Tick-Tock November 20, 2008

Time in Bratislava is quickly coming to an end.  The last few weeks have been full of things–planning, cleaning, organizing library books, teaching, hanging out with friends old and new.  The next week and half is sure to go by quickly.  I’m feeling that time crunch of trying to fit everything in and trying to figure out what is most important.  One of those things I’m trying to fit in is blogging some of my thoughts on being here lately.  So here’s some random thoughts and observations about life lately.

Before I left for Bratislava, my community group at church had a little going away party for me and prayed over me.  It was such a special time and something I’ve really appreciated being here.  As a nice little bookend, the women in the two Bible studies I’ve been attending here both prayed for me as I return back home.  Future plans at the moment look a little undecided at the moment, and I’m trying to stay open to where and how God leads.  It’s been touching to me to not only being able to find community here in BA, but also to find people who have taken me into their hearts and prayers (and vice versa).

One thing that really touched me on Tuesday as the morning Bible study ladies prayed for me was how they affirmed the time I’ve spent here.  One of my concerns about being here for 3 months was not fully living into the time, i.e. not getting invested in people because I’m only going to be here a short time.  These ladies affirmed my committment to being with them each Tuesday and to getting to know them.  The tears that have surprised me lately when I think about leaving here are evidence also of how invested I’ve become in this place and people.  Leaving would certainly be easier had I not allowed people and places into my heart, but I know my cup would not be running over as it now with fullness had I not opened myself to this time.

So, part of the time crunch this next week is figuring out how to finish the tasks before me while also trying to squeeze out every opportunity to fully live with people in this place.

Right Time for Talking June 18, 2008

I love it when I have conversations with people about something and then read about the same thing somewhere else.  That’s been happening alot lately.  It usually means God is trying to tell me something and I need to listen.

We talked about this very thing last night in the women’s Bible study at church.  We’re studying the book Choosing Rest by Sally Breedlove.  It’s a great book, and I’m really excited to get to share it with the ladies at church.

So, today when I read this article today from Gifted For Leadership, I just had to share it here on the blog.

Sock Puppet Church June 27, 2007

One of the things of the many things I have been thinking about lately is the role of the church in communities. One reason I keep thinking about this is that the church I attend is 35 minutes away in a different town. I’ve struggled off and on during the three almost four years that I’ve been part of the congregation with going to church outside my immediate community. I began attending this church because I agreed with the ministry philosophy of the church, “building a community to reach a community.” I have continued to make that 35 minute drive every Sunday because of the close ties and relationships that have been formed there, something that was missing in the church I attended in my local community.

This blog post expresses I think what we all look for in a church whether big or small, near or far. Local community and close connections.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2007/06/diana-butler-bass-sock-puppet.html