the road less traveled “in leaves no step had trodden black.” It is driving “life into a corner and reduc[ing] it to its lowest terms…to get the whole and genuine meanness out of it.” It is Maria Von Trapp frolicking atop the Swiss Alps with reckless abandon singing to her heart’s content. Praise be to Jesus for setting us free with the truth of His love and His life.

A Life-Changing Read...

The purpose of this blog is to keep all of you updated on what's going on with the Haydens -- it's not intended to be a platform for religious or political posturing. But I can't help sharing a book that's changing my heart and thus changing my life: Greg Boyd's Repenting of Religion. (Don't be alarmed by the title; I'm not renouncing anything.) I'm so in love with this book right now. Chad read it last year and it's been on my reading list for quite a while. I'm finally tackling with my Tuesday night women's Bible study, and it has been like drinking from a firehose of encouragement and refreshment, and like a thousand lightbulbs blinking on and off in my head.

Boyd is one of our favorite authors. We started with Letters From a Skeptic and then tackled God at War/Satan & The Problem of Evil. After that came Is God to Blame?. I can't speak for Chad, but Boyd's writing has really helped mature and define my understanding of who God is and why I was created -- above and beyond the typcial evangelical church stuff I heard growing up.

From his website: Greg Boyd is a former atheist who surrendered his life to Christ in 1974. After his conversion, he discovered that the faith he embraced failed to address many questions and objections to Christianity. Greg’s search for a well-grounded and intellectually defensible faith led him to study philosophy at the University of Minnesota (B.A.), followed by studies in philosophical theology at Yale Divinity School (M.Div) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D). He then became a professor of theology for 16 years at Bethel University and is currently the senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. While often known for his dynamic and persuasive speaking style, Greg is also an internationally recognized theologian, an apologist and an author. Some of his beliefs have been highly controversial in traditional evangelical circles, but have had a transforming impact on many lives.

I won't try to write my own review of the book, but I've copied a basic summary below. If you're interested, you can get the book on Amazon here. It's absolutely going to be one of the key foundational books of my life, and one I hope to re-read many times. Maybe you'll be inspired to check it out!

In this bold and provocative book, pastor and author Gregory A. Boyd draws on the insights of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer to demonstrate that the foundational sin of humanity is “eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Instead of being content reflecting God’s perfect love to others, we are inclined to eat of the forbidden tree and judge them. The heart of the Gospel, Boyd argues, is receiving and reflecting God’s love, but this is precisely what our judgmentalism prevents. Unfortunately, Christians tend to be at least as guilty of this foundational sin as the world. Boyd challenges Christians to repent of our judgmental religious attitudes and commit to living in God’s outrageous love.

"What is it about eating fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that warrants its depiction in Scripture as the source of original sin? How does living with our knowledge of good and evil separate us from God? These questions are rarely asked and even more rarely investigated with any thoroughness. It is largely for this reason, I shall argue, that the church has failed so miserably at loving the way Christ commands us to love. We have failed to understand and internalize the biblical teaching that our fundamental sin is not our evil--as though the solution for sin was to become good--but our getting life from what we believe is our knowledge of good and evil. Our fundamental sin is that we place ourselves in the position of God and divide the world between what we judge to be good and what we judge to be evil. And this judgment is the primary thing that keeps us from doing the central thing God created and saved us to do, namely, love like he loves."

What's Your Type?

So this past weekend I enjoyed a retreat with the ladies from my Bible Study group (we enjoyed a beautiful house up at Shaver Lake!), and as usual we included some type of "get to know you better" activity -- usually it's some type of personality quiz! This year's battery of quizzes included how to understand your personality based on the shape of your lipstick (very enlightening!) .... and also this fun little one that comes from Monster.com called "Discover Your Perfect Career." We all have jobs that we enjoy, but we were most interested in the results -- a quickie snapshot of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test (MBTI). Some of you may already be familiar with this system, which gives you a four-letter profile based on where you fall into the following categories:

Extrovert/Introvert

Sensing/Intuitive

Thinking/Feeling

Judging/Perceiving

Well.... the results are IN! I discovered pretty easily that I am an ESTJ for sure! Take the quiz and see what profile comes up, then use the links above to compare your results for accuracy. It's a little scary how right-on they can be! Some of us would like to think we are more individual than fitting into 1 of just 16 profiles... But many of my loved ones will be grateful for this information as a type of "How-To" manual for being in a relationship with ME =).