Unique Churches

Fun.  I totally would like to visit a church like this! What do you like most about your church and have you ever been to a unique church like this?

The Year Through Pictures

So…I’m a copy cat.  Annie had this awesome post and so I wanted to do the same:

January: Ringing in the New Year–ready for a fresh start

February: A little salsa dancing fun before “real life” aka full-time job-ness sets in.

March: No homework means time to make fun recipes like Cheesecake pops, read lots of books, take a ceramics course, and work out

April: “ 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

May: I said hello to love at first sight

June: Summer nights with friends and  enjoying our sweet deck

July: There were a few crashes along the way this year.  A few rough spots, but in the end the plastic pops right out and the head lights are millimeters away from being smashed.

August: Spent some time with family.  Said “Look at the bull ship,” which was interpreted as “Look at all this bull shi*” (say that 3 times fast and your family will think you are NOT having fun when really you are)

September: Life may be a little messy, but at the end of the day I can always turn to my “church family” for anything I need.  I’m going to miss them…

October: “Ransomed” God, theology, podcasts, blogging, life, and everything in between could always be found in our conversations.  I miss her already!

November: “But if the bright lights don’t receive you, you should turn yourself around and come on home.”

December: Stay warm with a puppy, lots of blankets and hot chocolate while looking forward to a New Year. 

Good-bye 2008. Hello 2009.

1 Year Ago

A year ago:

• I started blogging.
• I graduated.
• I did not have a job yet. 
• I was living with Carrie and Keely (and Abby the dog)
• Liz and I took pictures after graduation

A few things from this past year:

• I kept blogging.
• I got a job. 
• I started Seminary.
• I learned about friendships, relationships, heartache, community, church, God, hope, myself, faith and so much more.
• I moved into a different house with Amy and Mandy.
• I got a Mac.
• I helped start a church. 
• I bought a bike. 
• I accepted an internship.

I could go on, but you get the idea. What a year!  I definitely cannot say that I would have ever guessed that I would be where I am today a year ago!

Nanowrimo

I’m crazy. Yep, it’s official. I signed up for nanowrimo. What is nanowrimo, you might ask, well, let me tell you.  Thousands of people join together in the month of November to write.  Not edit. Not agonize.  Not obsess over details. (Though, let’s be honest, I’ll still obsess and agonize, but just under pressure).  And what are we writing? The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30. We’ll see what happens…!  Between work, school, church and getting ready for the internship below, life is busy. Oh, wait, I forgot to include seeing other people in there too–that’s a needed aspect of life too! No clue what I’m going to write on yet either. Thoughts? Suggestions for the crazy girl? Anyone else participating? Or even just write how crazy I am that’ll be fun.  Throw me a bone. I’ll keep you updated as much as possible about how this crazy adventure is going!

Church

I don’t want to let the “church” ever become so contained and managed in my life.  I don’t want to think of “church” in terms of 8-12 on Sunday mornings or that plus 4-7 Community Group time.  That’s raping the essence of church right out from the inside.  Being “the church” should permeate every square inch of my life.  I don’t want to go, get my fill, call it good.  I want to invest. Build relationships. Spontaneously get together.  Naturally build an organic community that literally carries each other’s burdens in a meaningful and effective way.  

There’s my little rant for the night. And here’s my little confession.  I can put church in a box anytime I want, but I don’t want to!  But, I find myself doing exactly what I don’t want to do.  In my mental planner, recently I programmed church in for Wednesday nights and Sundays.  I’m working really hard to get out of this mindset in order to embrace and live out my desires and passions.

Ragamuffintop Week 3

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Nothing…had my biking clothes on but went to target and cleaned house with the roomies instead.  We organized the entire kitchen and finally talked about things. Yay for roomies!!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Ran/walk: 25 minutes

Good intentions again, but I was busy running around to church, bbq, church plant, and setting up wireless internet finally!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Run/walk: 25 minutes

Biggest Loser Power Sculpt Week 1/2

Biking: 7.2 miles at 30:56 minutes

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Biggest Loser Cardio Max Week 1/2

Rollerblading…about an hour and 10 minutes? maybe something around there.

