Rainey Days

What's going on in my life

2011-04-11T17:25:00.002-04:00

I miss writing this blog, but for various reasons, I've gotten away from it. I'd like to continue, even if no one out there even checks it anymore.

To start out, I figured I'd provide a "status update" of what's going on in my life these days:

I live in my own home, a condo which I love. I have a roommate, which is not a bad thing. I’m thankful for Bethany, and I believe that God provided her to me. I’m helping her out by giving her a room and bathroom of her own, and she’s helping me out—her rent matches almost exactly what Severn River Church was paying me.

My family brings me joy, although I wish that my father were in better health. I really wish that he were completely healed, but he isn’t languishing at death’s door. Like Job, he has never cursed God in all this physical trial. My nieces and nephews are a light in my sometimes dark moments, and I love spending time with them. My siblings are the pillars I lean on, and my parents are the love that formed me and still keeps me grounded in reality.

I work for the Y, and no, I’m not completely fulfilled. It’s a job, and I know how to do it well. I have good people I work with, most of whom are people of God. I’m thankful to the executives for the leadership program that I was selected for (an intensive 6 month leadership cohort for only 20 employees out of 1600). I’ve been using it to help me grow in my skills as a minister. I know that it’s making me confront issues that I need to confront in order to become the leader that God has called me to be. I hope to find a full-time ministry position, but times are hard, even in churches. For now, I’m thankful that God provided a way to pay my bills and keep my home. I have not “left” ministry, and I look forward to the chance to take on another church in need of outreach. I have great ideas stored up for the day that God opens the next door.

I don’t have a home church right now. In the past three years, I lost two home churches. One closed, and the other rejected me. At least that’s how it felt. I’m realizing lately how many people love me there, and how many of them never rejected me. It wasn’t fair that I left them with no explanation, but I didn’t really have a way to explain what happened. Without a church, my calendar is strangely empty; there are no social events, no parties with groups of friends that I do stuff with. There are no outreach events, especially ones that I am in responsible for, like I used to have. I lost a whole chunk of my life outside of work, and nothing has replaced it.

I’ve been depressed lately, but didn’t want to admit it out loud. I’ve just carried the secret deep inside of me, carefully guarding it, like I guard my tears late at night or in my car alone on the way to work every day. The funny thing is that I don’t think I’ve fooled anyone. My closest friends and family know without me admitting it or not. In fact, seeing their worry and hesitancy to talk about anything serious with me, adds another level of pain. I don’t want them to be worried, and I’d much rather they talk to me than about me. It’s like they are afraid of my anger or my pain, and while I know that they might not find it easy or pleasant to talk me for real, I need them to do that.

So, how do I feel about all this? Here's what I know: I am not what happens to me. I lead because of who I am, I make decisions based on who I am, not what has happened to me. I share these experiences with everyone who has led me to this place, with those who prayed me out, who followed me and hoped and believed in me. I also share those experiences with those who failed to believe in me, credited false motives to me, or believed the worst. I just don’t give them a voice anymore.

Before I was ever a pastor at Severn River Church, God loved me. In fact, He loved me before I was saved, filled with the Spirit, or called into ministry. He loved me regardless of my sermons, my years on the missionfield, my abilities, gifts, or personality. He loved me before I even knew Him, and He loves me still. He loves me today, when I struggle with where I am in life, compared to where I wish I was. He loves me whether I'm laughing or crying. He loves me, and nothing in my past, present, or future can separate me from His love or His purpose for my life.

That's what is happening with me lately; what's new with you?

Sin's Prison

2010-10-12T14:27:00.004-04:00

Today I decided to spend my lunch break sitting on a picnic table on the playground where I work. I'm so blessed to have a spot like that where I can enjoy the weather while the warm temperatures last. At 1:30, I took my Coke Zero from the freezer where I keep on the point of icing over, grabbed some stuff I was working on, and headed out the door.

