Random Ramblings…

30 Mar posted by

I’ve been drafted for duty and am now working on Easter Sunday.  This looks to be a rather busy week.  Still not exactly sure what I’m going to say but I would bet it will have something to do with the Resurrection.  Seems fitting.
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Dinosaur Train has taken over my life.  I read books about dinosaurs.  I watch an episode daily with my son.  We roar like T-Rexes.  I’m loving it.  I love being the mother of a boy.  This is allowing me to delve into the realm of dinosaurs at my age without anyone {besides you guys of course} knowing my fascination with them.  There are so many more dinosaurs now then when I was young.

Here’s a particularly entertaining song from the series:

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There have been some abstract, vague thoughts floating around in my head about beginning a worship gathering separate from the usual Sunday experience.  I’m not ready to commit yet but I’m thinking about it.  It may never happen but the thoughts are in there.
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Fringe is new tonight.  Watch it.  Love it.  I do.

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What do Words with Friends, blogging, surfing the web, Bejeweled, and Pawn Stars all have in common?  They are perfect tools for procrastinating.  I need to unplug my PVR, disconnect my modem and get to work.  I’m completely undisciplined today.  I’d better get back to work…
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Filed Under: Musings, Random Blog Stuff, Reflections

Landslide

29 Mar posted by

I have a lot of friends who write blogs.  I would say 99% of them are about their personal lives with a hint of Jesus but there are some that are more specific in their direction.

One of my friends recently started a blog called ”The Next 500 Years” and his first post {which you should check out} is a bit of an introduction to where he’s going to go with the blog.  He talks about this time of transition in the church as being like the moment when you are at the top of the roller coaster and about to launch down into that giant dip.  It’s the moment when you are absolutely terrified {even if you know what’s coming}.

I like the roller coaster imagery but for me I see it as more of a landslide.  An event that is years in the making, waiting for that one thing which will send everything sliding down the mountain.  No one knows what will happen.  No one knows what it will look like once the event is over.  There is only one guarantee, change is coming and things will never look the same again.

I love the Dixie Chicks rendition of the Fleetwood Mac hit “Landslide”.  It’s something I listen to often and there is one line of lyrics that particularly hits me with regards to life, transition and inevitable change.

“Well I’ve been afraid of changing ’cause I built my life around you”

Sometimes I wonder if we {as Christians} have focused and built around the church buildings instead of Jesus.  Maybe that’s why we’re so scared of changing because we’ve been focused on the wrong thing.

Whether we’re at the top of a roller coaster or sitting on the side of a cliff that’s just about to let go, change is coming.  We might not like it.  We might not want it.  But it’s coming.  I’m looking forward to seeing what the change will bring.

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Filed Under: Christianity, Faith, Hope, Musings, Random Blog Stuff, random church things most of you probably don't care about, Reflections

How Mad Men made me think about disconnect & the church {with a hint of Zou Bisou Bisou}

28 Mar posted by

I can’t get this song out of my head.
I blame Megan Draper.
I have to say it may have been the only good thing about Sunday’s episode for me.


I’ve watched Mad Men from the beginning and I’d like to say I’m happy it’s back but really I’m not sure I care because it’s been so long and I feel so disconnected.  I think it’s that way with a lot of things.   It definitely seems to be that way with church.  People tend to talk to me about their faith (occupational hazard) and it’s often a reflecting on how things were, or how much it meant to them back in the day.  Once you’ve walked away it’s hard to come back.  Things are never as they were and memories become hazy and it’s easier to let things lie.   They’ve lost connection with the community.  It’s hard to reconnect after a long time away.

I was willing to let go of the show.  I was willing to walk away after Sunday night’s episode but my husband says I cannot, I must give it a chance.  I know this is only a television show and it doesn’t affect my life if I don’t watch it but it got me thinking.  Are we willing to put in the effort it takes to reconnect with those who are not connected with the faith any longer?  Are we willing to put ourselves out there and share our lives with them so they can see who we really are?

