Back to School!

I guess I need to remember to be careful what I wish for. Thanks to an over-zealous soccer opponent, Sam is out of all sports for the rest of the Summer an Fall. His finger is broken into the growth plate, has nerve damage, and for the last month, he has had a claw-liike bandage on the middle finger, which allows him to legally flip people off, which he enjoys immensely.
The first day of school was today, and each one went to just a half-day, giving them just enough time afterward to come home and fight. I think their classes will be okay, but they both think they're suffering, she with no girlfriends on her "team," an he with his buddies in the other class. Bummer. They might just both study more this way, and actually do better.
There is something about watching kids go to school the first day- it's just a marking of time, a ritual of some type, which always seems to indicate somehow that all is right in the world. I might not feel that way if I were in the classroom all the time, but it is fun to watch all the kids. Hopefully the new schools in the district will do well, and the kids in those schools will adapt and have successful years too. It's something to hope for.

Dealing out Bribes

Sam says "The Doors" are probably dumb. I definately need to educate him. Of course, he still thinks Radio Disney is the thing to listen to. Not me, however.
I went to pick blueberries this morning at a local pick-your-own farm-- with my sister and her three kids, and one of mine. It was hot, crowded, and full of kids. Fortunately, only one of our crew was whining. We got six pounds of berries-- and I'm ready to go get more.
We must have timed things right, since it poured down once we got home.
I got a note today from a colleague about the local project-- Extreme School Makeover-- which is the way Independence will fix up the seven Kansas City schools it has annexed-- and a reminder that there are only 41 days until school starts again. Sam and I are duly depressed now. We both hate that thought. Summer ought to be about 120 days long--then we could get all our playing out. His last soccer game was a tie-- he has become a terrific goalie, making several saves in a row. His buddy KC is quite a good forward, and the two are a great team. They have another game this week, and a few more before the season ends.
I wish Sam would play soccer instead of football this fall. He wants to play tackle, which is so rough. His coach evidently thinks I don't know how to verify stats, since he told me statistically soccer is more violent than football, with more injuries. Nothing makes me madder than someone who thinks I'm stupid.
I told the kids that if they do their chores and get along, they can perhaps go to the Atcheson River Fest and see Miranda Lambwert and Blake Shelton. The odds of them getting along for ten days are slim, even if we're gone four to Omaha.

Maybe Some Things Don't Change After All!

It's so nice that some things don't change much in this world. I live near a large park, and this week is Field Day week at the park, evidently. Monday there were three buses from Raytown School District and one from Independence there-- Tuesday there were kids from a private parochial school, and Fort Osage there, and today, there were at least two hundred kids from my neighborhood school there, all participating in Field Day.
I remember when I was a child, and Field Day was the day we all looked forward to-- it might have topped the day we had our Christmas Party or Halloween Party at school. It was always warm, and we always picnicked outside, getting to chase each other, and playing games to our hearts' content.
It's comforting that this still goes on, in an era where inflatable moonwalks aren't allowed by the local school district because of insurance issues, background checks have to be done on volunteers, and homemade treats are not allowed at classroom parties. These field days had teachers, kids, and adults who appeared to be grandparents or parents-- I even saw strollers on Tuesday and Wednesday. (As one can tell, I walk through that park nearly every day.)
I'm just finding reassurance in these events, as the world continues to experience global warming, devastating earthquakes, cyclones, mass shootings, and all other such evils.