The sunshine was perfect, not too hot, nor too bright for me to read my papers. I was concentrating on my work when I heard a bee buzz past my ears. I cringed, and the bee flew past my shoulders into the soda can. At first I was aggravated--the soda can was practically full and now I couldn't drink it at all! I waited a moment to see if it would fly back out, but it didn't. I noticed that the bee was clearly circling inside the can, because I could hear a faint whistle of air movement magnified in the can, making an almost musical sound. I forgot my work and started to observe. The bee flew around and around the can. Occasionally the whistle noise would stop, and I figured the bee either grasped the pop-top on the inside of the can for a little rest, or maybe dropped from fatigue into the soda. I kept waiting for the bee to emerge.

Finally about 10 minutes later, I heard the whistle stop again, followed by a rush of wings past my face. I froze in place, sure that the bee would be angry. It flew around wildly, darting in and out of the picnic table legs, with the joy of someone finally freed from prison.

About one minute later, it dropped back on the soda can, and crawled back in.

I thought to myself, "You stupid bee. You just got out after all that work, and now look, you're right back in trouble." I thought of Paul's explanation of the sin nature in Romans 7, "If the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me, and gets the better of me every time."

All of my judgment against the bee, doing what was in his nature, faded in the light of my own weakness. Like Paul, I struggle against finding myself back in the same sinful situation I just struggled my way out of. Without Christ to set me free, I would circle the soda can until I died, just like the bee eventually did, drowned in the syrupy stickiness of his own foolishness.

A Day to Remember

2010-01-26T08:07:00.002-05:00

This morning, as I sat in my office as the new Preschool Director at the Towson Y, I could hear the usual sounds of children arriving with their parents. Hats, jackets, lunches--everything gets dropped off while the parents give the teachers a few parting instructions and the kids find their friends.

This morning, I heard a little boy pause as he entered his room. His little round face turned up to his mom as he asked sweetly, "Will today be a day that I always remember?"

That's the beauty of life, and it doesn't change from childhood to maturity; we never know the moments that will change our life.

A Successful Outreach/Fundraiser

2009-12-23T15:41:00.003-05:00

In all the hustle-bustle of the Christmas season, perhaps nowhere is as crowded and crazy as the local shopping mall. Parking spaces are at a premium, and the lines are long at cash registers as everyone tries to get their last few gifts bought.

Severn River Church participated in an outreach/fundraiser for the last two nights at Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie, in which we wrapped gifts for harried shoppers--mostly men--for a small fee. It gave us a chance to raise some funds for some local missions projects that are coming up this year, as well as gave us some exposure to holiday shoppers who might just be searching for a church as well as the perfect gift!

We raised a little over $300 dollars in two nights, and certainly got exposure to dozens of shoppers who used our services. I was pleased with the results, mainly because of the support of the people who made it happen. I want to thank Lori Mullins, a friend who works at the mall and offered us this opportunity; I'm tremendously grateful to our faithful church members who took orders, wrapped gifts, and encouraged business in many ways: Drew and Jennifer Harrah, Ryan and Meghan Larson, Scott and Terri Poe, Scott Schuler, and Ben Rainey, Sr. I especially appreciate Pastor Ben and Corie who helped lead this activity, since my work schedule didn't allow me to be there the whole time.

The Angel Choir

2009-12-15T18:04:00.002-05:00

I remarked to a friend this week that I find children singing to be the most beautiful sound in the world. I love how pure and innocent they sound; it's just delightful to see a child sing--especially one who is serious and passionate about his song.

It makes me think . . . if I were God summoning the angels to sing out the good news of Christ's birth, I'd make their voices sound like children. I'd fill the heavens with that sound so clear and uncontaminated.

I wonder what it actually sounded like.

Good News Gets Shared!

2009-12-14T18:43:00.002-05:00

I have been offered a new job, starting in 2010, as the director of the Towson Y preschool. I appreciate those of you who were job references for me during my job hunt, and those of you specifically who have stood with me in prayer for a permanent career job.