Right now it seems like faith has become too individualized in the Christian community.  We talk about our individual journeys, our preferences, our theology, our desires and our needs.  What about the journeys of those who are new, those who are lost or those who are struggling?  What about the preferences of those outside our walls?  What about their needs, desires and wants?

We need to move past our own agenda and into Jesus’ agenda.  We need to support one another, love one another and share the hope that Jesus offers.

Community is important.  Community centered around the good news and the hope it brings.  We really need to share in the ministry and mission of Jesus.  We need to get out into the world, get our hands dirty and work side by side spreading hope and peace.  Jesus called us into community.  We need to shift our focus from what we want to what people need and start being the church once more.

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Filed Under: Christianity, Faith, Lent, Musings, Reflections, reforming, Worship

Scene: Becky sits, head hanging sheepishly as her fingers hit the keyboard.

27 Mar posted by

So I bet you’re wondering where I’ve been…
I’ve been reading a lot.
I’ve been lost in it actually.
It’s not great English literature.
It’s not about Jesus.
I’ve been reading The Hunger Games.

Embarrassing and true.

It’s okay.  You can laugh.

I was obsessed.  This has happened to me before with other series.  Characters like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson draw me in to their alternate realities and I can’t stop.  I didn’t think it would happen with Katniss.  I didn’t think that a dystopian novel written for young adults would draw me in.  It did.  I was hooked.  I just couldn’t stop.

Now I’m not sure what to read.  I know I should get back to Jesus and the Church but I feel drawn back into the world of young adult literature.  Should I reread Harry Potter?  Does Percy Jackson deserve another visit?  I’m not sure where I will go but I can guarantee it won’t be Twilight.  Vampires that sparkle just seem stupid to me.

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Filed Under: Musings, Random Blog Stuff, Things I love

Grilled Hummus Wrap

24 Mar posted by

We love hummus in this house.  I’m fairly certain if I gave my son hummus for breakfast he would be the happiest person in the world.  We eat a lot of it because it’s healthy, quick and so versatile.

Lately I’ve grown weary of the standard hummus, cracker and cut vegetable lunch my son favors.  I wanted something different, a little more grown up and this  wrap was the result.  It’s a grown up lunch and takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.  It’s fantastic.

If you’re in the market for a different lunch give this a try, you won’t be disappointed!

Grilled Hummus Wrap:

Ingredients:

  • One 10″ whole wheat tortilla
  • Hummus (I use light hummus but anything would work)
  • Sundried tomatoes.  These can be packed in oil or not according to your preference.
  • 1/2 of a roasted red pepper
  • a handful of baby romaine lettuce
  • 6 small olives cut in half. I like the olives stuffed with jalapenos but again according to your preference here.
  • 6 slices of english cucumber

Instructions:

  • Lay your tortilla flat and cover the about 2/3 of it with hummus.  Definitely hit the middle 1/3 and then move outwards until a fair amount is covered.
  • Lay the english cucumbers on top of the hummus in a strip from the top in a row of 4 with 2 on top of that row.
  • Lay the red pepper on top of the cucumbers.
  • Sprinkle with sundried tomatoes and olive halves.
  • Spread the romaine evenly on top of the wrap
  • Fold up the bottom half and then fold each side in on top of each other.  To aid in making sure my wrap stays together I always add a little hummus to the side that will be on top to make it a little sticky.
  • Place in your panini press and grill until golden brown and warmed through.
  • Enjoy!

Extra Information:

  • If you make this on the stove in a grill pan or frying pan you’ll have to grill it upside down to make sure the wrap seals before flipping it.  Because of this I would warn you not to overstuff the wrap as it can be disastrous {speaking from experience!}.
  • You could mix things up with other things you like.  When I don’t have roasted red peppers on hand, pepper strips work well.  I also enjoy adding basil and other seasonings from time to time.  The possibilities are endless!
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Filed Under: Dinner, Food, Healthy Living, Plant Based Diet, Recipe, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Random Thought Thursday: March 22nd Edition

22 Mar posted by

As I am sure you are aware I am loving this weather!  I’ve gone for walks everyday down by the lake and have been treated to this gorgeous sight:

How ridiculous is this for March?  So amazing and exactly what I needed.  I love the sunshine!