Thoughts on General Conference and the Neighborhood Nut

Once again, I have neglected writing. I just can't seem to get in a daily habit. It's a good thing I am more conscientious about my kids and hygiene, or I'd be really icky. I've been thinking about the church, and specifically General Conference, which ended last week. It's hard to tell whether any new thing was accomplished from what I can research so far. Maybe that's a good thing.
What I do know is that the Church declined to change it's view on homosexuality, still calling it "incompatible with biblical teachings," while still saying basically we should "love the sinner and hate the sin." I realized a long time ago that that isn't accepting, but still condemning talk, only prettier. Evidently this resulted in a protest in the middle of the general assembly the next day, during which among other things, a bunch of clergy and laity came up and circled the altar and dressed it in black. Outside there were more protests, and the last day of the conference there was a same-sex union across the street, in which a clergy person blessed the sacraments which were used in the ceremony. Who knows whether that's a chargeable offense or not.
In other words, in that area very little changed. On another front, the assembly refused to give District Superintendents and Bishops the ability to change the status of "ineffective" clergy from full-time to part-time if their evaluations deemed them ineffective three years straight. That's probably a good thing, because it might open things up to get political, I guess.
I think the assembly refused to let the African delegation take over the denomination, from what I can tell, though some of the petitions were granted-- but not all, I don't think. One of the things the African church wanted was a recognition of the devil as a real entity, which doctrinally the UMC doesn't actually do. I don't think that part passed, though I could definately be wrong.
On another note, the neighborhood psycho is at it again. On Thursday alone she came up to the school five times between 9 a.m. and 11a.m., and called about ten times, including 3 times in 5 minutes. She was mad this time because the principal refused to cowtow to her. Hopefully he has finally had it with her insanity. The entire neighborhood is up in arms now and on watch to see what evil thing she will do next. She's definately proof evil exists, and a good example of demon possession, in my opinion.;-) I still think throwing Holy Water on her would be a fun science experiment, but nobody will do it so far. I guess I'll just have to be on watch until she gets back on her meds or gets taken away...

How to Know When It's Over!

It turns out lots of people are quite excited about my dear friend who passed away. Her tribute in The Star was very nice-- and her funeral was not sad, but quite spiritual and hopeful. She had both the pastor and two district superintendents officiating, and retired Bishop Frank sent his best, being too old to attend. I think most people would do well to have so many people pay their respects!
The rest of the weekend was crazy. I spent Saturday with my girls in the GS troop, while they worked on badges at a workshop. Kate and I were bored, but talked all day, and even managed to sneak out to get a Starbucks. The rest of the troop leaders were not friendly, and that was okay too. At least we went. It wasn't bad, with only 5 little girls. We went to the soccer game afterwards, which was cold as hell-- and by then I was wiped out.
Sunday brought symphony tickets to the KC symphony-- to hear a Hayden piece, some modern piece of junk, and a medley of Wagner pieces. The guest musician was a highly-acclaimed soprano-- who should have worn one of the helmets with horns at least when she sang Wagner. Really German opera never has done much for me, but I guess I'm unusual. At least when she finished singing we new it was really over-- the fat lady had sung. I could definately have done without her singing, because the orchestra was as always excellent in and of itself.
I just found out two of my favorite clergy folk and classmates are moving to southwest Missouri. They're quite excited, but I'm bummed, they're guys I actually like and like their families; for the life of me I can't figure out why people want to move to the southwest part of Missouri. It's got nothing but fundamentalists, racists, and rednecks (which of course can be redundant, I realize.)

Procrastination

I've been a bad blogger again. I don't have a real excuse, because I'm online every day. I just put off writing because I don't have anything witty to say.
The high holiday weekend is here, and tomorrow promises to be stressful and tiring, but hopefully uplifting, too. We have three services scheduled, and probably very few people will attend. I haven't got any idea how many youth will actually show up for the early service. Already one of the girls I counted on has backed out. My daughter is annoyed that she will have to help out with the service even though her buddies have gone out of town. Toooooooo bad. I wish I could combine the number of people attending each service so the number was larger when we actually report numbers. I haven't done the required reporting yet. I need to, before I get in trouble. I am just nervous about it.
At my interview with the Board of Ordained Ministry, they told me that it would be okay that my numbers were low, as long as I kept trying. Well, I am-- we have an ad in the paper, have passed out fliers, sent out letters to the potato drop people, and so far, the only guest we had was somebody who needed help. She left during the service last night (Good Friday) and came back when it was over.
One of my most supportive friends died Thursday night. Mrs. Adena McKemey passed away in the night after being ill for quite awhile. She was so sweet, and always smiled at me. Her husband was first appointed to my church when he was in seminary, so they loved the fact that Glenwood Park is my first church. They came to my wedding, graduation, and services a couple of times. She gave me a hand-painted plate with the church on it. I have to figure out what I can do in her memory.

