Wow, it has been a long time since I've blogged. For those of you still checking, I am still here. I have been very, very busy. Hence, part of the title. Time. What is time? Obviously something I haven't had lately. Fall is the busiest time at work plus you've got the kick off of everything else too. Maybe it seems busier because I haven't had nearly as much going on during the summer? No Sunday, Wednesday or Thursday night activities. No lessons. Students were too busy and were leaving for college. No regular youth. Only one large event to plan for work. Now I'm trying (notice the word trying) to coordinate 3 large events. High school Gathering started Sunday. Pledge groups start tonight. Lessons started last week. Survivor starts tomorrow. And now I'm considering taking a theology class that meets every Thursday morning at 6 am. Yes, I know everyone is busy too. I'm not complaining or whining, just stating the facts of my current life.
As I mentioned, Pledge groups (our high school small groups) start tonight. I'm sorta nervous. I'll be starting with a new group tonight- juniors. I don't know who is going to be in my group yet. I've been praying that God will bring just the right girls. Which, I am completely trusting He will. I'm also sad. I'm VERY sad because I miss my girls, the girls I had for the last two years. They have all graduated and are at college now. From reading their blogs, it seems they are all doing well; I never doubted they would. But I miss each of them terribly. And I'm feeling that sadness especially stong tonight. I know that this new group of girls will be just as special- in their own way of course. But also, no one will ever be able to replace my first girls. It's like your first love. Nothing is ever quite the same after that.
I've been reading a new book, Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller. I'm not very far into it yet, but my initial reaction has been, "Wow!" He verbalizes many of the thoughts and questions that have been roaming through my head for years. The experiences and stories he shares are so real and show faith in a fresh light. If any of you have read it, I would love to hear your feedback. Did you enjoy it? Did you agree with him? I could see this book, at least from what I've read so far, causing somewhat of a controversy. I was raised in the church, been going longer than I can remember. One thing that has always bothered me is the way people in the congregation seem to take the messages from the pulpit as the final word. They don't question or search for themselves to discover what they truly believe. Miller says (this is a thought he struggled with while searching for his true beliefs within his faith), "I couldn't give myself to Christianity because it was a religion for the intellectually naive." (pg. 31) I have thought this myself at times. Jesus questioned the leaders during His time on earth- why can't we question ours? I'm not saying be disrespectful or try to debate over everything they say, but ponder what they say. Read for yourselves what the Bible actually says about the matter. Discover for yourself whether you agree or not. Miller does this. He's questioning the church and some religious practices. Maybe I'm not understanding all of what he's saying, or perhaps I haven't found the point of his book yet. But he is still speaking out loud thoughts I've been too afraid to verbalize. I'll keep reading. For me he's been inspiring and freeing. I don't feel quite so crazy for some of the questions and observations I've had.
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