Hi. I'm back. Sorry for not blogging in so many moons--turns out studying for tests is mildly more important than, say, not putting my thoughts on the interwebs. Shocking, right? Anyways, this post is not to talk about why I haven't been writing.
This post is about a ministry that was started in my homeland of Dallas.
Imagine if the church was immersed in the community. What if there were no walls or blocks in the minds of the citizens that made them believe that the church was an entity that stayed within itself? What if the church really walked within it's surrounding community? How would our world be different?
Breakdown Ministries is a Dallas-based ministry that seeks to break down the walls between the church and the community. The goal is to spread the gospel of Christ in every way possible and Breakdown's job is to equip churches with the ability to do that. Through community outreach, like carnivals and work projects, Breakdown provides local churches with the planning and resources to be part of the area instead of apart. The idea is that the church does constant follow up with the community and doesn't just strike once and then leave. The church is supposed to stay and be involved as a source of help and refuge and a light--not the closed off, locked up place for people with their noses to the sky and judging eyes cast downward. Breakdown wants the church and the community together in a relationship that is strong and positive.
Pretty awesome, right? The Lord is doing some incredible things in the greater Dallas area.
But Dallas is beginning to look like just the tip of the iceberg. The directors of Breakdown have felt the Lord tugging at their hearts to bring Breakdown to my current homestead--College Station. Home of the fightin' Texas Aggies and churches on every street corner. With a few connections, some administrative-minded guys, and a group of college freshman, Breakdown is beginning to take shape in a college town. How crazy is that?
When I first heard about Breakdown, my first thought was, "I want to be part of that." And the peace and assurance I felt when I thought that was God saying, "Good. You're listening." I am going to be one of the first leaders/volunteers of this budding ministry. Still very, very early in the planning phases, we're aiming for our first mission to be in September of this year. This spring semester is going to be all about gaining materials, building relationships with churches, and finding where we can channel the churches to meet the need that surrounds College Station and Bryan.
Pretty awesome, right? I'm so excited for things to kick off, but I'm also loving watching the wheels slowly begin to turn.
"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Reader, I'll keep you posted.
And Ethan? Here's a new post.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
33% less stressed
When I woke up this morning, my stress level was enough to give me a heart attack. I knew that I would be getting some pretty definitive answers on how my semester and summer was going to look when I woke up to begin the week and that scared the heck out of me.
Thankfully, the week started out with a solid beginning.
Yes, I am going to be a 2012 Impact counselor.
The Lord delivers.
Last night, I prayed that I'd get a foothold so I can get out of this hole that I've been stuck in. The hole of insecurity and fear and the thought that no one wants me. I needed something tangible to grasp to begin the upward climb out. The hole was a deep pit with slick sides. But now the sides are becoming rough and getting a texture. It's more of a rock-climbing wall than a steel tube.
Notice, though, that I'm still 2/3rds stressed. I've still got a phone call from Laity Lodge to answer, good or bad, and a test on Thursday. At this point, I just really want the waiting and anticipation to stop. My face is turning blue because I've been holding my breath for so long. Obviously, this is a strengthening of my ability to patient and I have no choice but to keep going. There's no going back and no giving up. So I'll go the only direction I can: forward.
The promise that Christ will be with me always, no matter what, is my main comfort right now. So as I obsessively check my phone and carry my political science text book everywhere, I know that my summer plans and grades don't matter to the Lord in the material sense. All that He cares about is that He is getting the honor due to Him and He will provide me with the vessels to do that. Whether that's a 4.0 or a job at Laity Lodge or not, He's going to make sure He's given me every opportunity to praise the One who made me.
So onward I go, with my meager patience and ADD personality. He will do great things with me.
Thankfully, the week started out with a solid beginning.
Yes, I am going to be a 2012 Impact counselor.
The Lord delivers.
Last night, I prayed that I'd get a foothold so I can get out of this hole that I've been stuck in. The hole of insecurity and fear and the thought that no one wants me. I needed something tangible to grasp to begin the upward climb out. The hole was a deep pit with slick sides. But now the sides are becoming rough and getting a texture. It's more of a rock-climbing wall than a steel tube.
Notice, though, that I'm still 2/3rds stressed. I've still got a phone call from Laity Lodge to answer, good or bad, and a test on Thursday. At this point, I just really want the waiting and anticipation to stop. My face is turning blue because I've been holding my breath for so long. Obviously, this is a strengthening of my ability to patient and I have no choice but to keep going. There's no going back and no giving up. So I'll go the only direction I can: forward.
The promise that Christ will be with me always, no matter what, is my main comfort right now. So as I obsessively check my phone and carry my political science text book everywhere, I know that my summer plans and grades don't matter to the Lord in the material sense. All that He cares about is that He is getting the honor due to Him and He will provide me with the vessels to do that. Whether that's a 4.0 or a job at Laity Lodge or not, He's going to make sure He's given me every opportunity to praise the One who made me.