I think maybe I have finally undertaken more responsibilities than I can manage. For the first time in five years, I forgot a YouthFriends event, and stood up my poor little fourth grade friend. I feel lousy about it, and my excuses feel weak, even though they're legitimate.
Last Friday, my genius fourteen-month-old nephew completely killed my cell phone. I was playing with him, and showed him a picture of himself on the phone; he was intrigued, and held the phone and toddled into the kitchen. I walked in the kitchen (less than five minutes having passed) and the phone was off; when I turned it on, it was set for April 1, 2004. And everything was gone-- no chequebook, no calendar, no task list, no contacts, no past calls, nothing. Period. Even all my pics of the adorable baby were gone.
Needless to say I was quite dismayed, and his mother was quite apologetic-- she wanted to pay for a new phone, but really, the stupid thing was on its last leg, anyway, because the day before the battery had failed to hold a charge. Still, it was frustrating.
So now, I have a new phone, but I didn't get it until Wednesday, the day of the YouthFriend bowling party, and so I didn't have the even on my schedule. I got some stuff done that morning, and thought-- hey, why don't I make that nursing home visit I need to make? So I did, and totally stood up my little friend.
To make things sort of right, I took him McDonalds yesterday, and apologized profusely; but still I feel bad.
Today my PTA president/friend called to make sure I was going to the luncheon we had agreed to do, and of course I don't have it on the new calendar. I'm slippin' and somehow I've got to catch up. And I've misplaced my worship calendar, haven't submitted my monthly stats, and can't find the video tape I borrowed. Nice start to March!

An Answer to Prayers?

I think I have been reading too much fiction lately. I'm letting my imagination run away. Recently I gave a big talk on the need for the church to more actively and intentionally invite people in-- remembering our commission to make disciples for Jesus Christ. The next morning, we had two visitors. It was almost spooky.
The first visitor was a man who walked in through the 23rd Street doors, well dressed, and walked up the aisle to sit in the second row. He never broke eye contact with me, participated in worship, and stuck out like a sore thumb in our all-white church. I was thrilled.
About ten or fifteen minutes later, one of our senior members walked in, and a teenage male trailed her. He was wearing a t-shirt and torn jeans, carrying a skateboard. Pretty much everyone in there assumed he was her grandson, I think.
After the worship service, I spoke with both visitors, learning that the first one needed some financial help and food to feed his family until his paycheck came. He had walked from 40 highway to 23rd street in the cold to get help. Of course we welcomed him, fed him, prayed with him, and made sure we could meet his needs as well as possible. He stayed for Sunday school and the second service, then somebody took him home, so he wouldn't have to walk. We haven't seen him again, so I hope he is doing well.
The second visitor had disturbingly blue eyes, and when I welcomed him, he said he had been skateboarding on church parking lots on Sundays, waiting for someone to invite him in. He said we were the first to ever do just that. Of course we welcomed him, fed him, (we feed people well-) and he got a personal teen escort to Sunday school and stayed for second service. He didn't fill out a visitor form, and the teen girl said he lived near her grandparents, members, but we've never seen him again.
I know logically that it's been snowy several Sundays, and that we should have insisted on him filling out a form-- but I can't help wondering (in my imagination, at the least) if he wasn't some kind of divine visitor. I know it's goofy, but he seemed to show up right after we talked about how we needed to welcome everyone, not just those who look or act or dress like us-- and he and the first man were definately not like us! It just felt like a test, sort of, and now I worry whether we passed it or not. I think I've been thinking too much. I do hope and pray we showed good hospitality and that these people will tell others about us and come back. And that we passed the divine test--