I've been blessed for the past few months to work 20+ hours a week for a wonderful boss and crew of staff members at Therapy Solutions in Severna Park. It's been so great working there, that I am recommending the job to any of you who are looking or know someone looking. The job here is 2-8 pm Mon.-Thurs, and 12-6 pm on Fridays. It's a fairly easy receptionist job, with the rewards of seeing children all day as they come in for therapy. I've enjoyed the conversations with my fellow colleagues and the parents in the waiting room; this job has seemed more like a group of friends. If you (or someone you know) is interested, please give me a call or email me.

However, I'm excited to move on to a job that is suited to me personally and professionally. I'm being offered some good benefits, and I hope to be a benefit to the Y organization as a whole once I begin working there in January.

God and Television

2009-12-10T15:48:00.002-05:00

On many television shows, a relationship or belief in God is a common theme. I've noticed it on medical shows as well as forensic dramas, as if a belief in God has to be in conflict with an understanding of science.

Tonight at 8 pm on Fox, the show Bones is airing a Christmas episode. I've seen a clip from the latter half (as the plot wraps up) that has a wonderful Christian message. I was very impressed to see such a clear presentation of the meaning of Christmas--Christ our Redeemer--being presented on a secular show.

If you get a chance to watch, you can support a rare Hollywood admission of the Gospel.

If I Wrote God's Résumé

2009-12-01T16:48:00.006-05:00

If practice makes perfect, then I should have an ideal résumé by now. In the past year, I have rewritten my resume hundreds of times. I have been bright and charming; I have been dull and boring; I have been, shall we say, creative with the truth, emphasizing some aspects of my previous jobs more than others. I have skipped some employment all together, and on other versions, I've listed any lemonade stand I ever manned. I suppose to some extent I've been successful--I've had several interviews.

But the whole process has got me thinking about the way that we describe ourselves and our accomplishments. Clearly, the job market puts value on certain skills and ability. There is significance to education and training, but the biggest thing that makes a job candidate stand out from the others is results!

When we worship the Lord, we recognize the skills and abilities of God. We appreciate his accomplishments, and we document his results. The Psalms are full of God's "experience and qualifications" and I am reminded of them as I read Psalm 103,

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him . . . "

Can you imagine having a résumé like that one?

The Grocery Fairy

2009-12-01T16:36:00.004-05:00

Last night when I got home from work, tired and hungry, I noticed right away that someone had been inside my home. A lamp was lit, like a beacon welcoming me into the house, and I knew I hadn't left the lamp on. I looked around to see what else had been disturbed, and saw my kitchen floor was covered in grocery bags. A quick look inside the fridge revealed that that it was full, too. The grocery fairy had visited and left me all kinds of staples to start off my kitchen pantry! I got sugar and flour, salt and pepper, canned goods, and paper products. There was even a little potpie waiting for me to heat up for a late after-work dinner. There were breakfast items and meat packages, pasta, rice, and pudding snacks. I grasped a carrot and held it high, like Scarlet O'Hara, and shouted, "As God is my witness, I'll never go hungry again!"

No, not really, but it was a great feeling to know that my cupboards were full. Plus, someday it will be a good sermon illustration! Thank you, grocery fairy!

The Right Players

2009-11-28T12:23:00.003-05:00

When my niece Sydney started playing soccer at age three, my family got involved in a variety of ways. We were spectators, trainers, and my brother even started coaching. For the past few weeks, he's made the rounds of the growth groups of Severn River Church, sharing a devotional thought based on his soccer coaching experiences.

One of his points was that having the right players really makes a difference. You can have a deep bench of players, but if none of them are any good, it doesn't help you win. The right players are worth pursuing because they will help you accomplish the great things you envision.

We've been applying that value to our church growth plan, but this weekend I saw it in action in my own personal life. I moved yesterday, making a few runs with a small trailer full of boxes and "small stuff." Today, the men in my family moved the "big stuff"--furniture for the living room, dining area, and bedroom. We were aided by Michael Martin, an energetic young man from my former church.