So onward I go, with my meager patience and ADD personality. He will do great things with me.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Because He said so
My least favorite thing my parents ever told me was "Because I said so". I would ask for something or they would tell me to do something and I would demand why and they would just give me this look and sassily say, "Because I said so, Linley." I normally would then stomp away or roll my eyes and be irritated, not thinking they had any good reason to deny me what I wanted and that they were just doing it to be spiteful.
I realize now that I was wrong. As they have 25+ years on me, what they thought was normally more logical/less detrimental than what I wanted and they had every right in the world to tell me no and that it goes because they decreed it. There is only one other being that loves me more than my parents and they always act in my best interests. "Because I said so" should always be enough.
It's weird how hard of a time I have connecting my parents methods to God's methods, despite how similar they are. He calls himself my heavenly Father, so why is it when he says "Because I said so", I ignore him? I try to do my own thing and then get mad when it doesn't work. With my parents, I always ended up doing whatever it was they wanted me to do because there was such an imminent threat of punishment.
The thing is, God has a plan that is invisible and perfectly crafted for me. And trusting him to know that "Because I said so" is enough and satisfying is both scary and freeing. When I pray, I need to keep in mind that I'll get one of three answers: yes, no, and not yet. When I ask for a reason why, I need to learn to be satisfied with "Because I said so". But maybe I'm missing a piece of the phrase.
Maybe the whole line is "Because I said so, and you'll see why."
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."
I realize now that I was wrong. As they have 25+ years on me, what they thought was normally more logical/less detrimental than what I wanted and they had every right in the world to tell me no and that it goes because they decreed it. There is only one other being that loves me more than my parents and they always act in my best interests. "Because I said so" should always be enough.
It's weird how hard of a time I have connecting my parents methods to God's methods, despite how similar they are. He calls himself my heavenly Father, so why is it when he says "Because I said so", I ignore him? I try to do my own thing and then get mad when it doesn't work. With my parents, I always ended up doing whatever it was they wanted me to do because there was such an imminent threat of punishment.
The thing is, God has a plan that is invisible and perfectly crafted for me. And trusting him to know that "Because I said so" is enough and satisfying is both scary and freeing. When I pray, I need to keep in mind that I'll get one of three answers: yes, no, and not yet. When I ask for a reason why, I need to learn to be satisfied with "Because I said so". But maybe I'm missing a piece of the phrase.
Maybe the whole line is "Because I said so, and you'll see why."
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."
Friday, February 3, 2012
I'm pretty much falling apart. And other realizations.
I'm that kid who rarely gets sick. A headache every now and then. A stomachache once in a while. Maybe a stuffy nose a few times a year. But this past week, I've literally thought that my body was at war with itself.
Let's list the issues:
1. The weird, circular rash I've had on my left wrist that's been there since mid-December? Ringworm. I now own some anti-fungal cream. As I type this, the cream is currently drying on my wrist. Ew.
2. The fact that I can't hear out of my right ear? Clogged. I bought some gross, oily stuff to stick in there twice a day to remove the stuff.
3. Congestion, sneezing, wheezing, inability to breathe with my mouth closed? Sudafed.
4. Add the thyroid medication I've been taking my whole life, and you've got one very medicated Linley.
All-in-all, I've had a very strange, highly uncommon week. The girl who never gets sick has more than one weird ailment. The irony is almost too much to bear.
As for the other realizations, here's another list.
1. It won't be the end of the world if I don't work at a camp this summer.
2. This current semester has been very interesting. And it needs to chill out. Soon.
3. Netflix is so good and so bad.
4. American Literature is awesome.
5. Last night, I actually prayed that my earwax would go away. Here's to God listening to the big and the small.
6. Who am I supposed to cheer for in the Super Bowl when I despise both of them? Angst.
7. I need to memorize 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 big time.
See ya later, reader.
Let's list the issues:
1. The weird, circular rash I've had on my left wrist that's been there since mid-December? Ringworm. I now own some anti-fungal cream. As I type this, the cream is currently drying on my wrist. Ew.
2. The fact that I can't hear out of my right ear? Clogged. I bought some gross, oily stuff to stick in there twice a day to remove the stuff.
3. Congestion, sneezing, wheezing, inability to breathe with my mouth closed? Sudafed.
4. Add the thyroid medication I've been taking my whole life, and you've got one very medicated Linley.
All-in-all, I've had a very strange, highly uncommon week. The girl who never gets sick has more than one weird ailment. The irony is almost too much to bear.
As for the other realizations, here's another list.
1. It won't be the end of the world if I don't work at a camp this summer.
2. This current semester has been very interesting. And it needs to chill out. Soon.
3. Netflix is so good and so bad.
4. American Literature is awesome.
5. Last night, I actually prayed that my earwax would go away. Here's to God listening to the big and the small.
6. Who am I supposed to cheer for in the Super Bowl when I despise both of them? Angst.
7. I need to memorize 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 big time.
See ya later, reader.
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