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I’m still reading and reflecting on Jesus but I won’t bore you with the details this week.  Let’s just say that I’m thinking a lot.  I’m feeling inspired and slightly unsure.  I am quite certain that God is working in my life and I am rather glad I chose to engage in Lent this way.
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You must eat this today….

I had some mushrooms that I needed to use and was wanting a quick supper and this was the result.  A garlic mushroom mozarella sandwich.  MMMMM.

Throw 16 oz of sliced mushrooms into a larger stainless steal pot with some white wine and a little water and cook down.  When the mushrooms are almost cooked at a pinch of salt, 1 tsp of thyme and 1/2 tsp rubbed sage.  Stir well.  Cook the mushrooms down until there are brown bits on the bottom of the pan (but don’t burn).  Add a little extra water and cook down again.  Once cooked remove from heat.

Have 12 slices of bread ready.  I used a garlic loaf (as in garlic baked right into the bread) and it was delicious.  If you can’t find a loaf like this rub some roasted garlic on the inside (where the cheese will go) and you should get a similar flavor.

Butter (or earth balance butter in my case) one side of each piece.  Flip over and load up six of the slices with mozzarella (I used Daiya mozzarella for a dairy free sandwich).  Throw some mushrooms on top.  Sprinkle the mushrooms with a little more cheese to help it stick together.  Place the opposite piece on top.

Grill these bad boys until brown.   You’re going to have some white wine left over so pour yourself a glass and enjoy it with your sandwich.

Heaven!
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My son is obsessed with trains.  This means we spend a lot of time with Thomas and Dinosaur Train.  I stupidly bought the soundtrack to Thomas because I knew he’d like it and now I have to listen to the song Roll Call over and over again.  It gets stuck in my head and I cannot get it out.  If you’re wondering what I am talking about here’s a video from the series:

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Fringe is new this week!  HOORAY!  I’ve been waiting for a new episode.  I’ll be in my basement tomorrow night at 9 pm watching if anyone needs to find me.
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Filed Under: Dinner, Food, Random Blog Stuff, Recipe

Energy.

21 Mar posted by

As I mentioned yesterday, it feels like summer here.  That means it’s time to bust out the summer driving music.  For me the winter is filled with deep thoughts and resonating tones.  In the summer though I like lighter thoughts and my thoughts tend to wander.

I love summer driving music.  Songs that are light and fluffy with a nice beat and good energy will fill my iPod by the end of this week.  Beatles tunes, 80′s Madonna hits, Katy Perry and the Spice Girls will be mixed in with other light, sunny hits.  There isn’t much depth or soul searching but there’s loads of energy and it’s happy music.


 

When I think about the craziness that the Beatles experienced, or NKOTB, the Spice Girls and now Justin Bieber I wonder what it would have been like to be with Jesus while he was preaching.  In a time with no cars and no quick mode of transportation it is suspected that he had close to 15 000 people around him while he spoke.  This number is incredible.  Think of the energy.  Think of the passion.  Imagine what it would have been like to be part of that crowd.

Jesus commanded the attention of people with a message of love and acceptance.
He commanded the attention of people with his presence and passion for people. It would have been an incredible site.

I know the energy from my summer driving songs doesn’t come from a place of depth or great connection with God but going to a concert and listening to the screaming fans connecting with those singers is probably the closest thing I’ll witness to the response people had to Jesus.

Wouldn’t it be great if we walked into church and felt that passion?
Wouldn’t it be great if we let Jesus in and allowed him to work in us?

Imagine what we could do if we just let the Holy Spirit in and allowed it to do it’s work…

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Filed Under: Musings, Random Blog Stuff, Reflections, Things I love

Summer Chives

20 Mar posted by

Look at this…

Don’t they look like summer chives?
They aren’t.  They are March 21 chives.
It’s not even summer yet and these chives are full, lush, and delicious
There’s just sitting on my back patio waiting to be eaten.