I have personally thanked those involved, but I would like to publicly say that Dad, Mom, Andy, Sarah, Ben, Corie, and Michael Martin made this whole move possible, and I couldn't be more thankful for their help. Having the right players made all the difference.

House and Home

2009-11-24T21:44:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was my thirty-mmphmpm birthday. To celebrate, I had a wonderful dinner with my family on Sunday night, where I ate my favorite steak and opened presents. I took the day off of work, and oh, yeah, I bought my first home.

Two months ago, a friend mentioned an open condo unit in her building; was I interested? I looked through it one night, and thought it wouldn't hurt to check on financing. As it turned out, I reconnected with an old family friend who sells real estate, and she helped me find financing. She also helped me find a great condo in Sun Valley, right between my parents and sister's homes in Millersville and my brother's home in Glen Burnie. At first I couldn't believe that I would actually get a loan; then I was amazed that I found a place I actually liked in my price range. Quite often I felt that God was really blessing me throughout the process, and yesterday at settlement, I was sure that He had given me more than I've ever deserved.

It's not a palace, but it's perfect for me. I'm only one person, and I've learned to be content when I've had much and when I've had little. Mom has been helping me paint, and we hope to move in on Saturday. Anyone who has some free time would be welcome to carry in some boxes!

Back online

2009-11-17T23:16:00.003-05:00

While I was having some writer's block issues, friends and family started telling me that my blog had disappeared. After some research, I discovered that my domain name (www.arielrainey.com) had come up for renewal, but my credit card expired, and my email address was an old one that I no longer use, so I wasn't getting my notices from the company for renewal.

I finally got it hashed out and updated over the last few days, and finally I'm back online. Now, if only I was over the writer's block . . .

Somebody Loves Me (and Knows Me Too Well)

2009-08-31T20:02:00.003-04:00

Guess what I got today at work? A special delivery! This lovely snickers bouquet, created by Sarah Gilt at A Blooming Basket, was a real treat today when it arrived at my office. In the card was written:

Roses are red, but snickers taste better,
If you work really hard, you can pay off your debtors!

I thought that was as cute as the bouquet. Thanks for the surprise, Sarah!

New Job

2009-08-31T10:58:00.004-04:00

I'm really excited about my new job--working as a medical receptionist in a physical therapy office. Already, I've been blessed: my boss hired me at one rate and promised it would increase in three weeks, once I'd learned the responsibilities. Instead, when I got my check today, she wrote in, "I'm so happy with your work ethic, I went ahead and bumped you up immediately." Great news! Plus, I'm working full-time this week as a sub for another employee, which is really helping me catch up with my bills.

Normally, I'll work 3:30- 8:00 pm and then on Fridays during the day. Also, I'm available to sub in for other workers as needed (until I get something else full-time). So, I'm a busy little bee, but it's really encouraging to have my schedule filled after weeks of sending out resumes!

New Job

2009-08-27T08:50:00.003-04:00

Today I am happy to announce that I have a new part-time job. I'm working as a front desk receptionist at a physical therapy practice in Severna Park. I will do training all day today, and may be on my own as early as this afternoon, if I catch on quick.

I really like the owner of the practice, having interviewed with her yesterday. The place is small and all the employees seem very friendly and connected. I'm really looking forward to learning some new skills and making some new friends. I'm already thinking about the day when I can invite them to special events at SRC!

Reading The Message

2009-08-24T15:28:00.003-04:00

"You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything." (Colossians 2:9-10)

What imagery! I love the visual images and the rhyme scheme on this verse from The Message. A telescope views galaxies and stars light years away, and a microscope observes even the tiniest details of microorganisms; a horoscope claims to predict knowledge beyond the scope of human control--but the fullness of Christ reaches beyond them all! Compared to his fullness, every other fascination is empty. It's an amazing verse.

Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts

2009-08-22T17:11:00.002-04:00

My family has a new hobby--cleaning up/out my grandmother's home and property. We are selling it, and in a few months, everything must be gone. We've had a few all-family work days so far, and there are plenty more to come. It's a huge job. My grandparents built their home fifty years ago, at least, and with their depression-era mindsets, they didn't throw anything away. My grandfather in particular, just built more sheds to hold all his old rusty mailboxes and broken electronics.

Since his death in 2001, the property has fallen into increasing disrepair; none of us could make it a full-time job, as it was for him. Last week, we did a lot of the outside work, clearing out things that were covered in vines. The harder we yanked, attempting to free stuff, the harder those vines held on! We hauled a few truckloads to the dump last weekend, and this weekend, we got a dumpster delivered.

Today we all split into different areas, some outside, some working in storage areas, and some hauling what turned out to be a lot of trash to the dumpster. Due to recent storms, the basement had flooded, so there was a lot of damage to boxes, too. It didn't take long until we were covered in slime from moldy boxes, sweat, dust, and cobwebs. But at least when we quit for lunch, we had made a big dent in the job that continues. . . .

A Smile and a Handshake

2009-08-21T14:44:00.002-04:00

The era of the small business is not yet over. Today I spent most of the morning with a small dilemma--I bought a gift that wasn't as personal as I wished to make it. I decided to add an engraved plate, and called Things Remembered to ask about their rates. No one answered, so I called King James Galleries, a stone's throw from home but I'd never been inside the framing store.

The owner was so genial on the phone, supplying information above and beyond my questions, that I decided to pop in just to say thanks. When I went in, I told him about my gift and my desire to personalize it, and he made a great suggestion. In fact, he recommended another local business that could aid me in the changes as well.

I left him, and spent an hour at the UPS store, who graciously printed some oversize materials for me, things I could never do at home on my printer. After an hour and many resizing changes, the new manager at the Pasadena UPS charged me a grand total of $1.12! His generosity was so appealing, I promised he'd have my business in the future.

I headed back to King James Galleries with my printed materials, dropped off my gift, and went to catch an ice cream sundae with my mom and sister. By the time I finished the last scoop of my dessert, the framer was already calling to tell me he'd finished my order!

His framing looks great, and it cost me 1/4 of the money Michaels charges (and takes two weeks to do). I was so thrilled that both of these men helped me today--even with custom orders and rush jobs--that I was moved to recommend their business to friends and family. I like the small business service with a smile and a handshake, and I know I'll use it again.

Israel and New Breed

2009-07-21T13:46:00.002-04:00

I'm listening to a new album that I bought on Itunes (available also at Christian bookstores) called A Deeper Level, by Israel Houghton. Great music, even greater worship. I just got a device to plug my ipod into my car, and I love being able to listen to all this praise and worship music as I drive my delivery routes. If you have never heard Israel (often listed as Israel and New Breed), check out "Let it Rain" and "Say So" on YouTube. Amazing!

God in my Hurting

2009-07-09T15:39:00.003-04:00

I believe in Divine Healing, and I’m thankful for the supernatural touch of God that cures our diseases and restores our physical bodies. I’m grateful for the shed blood of Christ that provided that healing to us. I have prayed for healing, proclaimed healing, and had the proof of God’s healing in my life. Friends and family members have also experienced this miraculous healing, and love to testify about it.

But . . . what about when God doesn’t heal?

I have other friends and family members who long for the healing touch of God, but for reasons only He knows, God doesn’t heal them. These are people of faith and faithfulness to the Lord. They have obeyed the scripture in their pursuit of healing, but the healing they desire hasn’t happened.

This past week we sang a new worship song at church (new to me, at least), and I found myself contemplating the words of the song: “God in my hurting, God in my healing.” Given the choice, I’d much rather have the healing, thank you very much. But God is sovereign, and even when He doesn’t heal, He is still there with me in the trial I face. In fact, I’d venture to say that for every verse in the Bible about healing, there are probably ten more about God’s grace in the midst of our suffering. God’s provision, God’s sustaining hand, God’s protection, God’s attentive ear to our cries—all of these permeate the scripture as a testimony of those who may not have known God’s healing, but they knew God in their hurting. From David in his expressive Psalms to Paul who begged for release from his “thorn in the flesh,” the writers of the Bible knew that in their pain, He was still God.

