Losing Life

A little drama is okay

I don't think a mom should say goodbye to her kids for 17 days without a little bit of drama.  So, it happened last night.  Judiann's bedtime.  She launches into a 6 year old monologue of why her mom is choosing to go to India instead of grandpa and grandma's lake house with her.  She concluded that it must be God's plan.  Then she started to cry.  Not the "I am trying to get my way cry," but a real from the heart cry.  So I just decided to let it all go too, and we sat and cried together for a while.  We both felt better when we were done agreeing that sometimes the right thing and the hard thing is the same thing.

Not as much drama with the boys.  But even so, I saw a look in their eyes that was more then just a "see ya later mom" kind of look.  The boys hug me and I don't have to lean down anymore.

Then there was the driveway drama.  Saying goodbye to Troy.  He said, "I am so proud of you...go chase the world.  I said, "I don't want the world, I want you."  He said, "I know, but we will have all of eternity together."  He is so amazing.

Okay.  Enough drama.  I promise.  I am just feeling a little "squishy" as Eric Bramlett puts it.  And Eric says, "it's okay, it happens to the best of us from time to time." 

pssst...I want to show you something

When we took Jake to Disney World and he was three years old, he was so excited to see those disney characters, and I was so excited to show him!  Then last spring break when my son Mitch and daughter Judiann saw the ocean for the first time...I couldn't wait for them to see!

I hear God whispering in my ear.  "Janet, come here, there is something I want to show you."  I think He is so excited to show me His world, His people and His work, he can hardly contain himself.

3 more days

Even if something happened and I was not able to go on this trip to India...the preparation for the trip has already changed me.  Here's how:

I care about something I didn't care about before: I have prayed for the woman of India, women I do not know.  Suddenly I care about their lives, who they are, their struggles and their joys.

I let go of the idea that I am in control:  I have realized that any idea I have that I am in any way in control of my life, is just a grand illusion.  I am not in control.  Whether I cross the street, or cross the world, God is in control. 

I have a fresh eternal perspective:  Any thing I choose to do has significance IF what I am doing has the possibility to influence eternity.  And eternal things are worth the risk.

I Love God even more:  To think that He had such a cool idea in mind for me, to think that He loves people so much more then I can, to think He loves my children so much more then me.  I love God for that.

I have a new urgency to pray:  Stepping outside of my comfort zone just makes me want to pray... a lot.  Ya know?

Church Planting

From Steve Addisons Blog....this is interesting.

In the next 20 years the world will grow by 1.5 billion people. Most of them in Asia, Africa and Latin America: the “global south”.

At one new church per 1,000 new people we need 1.5 million new churches in the next 20 years just to keep up.

Head over to the World Population Clock. If you’re a MacUser here’s a world population Dashboard widget.

Watch it tick over for a while.

Then pray for workers and 1.5 million new churches—just to keep up.

Huh! Who knew?  I think the population counter increased by 100 people in the few seconds I watched it.  Isn't anyone dying?

Baptism and Fishing

A sleepy lake town in northern Minnesota has a church that is NOT sleeping at all.  In a town with a total population of 618, This church serves over 400 people each weekend.  I would say God is up to something in Cook, MN.  My grandfather's picture hangs on the wall as the pastor of this church over 60 years ago when my Dad was born.  And today, Randy Swenson leads this church where people are encouraged and challenged on their spiritual journey...including some of my favorite people in the whole world...my mom and dad.    Last summer this church baptized 15 people at a big party on Lake Vermillion! 

I wonder if the fishing is better when people have recently been baptized in the lake?   

Women With a Mission

Women With a Mission is the name of the conferences we are doing in India and Sri Lanka.  I started dreaming of being a woman on mission with God when I was in college.  My first thought was I could marry a pastor...then I could be in ministry full time.  Smile.  It was a long time ago!  Then when I came to Community Christian Church, Jon Ferguson asked me to join the staff of CCC.  Huh, I could do ministry without being married to a pastor.  Who knew?  Then my engineer husband became a pastor.  God is funny.

What you can learn over dinner

I am continually amazed at the number of gifted, talented, and influential people God has brought to Community Christian Church.  Troy and I had dinner tonight with a family that has been a part of CCC for over a year.  I knew who they were.  I had said hi to them on Sunday morning.  But until tonight, I didn't really know them.  I had the privilege of hearing them share their deep passion for the local church.  It's always amazing to see the dreams that God places in the hearts of His people.  I can't wait to see what God does with their dreams and passions. Who are you having dinner with?

Fully Invested

Three small group coaches agreed to spend an hour (6:30am no less) every Saturday morning for the summer to craft our strategy for neighborhood small groups.  These are gifted leaders - I mean they really demonstrate the spiritual gift of leadership in their lives.  Today we talked about what it means to be "invested" as a coach.  Here were some of their thoughts:

Investment is:

• Taking ownership of our spiritual journey
• Offering God our leadership gift to be used for the kingdom
• Consistency in spite of ups and downs of ministry
• Recognizing that God is at work, and I may be one of the tools He intends to use

We had a rich discussion about Matthew 25 the parable of the talents.  We agreed that God values our investment - our willingness to put to use what he has given us.  While we are responsible for the investment, God is responsible for the return.

I am full of anticipation of what God intends to do through these three invested leaders.  Stay tuned...

Be a Coach

  On Steve Addison's Blog World Changers there is a link to a free download of a Start Up Guide To Coaching Leaders.

http://www.steveaddison.net/wp-content/Coaching_Leaders_Startup_Guide_Steve_Addison.pdf

This is a quick, easy read with practical tips for any small group coach.  Here is an excerpt:

Think about the people in your life who have helped you succeed.  "What did they do?"  "How did they make you feel?" 

• They made me feel valued
• They helped me take responsibility
• They believed in me
• They listened
• They challenged me to be my best
• They saw what I could become and helped me get there

You want to be that for someone else?  Great...then you are a coach.

I feel like chickening out

Not the news I wanted to get today.  Check out the link to USA Today.  7 train bombings kill up to 131 people in Mumbai, India.  Funny how 6 months ago I could have read this news report and not really thought too much about it. Interesting how evil things happening around the world don't really affect us until they might some how touch our lives personally.  3 weeks from today I am on my way to Mumbai.  I feel like chickening out today.