Numbers and Follow-Through

It's a good thing I take my running more seriously than my resolution to blog! I haven't written since January 17th, and then didn't post it. Pretty pathetic.
I have been busy , never the less. I'm trying to figure out how to energize and motivate the folks at church. They just can't seem to stay consistently fired up. I don't know why. They don't stay fired up over two weeks, at the longest. And I know they mean well.
It seems to me somehow we need to reach our church neighbors, by getting to know them, but how, I don't know. I'm chicken to go by myself to visit, and can't get anybody to go with me. What to do?
Some of the newer ministers are undertaking an online covenant group; I have joined it, and hopefully we'll somehow help each other. On the upside, at least when it's my turn to write, someone will actually read the blog!
Last week's service for Ash Wednesday only had 9 people. And it was a good service! I had changed the altar to a simple array of pillar candles and the cross, and dimmed the lights, hoping to do something different. The 9 there noticed... whoopee. Something has got to give! Or maybe I should be asking to be moved, I don't know.
I do wish I could increase my congregation attendance like I increase running mileage. Even at 10% per month, it would be great. We did have a new member join last week-- that's a bright spot! Maybe we can reach somebody else this week! I'd like to say I have new folks when I go before the BOM, and they ask why I lost 8 folks last year and attendance is down 10 from last year...

Here it is, seventeen days into the new year, and I've already blown one of my resolutions: I did resolve to blog at least once per week-- if not each day. Blew it. Not even with an excuse.

I'd say I've been busy, but it's only sort-of true. The truth is I just don't get motivated-- nobody reads this, so it's pretty easy to not write.

I went to my required RIM retreat this month, where we did more on family systems. It's the big deal. We keep focusing on it, because so many families are dysfunctional, I think. Maybe we need to talk to a psychologist, or psychiatrist. I don't know if that'll happen.

The next thing we did was Minister's School-- now that I have been put on the board of managers for this year, I paid more attention. It was good to see how Andy Bryan plays and sings. He's awesome! I wish we had somebody at my church who could play the piano like he does, or could write songs-- he takes Wesleyan hymns and puts them to new tunes. They're so much better.

New Year, Mizzou Rocks!

My dad said, "isn't it nice that Missouri gets the glory for a change?" It's a good day, a good start for the new year-- sunny, not too terribly cold, USA channel is running a "Monk" marathon, and Missouri kicked Arkansas' ass BIGTIME. Incredible. At last glance the score was 28 to 7, fourth quarter, with fourteen minutes to go. Didn't look like a miracle was gonna happen for Arkansas any time too soon, either. It's kind of fun to realize that Mizzou may again have a period of glory in football.
I think I'm raising Monk for a child! He's trying to change his ways, even ate a "taquito" last night-- with knowledge that it had chicken, cheese, and maybe even peppers. Amazing. He's convinced he's got to eat mixed food to get muscles. It's cute. If I'd known that was all it took to get him to eat... but he's still a slob.
Tomorrow I have to do something I never thought I'd do. One of my former babysitters, the oldest child of a parishioner, and the kid who has driven our church crazy and possibly slept with an unknown number of guys (because she did NOT want to be a virgin when she went in) is being sworn in to the Marines. And she asked me to come, so I guess the kids and I will, unless my mentor refuses to reschedule our appointment. I hope he does.
Luckily she never asked me what I think about enlisting. I didn't have to lie. I don't think I will take it well if one of my kids ever tries to join the military. I don't want one of my kids to be made a military automaton. I don't want my kids to go to war. I hate the idea of Allyson going to war. I hate to think about what could happen to her. I hate to think about the things you hear about women in boot camp, in the military-- she's a naive kid, even if promiscuous, and trusts people more than she ought-- I was convinced she would be a statistic before she was ever in the military-- a murder, or a rape, not a teen mom. I guess that it's a blessing she's going military instead, but I can't see her as a leatherneck. So, I guess that's why we'll have to see it to believe it.