God in my hurting means that He walks with me through the troubles; He is rock-solid and faithful, even when I am weak and faithless. I can trust Him to work in my life, even if it is not through a miraculous healing touch.

“Gideon’s lamps were revealed when his soldiers’ pitchers were broken. If our pitchers are broken for the Lord and his gospel’s sake, lamps will be revealed that otherwise would have stayed hidden and unseen . . . . Out of affliction’s dark come spiritual light.” (John Bunyan)

Budget - No one's favorite word

2009-07-07T14:41:00.002-04:00

Since I've been searching for full-time employment, I've been taking the opportunity to educate myself at the local library. I've checked out books on promoting yourself in interviews, networking your contacts, and negotiating your salary. All of these books have been interesting and informative, but I came across something in the salary negotiation book that has really stayed with me.

Jack Chapman (Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1,000 a Minute) says that when it comes to money, particularly the amount the boss has already decided to pay a certain position, there are three governing rules: budget, fudgeit, and judgeit. Budget is the actual amount that approved or set aside in the finances of the company. It is pre-determined and fixed.

Fudgeit is a cute term for the plans we make when we go over our budget but determine to fix it somehow elsewhere in the budget. "I can afford this new dress if I eat mac 'n cheese for the next two weeks" or "If I get the upgrade package on this computer, I'll pay less in peripheral expenses." We rob Peter to pay Paul, because we really want something that overextends us to a manageable extent. We fudge the numbers until it works.

Judgeit is Jack Chapman's term for spending a ridiculous amount, with no way to rearrange the numbers, but for something that we judge to be worth it in the long run. For example, someone could buy a house that is too large and too expensive, but choose to operate a home-business in the basement (saving rent elsewhere). It may take a while, but eventually the buyer believes that good judgment will pay off. Someone could purchase a luxury car, believing that clients will be so dazzled with his car that he will gain contracts. A boss can be so impressed with a prospective employee during an interview that he will pay more than the budgeted salary, judging that this employee will actually bring more money or efficiency into the company in the future.

I was reflecting on this recently, because it applies to personal budgeting, and so many other areas of life! For me, my nieces are a judgeit category. When I'm tired or when I have other things I should be doing (like blogging), I still have little kids that want me to read a book to them, or play on the computer, or watch a movie on my bed. I don't always have time budgeted to do that, not even to fudgeit with other things on the schedule, but I know that in the long run, I won't regret having spent time with them while they're young and in awe of such a great aunt.

Whether you count coins, calories, or calendar squares, these three principles--budget, fudgeit, and judgeit--are worth consideration.

July 4th Outreach

2009-07-04T22:43:00.003-04:00

We had a great outreach day at the Severna Park Festival and Parade, thanks in a large part to our Outreach team volunteers (Rob and Alma pictured). We had perfect weather--maybe the best July 4th weather I've ever seen. This year, in addition to getting our contact surveys we also used our booth to promote our God in the Great Outdoors event and our Screen on the Green outreach, both upcoming in July.

In order to draw people to our booth, we had a balloon artist, which was a pretty good draw to families with young children (photo below). We participated last year for the first time, so this year's event was our sophomore attempt, and with each event, we gain experience and wisdom. I was pretty happy with our day!

Good, Better, Best

2009-06-30T18:36:00.000-04:00

Many years ago, I saw Phantom of the Opera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The show was memorable—falling chandeliers and soaring vocals. But there were lots of other little things I remember about that night, which had nothing to do with the show. The ladies room was way too small, maybe only four stalls, poorly built. My now sister-in-law was with us that night; then, she was just a girl my brother was dating, so I barely knew her and felt awkward making small talk. I also remember that in the program that night, there was a list of donors to the Kennedy Center, with fancy sounding names, like “Golden Circle” and “Maestro’s Circle” suppporters. In fact, there was an entire tiered program of donors with higher and more expensive appellations.

