en-us http://www.intensedebate.com/users/290863 Comments by Crystal http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/18/stickyjesus-7-christ-followers-the-game-changers/#IDComment154022881 I love that you shared this story! I can remember following you when you took that trip and I felt like I was there (a tiny bit at least) You helped connect people that never would have been connected. I felt like I had my own relationship with the people you were meeting, and I loved that. This is such a great list for how to be a game changer - like Kawanzaa, felt a small burden lifted as I realized that prayer was #1 ... this isn't ME doing this ... it's God working through me - and those are very different things. Great post dude! Thu, 19 May 2011 16:04:05 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/18/stickyjesus-7-christ-followers-the-game-changers/#IDComment154022881 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149523413 Paul - this is so very true. Jesus's ministry was full of conundrums ... his ability to make a true impact in the life of the people in the crowds was enhanced by the community that he formed with those closest to him - and vice versa. I almost get overwhelmed when I think about "the greater things" that I am called to do, and then I remember all I can do is take baby steps along the way! Fri, 6 May 2011 16:56:19 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149523413 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149522820 Thanks Sarah! I am much more in favor of the second too! But I do think that there are times when are lists get inflated and we don't do a good job of reaching out to the people "on our list" ... so just the thought of "shortening my list" makes me want to be more intentional about reaching out :) Fri, 6 May 2011 16:53:54 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149522820 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149522193 "Cool. I get to be a missionary all over the world and I don't even have to get dressed up or leave my desk!" I LOVE THIS! We are all called to be missionaries ... right where we are. What a gift social media is! Fri, 6 May 2011 16:51:10 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149522193 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149522029 What a great perspective! It is so hard sometimes to keep going ... wondering if the words we are saying are even making a difference. And while I do think quantity is some indicator that we are "doing the right thing", I think it's so easy to get caught up in "growing the number" without focusing on the relationship. What I loved about this chapter was that it stressed the importance of focusing on relationship ... and when you do that well, the numbers will grow. Because it's not only about the words you say, it's about the relationship you build in using those words. Fri, 6 May 2011 16:50:22 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149522029 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149521550 Tami - thanks for your kind words. Building online community has been something I've been really wrestling with lately, and this chapter hit so many nails right on their heads! Fri, 6 May 2011 16:48:13 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/06/stickyjesus-2-jesus-the-stickiest-story-ever-told/#IDComment149521550 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment67250965 Thank you Sadie! Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:44:06 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment67250965 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66846396 I\\\'m glad I could help. Thanks for your comment. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:42:36 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66846396 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66837608 Thanks for your insight Grega - I think it's a helpful conversation starter. I'm not sure that we'll ever truly know the reason she took her own life. We can only speculate. Some will speculate it was because of her depression. Some will speculate, just as you have, that it was because there were still people who made her job impossibly difficult. I think her death does raise questions about how hard it was to be the 1st female campus pastor at Valpo - but blaming our society doesn't help people grieve the loss of someone who was beloved. To me, the reason she took her own life is irrelevant. Perhaps it was because of depression. Perhaps it was because she just couldn't fight the system any longer. It was likely a combination. I know there have been times in my own ministry life that I'm not sure how I can find the strength to keep fighting. As one who also struggles with depression, I can see how the two can work together to make it seem hopeless. When someone dies, especially when someone commits suicide, those of us left behind are left with so many questions that may never be answered. I think there comes a time when we have to stop seeking answers to those questions and begin living out the legacy of the person who has left us. I hope that we don't point fingers as to the cause of her decision but that we are able to learn from this - that we can move forward from it and work together to have difficult conversations about difficult subjects. I pray that we begin to understand that we all have struggles and we all need a safe place to share those struggles without feeling judged or condemned. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 17:30:47 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66837608 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66827871 "we all need to be reminded that depression is a life-threatening illness, not a spiritual weakness to be kept hidden" Amen! Fri, 9 Apr 2010 16:29:07 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66827871 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66827763 Grega - I'm not sure what emails you are referring to so I'm not quite sure how to respond to your comment. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 16:28:32 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66827763 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1185#IDComment66827562 Thanks Pastor Eric - I have Celebration of Discipline on my shelf. Once i get through the stack of "already started books" (3 left) it is at the top of my list. I've heard great things about it and can't wait to dive in. I'm adding Thompson's book too. I'm in the process of trying to put together a small group of people who are willing to experiment with the practices and come together to talk about our experiences - I hope it will come together soon. McLaren's book is the introductory book to the Ancient Practices series - I have that entire series waiting to be read - it's made up of single books each on one practice. I'll let you know how I like them! Fri, 9 Apr 2010 16:27:11 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1185#IDComment66827562 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66811162 Thanks for your words Carolyn. This is a difficult subject to tackle - I am glad to hear the students are being open to the conversation. It's when we talk about our pain that the pain begins to release its hold on us - what a tough couple of months it will be as the students (and faculty and staff) at Valpo try to finish out the semester. Lots of prayers are surrounding them. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 14:45:09 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66811162 http://www.ronedmondson.com/2010/04/free-fridays-mustard-seed-thoughts-my-devotional.html#IDComment66806365 I'd LOVE a copy of this book!! You can find me @soulmunchies on twitter! Fri, 9 Apr 2010 14:12:48 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/2010/04/free-fridays-mustard-seed-thoughts-my-devotional.html#IDComment66806365 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1170#IDComment66803985 I love Mahi Mahi - but only when we buy it fresh. We've become much more adventurous in trying new fish lately ... we've come to realize that the recipe makes ALL the difference! The broccoli is definitely better with craisins than raisins - we didn't have any craisins and did have raisins, so we made the substitution last night to try it out :) I highly recommend it. If you don't like really crispy broccoli, steam it in the microwave for a couple minutes before you put it in the skillet. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 14:03:27 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1170#IDComment66803985 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=772#IDComment66792504 I have a hard time with comparing church to a soccer match. You watched soccer because you wanted to play soccer - knowing that you might not understand what was happening. The reality is there are more people than ever before who don't know the power of faith in Jesus Christ, and our worship services are doing nothing to help them. It's interesting that you say at one point that worship is not all about us and yet you argue solely for the one type of worship service that you love and appreciate most. Hear me on this - I am not advocating eliminating traditional Lutheran worship. But I do think it is important, especially in today's society, to offer other worship opportunities for people who either don't understand or don't connect with, those traditional worship services. I believe that to say that one way is the only right way is to stand in complete opposite of our heritage as Lutherans. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 12:49:48 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=772#IDComment66792504 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=772#IDComment66791454 Jonathan, I would be doing a disservice to the many different types of worship experiences that might be possible to share with you specific alternatives. That was not the intent of my post - the intent was simply to ask the question whether we should be closed off to them. Don't get me wrong - I am proud to consider myself Lutheran. However, my experience with the Lutheran church has been that it is one not willing to try changing things up for a new experience. As a person who wants to live and breathe my faith in everything I do, the organ music and liturgies spoken straight from a book do nothing for me. I've experienced some incredible worship at Lutheran gatherings that has been liturgical without being traditional. I can't describe those experiences in words - it's something that you just know when you see and experience. I am so glad there are Lutheran churches out there that are helping its congregation understand why we do what we do. It sounds like you've found a perfect fit in your congregation - a place where you truly feel like you can connect with and celebrate God's love and grace. But PTom's point is well made - the Lutheran church is shrinking quite rapidly. In fact, most mainline protestant denominations are shrinking. So couldn't it possibly be time to think about how we do some things to determine whether we are doing them in the most effective way possible? The decision we make may depend a lot on our context - what will work for one church might not work for another. But I think we are remiss if we claim that to be Lutheran means to do worship in one way and one way only. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 12:41:51 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=772#IDComment66791454 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66790010 Thanks so much for your memory of Darlene, and for your hopeful reminder that she is having one huge party with Jesus now. My prayers are with you now at Valpo - those of you who worked with her and loved her dearly - I hope you all know and realize it's not your fault and it's not anyone's fault. Any death is hard to comprehend, but suicide is especially difficult. I am sending lots of love and hugs your way. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 12:30:45 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66790010 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66663412 Jim, thanks so much for your memory! I am so sad I never had the chance to meet such a wonderful, inspiring woman. Thu, 8 Apr 2010 22:13:38 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=1163#IDComment66663412 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=772#IDComment66662616 Having grown up with traditional Lutheran worship, I appreciate all the aspects of it. I would never advocate getting rid of traditional Lutheran worship completely. I think traditional Lutheran worship speaks to a lot of people and there are really good reasons behind what we do in traditional worship services. Having said that, the liturgy that I used when I was growing up does not speak to me the way that it speaks to some people. For me, it feels like I'm going through the motions - no matter how hard I try to mean what I'm saying in the liturgies as they are printed, it still seems like I'm speaking someone else's words. I want to worship in a way that I can celebrate and experience God in all sorts of ways. For me, traditional worship is only one small piece of that. I completely agree that "praise worship" is missing the depth that we have in Lutheran worship - but I don't think that's because of the worship style, I think it's because of the theological background. I am confident that there is a happy medium ... and I'm merely suggesting that if we are to be true to our Lutheran roots, we should be open to exploring new ways of worship - as long as we remain true to our theological understanding of grace and the cross. Thu, 8 Apr 2010 22:09:10 +0000 http://www.soulmunchies.com/?p=772#IDComment66662616