–Yay for friends who rollerblade and sweet new trails.  I will say I am finding the whole continuing to do Biggest Loser and doing all the other things I love hard–too time consuming–hence why I did week 1/2.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Biggest Loser Power Sculpt: Week 2/3

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Bike: 4 miles…

Decided to take the day off working out due to the little “car accident” on the bike.

Friday, June 13, 2008

40 minutes of Baron Baptiste’s Power Vinyasa Yoga

 

Thoughts: Interesting week and I’ve realized that I don’t like having to try to do all of the Biggest Loser Workouts and all the other fun things I like such as biking, running, kayaking, ect.  Too much and I don’t want to be inside when it’s nice outside.  I would rather supplement my workouts with Biggest Loser on rainy days or at night.  So, we’re scrapping that and focusing in on the triathlon and the pants.  So this next week will be all about the running, biking, and eating well.

Also, I would like to say thank you for all the comments and encouragement!  I love it!  I like reading other Ragamuffintop stories too so keep yours coming and keep working toward your goal  

If you haven’t joined in, now is a great time–go here to look at other bloggers and get some inspiration!

p.s. Like how my computer is reflected in my sunglasses in the video? Yeah…I like my macbook!

Criticism

“The psychological tendency to try to feel better about ourselves by pointing out what’s wrong with someone else is immaturity at its worst. And no where is it more prevalent than the church.”

-Batterson

Planet Earth

I am loving on God’s creation lately.  Saturday night consisted of an amazing night filled with leftovers, brownies, banana bread (minus the middle…special baking by a certain boy), “Planet Earth”, friends, Target, and seat warmers.  We watched the Ocean and Desert episodes of Planet Earth.  The filming blew me away and I’m still in awe.  Now I just want to travel all over!  Who wants to come!?  Then, at church, the sermon started out with a comparison of the Sun and the Earth.  Incredible numbers and visuals. I  am astounded at how many earths would fit inside the sun–I’d tell you the exact numbers, but they’re too big for me to remember.  Go wikipedia them   Anyway, creation has so many neat things and I love it!  Probably why I love running, walking, hiking, biking, waterskiing, stargazing, meteor showers, sunsets, sunrises, and all those other outdoor activities.  Now if only the cold temperatures would go hide so that summer can come right in!

Desserts…

I have to make a dessert/s for the Wednesday night Core Team and I have yet to find the perfect thing…any favorites or suggestions?

Hello My Name is God, I like sunsets, lightning bolts, and when people listen to me

So, I didn’t quite get to go on a road trip today, but I did get to go rollerblading! I hadn’t even planned on going until I thought of going when I was waiting to be let back into my deadbolt locked house (yeah…fun story…I love getting locked out!). I definitely explored some new territory and got myself into a few “uphill” adventures, but still made my way back to my house in one piece. Well, we’ll see what my legs say tomorrow about that!  Either way, I loved the feeling of the wind and the warm sunshine (finally!).  I am so thankful for the warm weather!  Now I just have to find some more trails.

In other news, I went to church (Substance) with a friend (Tiffany! One of my redheads! love her!) today. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into another church and seeing how they do things. I had fun being with new people and being let into her world. Plus, the sermon ended with a couple of great questions:

1. Fall in love with the Promiser not the Promise
2. Focus on God, not your circumstances

“Hello God did you lose your compass?  I thought the Promised Land was over here??”  My heart keeps wondering why I’m heading the direction I am when I want/ed to go a different way.  God led the people into the desert so that they could worship Him.  When the people were led out of Egypt they could have taken the “beach road” but instead they headed down into the desert and then back up.  Sometimes the promise is delayed so that we can learn something in the “desert” and fall more in love with the Promiser before we get to the promise.  In summation, the sermon served as a good reminder to seek and worship God in the times of “desert” and let Him bring me to the Promise Land according to His compass not mine.