Today I turned forty. When I was a kid, forty sounded really old. Now that I've made it to that "really old age", it doesn't hardly seem old at all. In fact, I feel like I'm just getting started on life. It's just in the last year that I've discovered a real love for ministry, for writing, and for speaking. It's just in the last year that I've gotten serious about pursuing these … [Read more...]
Picnic on Sunday: When Life Interrupts
The minutes were ticking by faster than I was making progress. It was Sunday afternoon and my planned day of final sermon prep, studying and co-rec volleyball games overwhelmed the remaining hours. With the sun shining in the windows and rare 70F spring temperatures, focusing on the undone work ahead required the utmost in concentration. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. … [Read more...]
Being S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D
With her blue cotton tights puddled at her ankles, giving the impression she had chosen them from my closet instead of her own, I just had to ask. "Anabella, what's wrong with your tights?" Sighing she grumbled, "Mariyana wore them and stretched them out!" Looking at the tights, I immediately knew that explanation was accurate. Tights may be designed to stretch, but not quite as … [Read more...]
That’s not a gift?!
After an entire weekend dedicated to assessing, reflecting on and discussing my personality and ministry profile, I only had one rather unpleasant surprise... When it comes to the DISC Personal Discernment Inventory, I am a high (off the chart) D, also known as a lion. My spiritual gifts include faith, evangelism, exhortation and teaching. I am a designer, planter, next stepper and … [Read more...]
Taking a test
All throughout school, teachers always said tests were to assess what you knew and what you had learned. Occasionally teachers also considered tests to be an assessment of how well they had taught. But an interesting thing I've found with some tests I've been taking lately is that tests can also tell us what we don't know.... As I type this post tonight, it is from a hotel room in … [Read more...]