No one wants to be “basic.” No one wants to be average. I read in a book recently that no one wants to be “medium” so companies like Starbucks don’t use terms like small, medium, and large as a specific marketing choice. Visa “gold cards” gave way to “platinum cards” because we would all much rather be better (or at least have a better-sounding name).

The service planning committee at Severn River Church is an opportunity for our church to go from the basic package to the deluxe version of ourselves. By taking time to analyze and brainstorm, we are able to add in creative layers of media, music, visual and performing arts. We correct minor miscommunications and improve intangible things like transitions and preparation.

We could stay “average” but we would rather improve week by week until we are the best we can possibly be. Now, we just need a fancy-sounding name.

Zoom Lens

2009-06-29T17:26:00.002-04:00

Recently I was at a baby shower where the guest of honor was preparing to open gifts. Someone called for a photographer, and I volunteered to take the pictures. I had a pretty decent seat, so I figured I could take some good snaps. Unfortunately, I didn't have my own camera; I had a friend's camera. The first thing I noticed was that there was no zoom feature on her "point-and-shoot" camera. I realized I've become pretty accustomed to using my zoom lens to isolate just the image I want. I can eliminate distracting stuff in the foreground or be a little more creative with the focus.

Then, just the other day, I was on the community college campus, taking some reconnaissance pictures for our "God in the Great Outdoors" service. I wanted to get some basic shots of the amphitheater area, so that we could analyze the sunlight and shadows. I stood up at the top of the amphitheater, and used my zoom lens to focus on certain areas. It took me about three minutes. I actually felt lazy, standing in one area and zooming my focus all over the place, rather than just walking down to the open area. It's so easy to stand far away and use the lens to do the work for me.

As I stood there, a thought struck me that some people prefer to do ministry like that. To stand back and zoom in for a quick strike, perhaps isolate one particular person or one individual event, and then zip right back into the distance. I think when it comes to ministry, it's better to walk all way down and actually participate in the wide-angle perspective that includes everything.

Better Together

2009-06-24T20:23:00.002-04:00

Recently I have been able to spend time with my brother and sister in a different way than I have previously. I have shared bedrooms, meals, and more of my CDs than I ever wished to with my siblings. Now I’m sharing a new responsibility of service planning for Severn River Church. We meet weekly for a serious and productive discussion of the previous week’s worship service, before turning our attention to the upcoming services and events. The meeting works well, because obviously, we know each other extremely well. There is no subtext to our discussions, no personal agendas.

The best part for me is that this meeting allows each of us to focus on what our individual gifts are; for three people raised in the same home by the same parents, we each have unique personalities, and Severn River Church gets the benefit. My sister is very relational. She loves to greet and serve people. She has a natural gift of making strangers feel like instant friends. She also loves children, decorating, and humor--she is one of the funniest people I know! My brother is the classic peacemaker, a person able to see value in everyone’s ideas and make people feel like they are connected to a group. He is a leader and a big-picture thinker. When I sit next to them in our meeting, I realize that I am not very funny, like my sister. I am not a peacemaker like my brother. My contribution is creative ideas and organization of details. My sister likes to joke that if we forged our three personalities, we would make the perfect person. I doubt that’s true, but I’m glad that we can bring three different perspectives to the table in our meetings.

I have another weekly meeting with a friend named Sue. Sue has a personality almost exactly like mine. In fact, we have scored within a few points of each other on different personality tests. When I meet with Sue, our similar personalities are so complimentary that one might think we can’t really sharpen each other, but that meeting is just as valuable as the service planning meeting. We push each other, question each other, coach one another, and commiserate together about how annoying everyone else is!

As we left our meeting today, Sue said, “We are better together,” citing the Biblical explanation of the Body of Christ in I Corinthians 12:12-27. I thought it applied to my meeting with Sue, my almost-mirror in personality, but it was also appropriate for my meeting with Ben and Sarah, who are in many ways my opposites. We are better together.