This is a very unusual year.

It’s the first day of spring.
Outside it’s 25 degrees and feels like a cool summer day.
I’m in heaven.
I have summer chives.
Life is good.

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Filed Under: Random Blog Stuff, Things I love

It’s in the doing…

19 Mar posted by

“Life’s not about expecting,
hoping and wishing.
It’s about doing,
being and becoming.
It’s about the choices you’ve just made,
and the choices you’re about to make,
it’s about the things you choose to say – today.
It’s about what you’re gonna do after you finish reading this. “
~Mike Dooley

“It’s about doing, being and becoming…”

What am I going to do after I finish reading this?
What am I going to do after I finish?
What am I going to do?

I’ve been mulling this phrase over in my head for quite some time.  What am I going to do?

I’m often told that I must wait to hear what the Lord requires, that I need to be patient and not move too quickly.  I am reminded that we need to sit in contemplation.  I am told that we must not move too quickly for fear of moving ahead of God’s plan for us.

I’m all for not jumping ahead but it seems to me that as Christians we’re being encouraged to do too much sitting.  Far more sitting still than Jesus ever did.  I feel like God is so much about the doing.

Take Micah 6:8 for example

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.”

or Matthew 22:37-40

“Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

These two passages are really about doing.  About living and loving.  Being just, kind and fair to your neighbor and living as God wants us to in the world. We are told not to ourselves to seriously. Perhaps all of this contemplation is leading us astray and preventing us from doing.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of hoping, expecting and wishing that things will change.  It’s easy to sit and wait thinking someone else will take care of the mess we’re in.  But God reminds us that the most important thing, the thing that really matters is people.  The rest of our concerns are secondary to the needs of the people around us.  I’m going to listen to God.  I am going to do that thing, that important thing he says, I’m going to love.  I’m going to serve.  I’m going to put myself out there.

Maybe if I do this.  Maybe in this action I will find myself going where God is leading.   After reading this I know what I have to do, I have to become the person God is calling me to be and the only way to accomplish that is in the doing.

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          This post is part of the Gathered Thoughts Link Party that’s happening today at LoveFeastTable.  I was given the prompt by my fantastic hostess Donna at Hey Donna and the task was to write something inspired by that quote.  She sent me the quote on a beautiful card that unfortunately I cannot take a picture of due to a broken camera but as soon as I get it fixed – you’ll see a picture!
          I’m linking up with many others today and would love it if you’d pop over and check out some of the other posts that are going to be featured.  There were 365 cards sent out with inspiring phrases so you’ll be sure to see some amazing posts.  What I’ve read so far has been incredible!

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Filed Under: Bible, Christianity, Faith, Musings, Reflections

Dusk…

18 Mar posted by

It’s that time of day when light fades into the dark.  It’s quiet here.  My son is in bed and asleep after a busy day.  My husband is out in the garage working.  I’m sitting at my kitchen table, lazily playing Words With Friends and checking my emails.

There is a peace here.  A sense of the still.  A time for words and thoughts.  A time to just be.

In this being I find myself thinking of life.  How different things are.  How much things have changed.  In the last few weeks I’ve found my work schedule has slowed down.  I have far less scheduled preaching ahead.  There is more time in my day as I’m not working as much and I wonder what I will do with that time.  Will I use it productively?  Will something else come about over the coming weeks and months?

I find myself dreaming of a future.  Will we have another child?  What will it all look like?  Dusk is a good time.  A quiet time for thoughts and words.  A quiet time to muse and reflect.

This future is hazy right now.  I hear whispers of change.  I feel nudges towards something new.  There are questions of family worship and casual gatherings to be answered.  New recipes and ideas haunt my brain as I’ve rediscovered the farmers market once more.  I have honey, local sweet honey sitting and waiting for me to use it.

For now I will sit.  I will think and plan.  I will write and uncover.  I will continue for it is dusk, the time when light fades into dark and everything becomes a lovely shade of gray.

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Filed Under: Musings, Random Blog Stuff, Reflections
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